Review: Gravplåga - Maliferous Portents (2025)

Band: Gravplåga
Album: Maliferous Portents
Genre: Black Metal
Country: Sweden
Label: Independent
Released: November 22, 2025

Introduction:

Gravplåga is a one-man black-metal project from Linköping, Sweden, created by Malignant Desecrator. Formed in 2025, the project follows a traditional underground approach, minimal promotion, raw sound, and a focus on atmosphere over unnecessary complexity. There’s nothing flashy or theatrical here. Gravplåga presents itself simply as a dedicated return to the cold, straightforward days of the second wave of black metal.

The Album:

“Maliferous Portents" is Gravplåga's debut release, a four-track EP that sets the tone for what the project aims to deliver. The opening track, “A Warrior’s Rest,” introduces the listener to a mid-paced, melancholic style built on clear tremolo melodies and steady drumming. It immediately shows that Gravplåga values well crafted melodic atmospheres over long or complicated structures and abused clichés.

Track Listing:
1. A Warriors Rest
2. Bortom den dunkla vägen
3. The Languishing Grave
4. Wakings of Grief and Decay

“Bortom den dunkla vägen” follows with sharper, colder riffing. The vocals are raw and aggressive while still being audible, sitting perfectly within the mix. It’s one of “Maliferous Portents” more memorable tracks, keeping things tight and focused while brandishing catchy melodic riffs.

“The Languishing Grave” slows the pace slightly, giving the EP a more somber middle section with a simple but effective sense of gloom. The closing track, “Wakings of Grief and Decay,” is the most dynamic, shifting between heavier passages and more melodic sections, rounding out the EP with a clearer statement of the project’s potential. The production is raw but not muddy. Each instrument is rough around the edges, but the melodies remain clear enough to follow. It captures the feel of an early, independent black-metal release without sounding unfinished.

Conclusion:

“Maliferous Portents” is a solid, promising debut that shows Gravplåga’s uncompromising commitment to straightforward, atmospheric/melodic black metal. It’s a short, focused release that leaves one hopeful for a lengthier full-length in the near future. The EP will surely resonate with fans of the second-wave or anyone that appreciates Sweden’s knack for melodic black metal.

BMZ rating: 6,5 out of 10

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