{"id":41104,"date":"2026-07-30T11:29:21","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/?p=41104"},"modified":"2026-07-30T11:29:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:29:21","slug":"gravethorns-atrocitas-will-rip-your-face-off-listen-to-the-blackened-death-metal-carnage-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kjagradio.com\/themic\/gravethorns-atrocitas-will-rip-your-face-off-listen-to-the-blackened-death-metal-carnage-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Gravethorn’s ‘Atrocitas’ Will Rip Your Face Off \u2013 Listen to the Blackened Death Metal Carnage NOW"},"content":{"rendered":"

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“Atrocitas” \u2013 Blackened Death Metal From the Deserts of Las Vegas<\/em><\/h3>\n

1. Congratulations on the release of\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>. What does this album represent for Gravethorn, and how does it reflect your evolution since the debut album\u00a0Underground Rituals of Those Unseen<\/em>?<\/h3>\n
Thank you! – I don’t know how much it evolved since Underground Rituals because the writing was pretty much done back to back, so my frame of mind was probably pretty similar.\u00a0 On Underground Rituals, my focus was more on learning how to mix music vs. with Atrocitas, my focus was more on crafting a higher quality song, but some of the Underground Rituals material was in my head for a decade or 2 prior, I just never really put it to a recording.<\/div>\n

2. The title\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>\u00a0immediately evokes darkness and brutality. What inspired the name, and what themes are explored throughout the album?<\/h3>\n
I’m glad you think so because I feel like Atrocitas as a word sounded much more ancient and borderline primitive than Atrocities, even though it\u2019s only a slight pronounciation of difference, it seems to have a more everlasting and dark feel to it,\u00a0and much of what I create comes from random thoughts planted in my head perhaps voices of the ancient ancestors- regardless, the meaning you interpreted from it was exactly what I wanted it to portray, so I guess it worked (laughter)!<\/div>\n
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3. Gravethorn began in 2021 and quickly established itself within the extreme metal underground. Looking back, what has the journey been like so far?<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


\n<\/b>It\u2019s been pretty wild and interesting for sure.\u00a0 I still have no idea how to market myself or expand to a larger audience, but the people who do like what they hear have been very supportive and vocal about their appreciation of it.\u00a0 I never thought it would get much attention at the beginning, but here we are now with listeners literally from all parts of the world, something I never really thought would happen to be honest.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

\n4. You signed with WormholeDeath Records in 2024. How significant was that partnership, and how has it helped elevate Gravethorn to the next level?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/b>Wormholedeath have been great to work with and have a great staff for a team.\u00a0 It\u2019s my first signed band so I don\u2019t have the option of comparing them with another label, but they\u2019ve treated us quite well and I\u2019m happy overall.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

\n5. Your music combines black metal atmosphere with death metal aggression. How do you approach blending those elements into something that remains distinctly Gravethorn?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/b>It\u2019s not really by a plan or design, it\u2019s just the end product of what comes out of my head.\u00a0 I never wanted to be lumped into one of the many\u00a0specific sub genres (way too many in my opinion), just create metal music and hope it resonates with any listeners that are looking for our sound.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

\n6. Krystof handles vocals, guitar, bass, and keyboards while Bob Hill brings the rhythmic assault on drums. How does the creative chemistry between the two of you work?<\/b><\/span><\/div>\n

\n<\/b>It fits like a glove.\u00a0 Bob and I were in a previous band together so we have a chemistry that was built in, when I started Gravethorn, I hoped Bob would come on and that\u2019s what happened.\u00a0<\/span>
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7. You cite bands like Marduk, Darkthrone, Vital Remains, Deicide, and Behemoth as influences. Which albums or artists had the biggest impact on the creation of\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>?<\/h3>\n
I don\u2019t know if any of them were directly a part of the influence in the creation of Atrocitas as much as we really just ended up being compared to their styles of metal by people who heard us, so we cite them when asked.\u00a0 Obviously they all have made their mark in their respective roles of metal and have clearly been an influence in my overall style of writing, but I feel Atrocitas has earned its place within those genres.<\/div>\n

8. Krystof, you described the album as “ferocious and relentless yet majestic.” What does that balance mean to you as a songwriter?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Ferocious and Relentless are probably the most common words used to describe Gravethorn, but I feel there\u2019s a certain Atmosphere that is present, not like an absolute Atmospheric BM sound, but there is definitely something there.\u00a0 And I thought Majestic was a good word to describe it without watering it down too much like a Fairy Tale or anything.\u00a0 Some bands have a sound as if it could be a soundtrack for Robin Hood, good on them if that’s their goal, but that’s definitely not us.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

9. How did the songwriting process for\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>\u00a0differ from your debut record?<\/h3>\n
With Atrocitas, I wanted to put more of an emphasis on the quality of the songs written, and my efforts went more into that area; with our debut, I was (and still am) trying to learn how to mix and give the songs those \u201cmajestic \u201c sounds we were just talking about.\u00a0 Lots of experimenting created enough material to make a full cd, but the mission was to explore the recording and mixing process.<\/div>\n

