Events

[METAL] Gothenburg Sweden quartet Graveyard’s brand of metal is a reminder of the genre’s roots in hard-edged blues, ala Black Sabbath and Judas Priest. Over the course of four consistent albums, they’ve straddled the lines between campy swagger and doom-laden bombast without ever giving in to either, which has kept them from becoming a laughable caricature. With last fall’s Innocence and Decadence, they firmly established a lasting, left-of-center musical personality by mining the depths of their quirky otherness even further, paying homage to elements of pop, soul, prog, and Americana along the way. Flourishes of harmony and gospel send-ups appear out of nowhere on the new set, cementing the idea that Graveyard isn’t nearly as concerned about fitting into one of metal’s sub-genres as they are in making music that captivates and surprises. The overarching theme of the new material remains true to the album title, while the melodies are as immediate and engaging as ever. Vocalist/front man Joakim Nilsson keeps it real with his hoarse pipes that ooze weathered soul like well-worn vintage boots. Often, it feels like Graveyard isn’t a metal band at all, but one listen to the title track of 2011’s Hisingen Blues—which sounds like it could’ve been cut in 1970—is all the confirmation you’ll ever need. Graveyard comes to the Town Ballroom on Thursday, February 11.