Review: Zeal & Ardor, "Greif"

Inevitably when you have a unique band that is truly creative, there comes a time when they want to step away from what they've done in the past and try something very different. Sometimes that new direction is really good, more often it's not so great. That moment has come for Zeal & Ardor on Greif, and it leaves me with really mixed feelings as they seem to have dropped many of the things that I loved about their previous records.

What's hot?

Zeal & Ardor continues to push boundaries, but this time those boundaries may challenge fans of the band's previous work. There are still a few really nice examples of what they do best. "Hide in Shade" stands out as one of those. And some of the newer touches to the music are interesting, if not quite as heavy or catchy as I'd often like.

What's not?

Much of what's on Greif sounds more like something that bandleader Manuel Gagneux would do with his other project, Birdmask, than Zeal & Ardor. What made the band unique was the blending of traditionally black music -- gospel and spirituals -- with screaming satanic black metal. Both are missing through most of this record. There's also a lot of drone here. Oddly, one of the heavier songs on the record, "Clawing Out," is also one of my least favorite because it's a bit boring. 

The verdict

As soon as I learned this album was coming, it became one of my most anticipated records of the year. Their self-titled album from 2022 was far and away my favorite of that year. While I'm hoping that it grows on me with repeated listens, at this point, it's likely to be the most disappointing. It's not that I dislike it. There's good stuff here, but it just doesn't hit me like their older albums.

Check out: "Kilonova," "Go Home My Friend," "369," "Thrill," "Sugarcoat," "Hide in Shade," "To My Ilk"

Consider: "Fend You Off," "Are You the Only One Now?" "Disease," "Thrill"

Skip: "Clawing Out," "Une Ville Vide," "Solace"

Get Greif.

Get Zeal & Ardor.