10. Was there a particular track on the album that proved especially challenging or rewarding to create?<\/span><\/h3>\n
I really love how the album came out as a whole, I enjoyed the final result of the Metallica cover of Creeping Death, \u00a0the title track Atrocitas is a real ripper in my opinion, and \u201cThe Great Thaw\u201d and \u201cBarbaric War Declared\u201d I think will have a great live energy on stage.\u00a0 I think the real gems on that disc are \u201cHymns of Forbidden Places\u201d where Joshua Bednarski from Disguise the Curse and Atomic War Machine contributed an absolutely amazing and destructive solo to it with a lot of feel and emotion; and \u201cVictory by Sunrise\u201d has a solo on it that was crafted by Dave Sharpe of The Cro-Mags, End Time Illusion, and Dead by Wednesday.\u00a0 I was in a band with Dave many years ago and knew him since he was 17, and I couldn\u2019t wait to have something I feel was good enough for him to be on, and sure enough, his contribution was nothing short of a gift from a guitar god that is absolutely brilliant.\u00a0 I also experimented with clean vocals in that one which was a stepping stone for me.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

11. Blackened death metal often explores themes of chaos, mortality, and spirituality. What lyrical subjects inspired this album?<\/span><\/h3>\n
All of the above but also a sense of standing up to those who try to control you, a lot of \u201cFight for your rights, fight for your family, fight for what\u2019s yours\u201d sentiment is really present.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

12. Living in Las Vegas, surrounded by the Mojave Desert, does the landscape and atmosphere of Nevada influence the mood and sound of Gravethorn?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Not at all to be honest- I\u2019m much more inspired by the landscapes of Mt Charleston (a mountain town outside of Las Vegas at a very high elevation), Lake Tahoe, Zion Utah, and my homeland in Massachusetts which some say is arguably where Leif Ericsson declared it to be Vinland.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

13. Your debut album received international attention and label interest. Were you surprised by the response from the underground metal community?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Very surprised, I thought I had something pretty decent but I didn\u2019t realize how many other non-biased individuals would appreciate it, just hoped the local metal scene would dig it and that would be the end of it, but it actually got bigger globally than locally, and I\u2019m really thankful to be in that position.\u00a0 Metal has always been there for me, so I hope my music is there for someone else when they need it in those dark times of their lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

14. Extreme metal fans appreciate authenticity. How important is it for Gravethorn to stay true to its vision instead of following trends?<\/span><\/h3>\n
At the end of the day, some of your fans will inevitably find someone they like better. It\u2019s a simple truth regardless of what music you release.\u00a0 Being authentic as far as a musician is really about creating without the consideration of what others think, so it\u2019s a double edged sword- be true to yourself and possibly lose some fans along the way if they get bored with your sound (or if you decide to experiment in another area), or cater to your fan base but then the authenticity dissolves if you\u2019re making music just to keep others happy.\u00a0 Metal fans are typically the best people on earth, but a small percentage can be pretty toxic at times and they\u2019ll find a reason to dislike you for anything.\u00a0 I always say, you know you’re getting big if you’re getting haters.\u00a0 We’ve had a few of those, so thats\u00a0actually a good thing.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

15. What was the recording process like for\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>, and were there any moments in the studio that stand out?<\/h3>\n
It was all a blur to be honest, I was quarantined with COVID 19 during the whole thing.\u00a0 I have a studio at home, so that\u2019s where I was spending my time, and Atrocitas came out of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

16. The production on the album is both crushing and atmospheric. How important was it to achieve that balance sonically?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Very important, I love that challenge of creating something so violent with an epic saga vibe to it, stirring up multiple senses.\u00a0 When Darkthrone released \u201cBlaze in the Northern Sky\u201d ,that was the first time I felt like I could hear coldness.\u00a0 So I realized songs could be much more than catchy rhythms and different tempos, to really experience more than sound in a song is a victory.\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

17. What kind of response have you received from fans since the album’s release on the Winter Solstice?\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Honestly, I’m not sure the fans cared if it was the Winter Solstice, Summer Solstice, 4th of July, Martin Luther King Jr Day, etc.\u00a0 The feedback has been mostly positive regardless, the Solstice thing was my idea, to release a dark album on the darkest day of the year but I don’t know if that made a difference or not, but at least going forward, we’ll always be able to add the release of Atrocitas as the anniversary on the Winter Solstice every year.<\/span><\/div>\n

18. Is there a deeper meaning behind choosing December 21st, the Winter Solstice, as the release date for\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Sorry, I kinda blurred the previous answer into this one.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

