Review: “Diyu” by Grone

Perhaps in an attempt to make up for their unofficial thirteen year hiatus from 2002 to 2015, a prolific couple of years has seen East Brunswick, New Jersey Death Metal duo Grone has seen them hammer a fourth EP out of the park in quick succession with “Diyu“. It follows “Made To Suffer“, “Murder Engine” and “The Sky Is Too Far” which all surfaced in 2024, each one seeing the writing partnership of guitarist and vocalist Chris Christopher and bassist and vocalist Chris Gennaro growing in strength and stature. They’ve certainly come a long way since 1987 when they enjoyed a seven year, four demo run as Suiciety and the fact that they’re still able to create music in a DIY or DIE fashion almost thirty eight years later should tell you all you need to know. Metal is for life, not just for Christmas.

Soaked to the bone in 90’s Death Metal flavours “Totem” comes to life with vicious death growls that howl like the plague winds of a demon’s breath. The drum machine provides a skull hammering with those trademark flat cymbal hits giving the track some Industrial Metal flair, the soaring dark melodic guitars in the mid section providing momentary warmth between cold and weighty riffs. A savage opening cut of power, poise and clinical precision, it’s exactly what you might have hoped the doctor would prescribe in antidote to the poison of this World.

There is a melancholia in the lead guitars of “Blackest Hole” that resonates as it wraps itself around the mid tempo rhythmic stomp of the track, a headbangers delight of scathing vocals and bleak atmospheres that swirl around you like a fog with a real hypnotic groove to it. That ethereal darkness continues into “Blood Soaked Wasteland” which sounds like it was recorded at a dilapidated house in the backwoods in the dead of night, where dark sounds are needed to keep the wolves from the door, its inviting primitive sounds growing in stature as the track plays out. Ask yourself, are those eerie synths in the mix? A quirky guitar sound? or is that just in your mind?

Arguably the finest track of this collection “Pain of Fire” has a self titled era Soulfly style riff which chokes off the air supply to the room with the raw guitar tone an drum sound helping fuel the flames of depravity. The savage vocals remain untamed as fleeting leads once again add a little eerie melody to the oppressive soundscape, the band once again nailing the smoke filled atmosphere to perfection before “Walking with Ghosts” simply churns and burns. Mind bending, almost hallucinogenic lead guitars defy logic as the ghosts of the dead walk the earth, haunting those who remain in its post apocalyptic wasteland.

As a track it serves as perhaps unintentional thematic build up to the occult voice of “The Earth Demands Tribute” as a virgin sacrifice is demanded by the mother who provides sustenance to her children. The drum machine goes into overdrive on this one, sounding like its mining your skull for precious minerals, the rapid fire double kicks being particularly demanding on the cranium. It’s a necessary evil and serves its purpose, creating a framework upon which the rest of these evil sounds can hang while giving everything a cold mechanical edge.

The collection is completed by a powerhouse endeavor of sinister and menacing riffs however “Return of the Death Apostle” fades to black far too soon, begging for another verse and chorus with its crushing guitars and demonic vocals like a branding iron to the brain. If you like your Death Metal with no frills and old school Industrial Metal qualities then you can’t go wrong with the collected works of Grone… [7/10]

Track Listing

1. Totem
2. Blackest Hole
3. Blood Soaked Wasteland
4. Pain of Fire
5. Walking with Ghosts
6. The Earth Demands Tribute
7. Return of the Death Apostle

“Diyu” by Grone is out 22nd September 2025 and is available over at bandcamp