Spotlight on: Enter The Graves

​Sweet Dark Garage!

I still remember that day when I went to New River Studios to see some crazy brilliant guys that once ago caught my eye in another London music venue.  

Dan (drummer), Steve (guitar), Alex (synth), Els (bass) and Jaz (songwriter and singer) are the main components who make up Enter the Graves: an old-school Garage Rock band that will not leave you indifferent. 

​They formed in 2016 with the idea of “pushing back against the current” and ready to do something honest and raw.

​I'm reaching the place and there he is, Jaz, singer of the band and always controversial for his odd messages on the t-shirts that he designs himself. This time his message says ‘Don't punch Nazis’. He confesses to me that he is already prepared for what this polemical message may cause to him on stage.

Messages that more than one has failed to understand. However, they are nothing more than messages that go against the infectious political correctness of our times. I always think of Jaz as a new Sid Vicious in the middle of this 'friendly' 21st century.
 
However, I know Jaz and he is a cultivated pacifist with a lot of education and what he is trying to say is that 'violence does not justify more violence'. He “can't stand hypocrisy”, and he just wants people to think for themselves.

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We chat for a while about their songs while having a beer. His overtly Gothic vibes and Punk spirit set him apart: Graves gets in your blood one way or another, and most importantly, makes you understand its context. 
 
Social Networking (2019) was their first album: plenty of energy, dark lyrics and for sure, very Punk and vibrant! They are stage boys, here for live assault! Always welcoming to their fans, they have formed a whole community around them. With 'After Dark' or 'You are in Trouble' I've seen people go wild, jump and shout their lyrics like never before for an underground band! But above all, I have seen friendship and people united by good Punk.
​

This year they released ‘Choke for Broke’, no less exciting than their previous album. Such a catchy action-packed Punk tune that maybe you’ll get goosebumps and just know that it's one of the best bands of Garage music you have seen performing on stage.  Playing with frenetic rhythms and the impressive voice of Jaz.
 
Last but not least, it is also worth highlighting the artist Pushingnormal (Jeff Conway) brilliant for his striking Gothic illustrations and, in this case, also the designer of the Punk videos and illustrations by Graves.

​Written by Sara Mathius.

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