Review Summary: The liveliest Early Moods album so far
Early Moods has carved out a solid niche for itself, releasing albums with a steady two-year turnaround time that effectively channel the classic doom metal spirit. If 2024’s A Sinner’s Past gave weight to their self-titled debut’s foundation, then Ready For The Grave’s mission is more focused song structuring. The band’s riff game has always been on point but there’s always a nagging sense that it’d benefit greatly from more organized song layouts as well as hookier vocal lines.
In that sense, the tracks do feel more concentrated and purposeful than either of their past efforts. The band seems more eager to jam out on a riff for a while, ensuring the momentum’s of especially tight grooves as well as keeping the tempo changes from feeling too haphazard. The opening title track can certainly feel familiar with its jumps between fast doom chugs and dynamic shakeups, but the transitions in tempo get just enough time to breathe.
I also appreciate how it heightens the band’s sense of classic doom drama. “Thy Eternal Grief” sets a more straightforward standard courtesy of a steady, determined bass crawl, guitar work that moves from hazy cleans to a jaunty climax, and epic choral vocals. Speaking of which, the bolder vocals elevate the melodies with extra character and confidence, boosting the spoopy doom appeal of a track like “The Prowler” or the hazy balladry of “When Light Fades.”
Contrary to its title, Ready For The Grave is the liveliest that Early Moods has sounded thus far. The band’s already solid precedent for traditional doom is given the songwriting treatment and emboldened musicianship to really push it further. It isn’t a dramatic overhaul but could be more accessible, sitting alongside similar efforts from groups like Green Lung and Monolord as some of the best modern Sabbath worship out there.