19. Extreme metal continues to evolve. Where do you see blackened death metal heading, and where does Gravethorn fit into that future?<\/span><\/h3>\n
I’m honestly not sure, as Extreme Metal can take a turn at any given time into any direction, and it seems like a new sub genre presents\u00a0itself hourly (laughing).\u00a0 I personally feel like there is room for Blackened Death Metal to grow, because there are a lot of fans that are crazy for both Black and Death Metal.\u00a0 Go to any show, and check out all the Battle Vests, you’ll see Dying Fetus Patches right next to Dissection Patches, with a big Uada patch in the middle under a big Suffocation patch and they’re wearing a Vitriol Shirt with an Immortal hat, lol…\u00a0 Sure, there is always that group of people that won’t like you, the diehard Death Metal fans that will call Gravethorn Black Metal, and the diehard Black Metal fans that say we’re not Trve Kvlt enough (a trendy term that seems to mean something different depending on who it\u00a0comes from)\u00a0 so we’re Death Metal to them.\u00a0 Gravethorn fans are pretty open minded metal fans and don’t box themselves into corners of only liking and being loyal to one specific genre of metal.\u00a0 Full disclosure, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with only liking Death or Black Metal, if you listen to something and it doesn’t resonate with you, so be it, but listening to something that may or may not resonate vs. not listening to something based on what people are labeling it, there’s a strong chance you’re gonna miss out on something you may find incredible.<\/span><\/div>\n
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20. How important are visuals, album artwork, and imagery to conveying the Gravethorn experience?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Well, I feel they are very important, I mean, things worked out pretty good for Iron Maiden in that department, am I right?\u00a0 I definitely like to come up with something that I feel gives an honest representation of what the album is going to feel like based on my visions when I put the music together.\u00a0 \u00a0A web page nominated Underground Rituals of Those Unseen as one of the top 10 coolest album covers of that year that had skulls in it, and that of course led to more people giving us a listen, so that’s a win.\u00a0 Me personally, especially when I used to shop in record stores back in the day for music, an album cover could sell me if I was torn between 2 artists I never heard of and could only afford to purchase 1.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

21. Can fans expect live performances in the future, or is Gravethorn primarily a studio project?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Bob and I are still pretty much the only core members of the band, we have Jeremy Reichenbach on guitar as well, but at this time, he can’t make it to rehearsals on a set schedule, which is somewhat common in this town, everyone works different shifts since it’s a 24 hour city.\u00a0 We’re still looking out for another guitar player, and bass player that can learn our material (which isn’t really all that complex) and we’d like very much to do the live circuit.\u00a0 The local promoter wants us on the shows opening up for the bigger bands that come through, so we’re patiently waiting for the right person.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n

22. If you could share the stage with any three bands\u2014past or present\u2014who would they be and why?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Metallica simply for the exposure you would not be able to get anywhere else, and they were such a huge impact on me in the 80s it would just be so freaking cool to share the stage with them.\u00a0 As a teenager, one of my biggest dreams was to just hang out with them and drink and stuff, now that I’m older, I’d love to chat with James about music, cars, and just everyday stuff.<\/span><\/div>\n
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Emperor simply because they’re my all time favorite Black Metal Band and again, it would be the rush of sharing the stage with such absolute legends.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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The 3rd band would be a completely imaginary scenario- If somehow Gravethorn got wildly successful and became a phenomenon, I’d love to do a tour and pluck the best underdog band from each town on that tour that nobody has ever heard of and give them that opportunity to play a big stage.\u00a0 I feel like every town has that one band that’s incredible and can’t seem to break out, regardless of how good they are and they’re doing all the things they’re supposed to (and often times\u00a0because of shitty local promoters that only want to give their friends the opportunities while ignoring the other guys that won’t kiss their asses), those are the bands I’d love to pull and do a show with to put them in a larger spotlight if we could help provide.\u00a0 Again, this is all imaginary, but helping others would be very important.<\/span><\/div>\n

23. Looking ahead, are you already writing new material, and where do you see Gravethorn heading creatively after\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>?<\/span><\/h3>\n
The future will only be a continuation of the Gravethorn story, we actually currently have a new single streaming called The Dark Winds of Petra, I have a LOT of new songs written that I just have to finish with vocals and lyrics.\u00a0 There’s not going to be a shortage of Gravethorn material in the near future, that’s for sure.<\/span><\/div>\n

24. What advice would you give to young musicians who want to enter the world of extreme metal and build something lasting?<\/span><\/h3>\n
Absolutely go for it.\u00a0 If you’re writing and creating material just because you want to share your creation, you can’t lose.\u00a0 If you’re doing it just to try to be a famous musical icon, Extreme Metal may not be the right genre to do that in.\u00a0 I’ll always be in favor of artistic creation that comes from the soul and encourage it whenever possible.\u00a0 Don’t try to keep up with trends or compete with the 1\/2 a million other bands doing a certain thing.\u00a0 Just do your own thing, it’s more worth it if 12 people really like your stuff because it’s you, vs. 1000 people liking your stuff because it sounds like their favorite band.<\/span><\/div>\n

25. Finally, for listeners just discovering Gravethorn through\u00a0Atrocitas<\/em>, what do you hope they experience when they immerse themselves in the album?<\/span><\/h3>\n
I really just hope it hits them where they need it.\u00a0 Some people are in situations in life where they’re feeling isolated and in places they’d rather not be in, I hope Atrocitas provides a spark or something that brings them out of their funk.\u00a0 Some people feel oppressed, I hope Atrocitas lifts them up and encourages them to fight for their own rights.\u00a0 Some people are just looking for something new to listen to and I hope Atrocitas scratches that itch.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n
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Lightning Round<\/span><\/strong><\/h3>\n