Grim Scary Tales
Macabre · 2011
49 min · 14 tracks · death metal
A horror-themed metal odyssey blending death metal brutality with grindcore's relentless energy and thrash's sharp edges.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dracula — This track encapsulates the band's storytelling prowess, merging gruesome lyrics with a catchy yet aggressive riff that exemplifies their style.
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The Big Bad Wolf — With its playful yet chilling narrative, this song showcases Macabre's ability to fuse dark humor with heavy instrumentation, making it a standout on the album.
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Countess Bathory — Highlighting historical horror, the song combines intense vocals with intricate guitar work, illustrating the band's commitment to both thematic depth and musical complexity.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's horror narratives and aggressive sound create a distinctive experience within extreme metal.
What we noticed
- Each track is built around a specific horror-themed narrative, with lyrics that detail macabre historical events or figures.
- The album features rapid tempo shifts, often transitioning from blast beats to slower, heavier riffs within the same song.
- Several tracks incorporate spoken word segments that enhance the storytelling aspect, creating a theatrical element.
- The production emphasizes a raw sound, allowing the aggressive instrumentation and vocal delivery to dominate the mix.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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5/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic storytelling with horror themes
- wave-like pacing with intensity shifts
- engaging narratives for attentive listeners
- theatrical atmosphere for dark moods
Maybe skip if you
- prefer light-hearted listening experiences
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2011, Grim Scary Tales marked Macabre's return after a seven-year hiatus following their last album, Murder Metal. This album solidified their unique niche in the extreme metal scene, continuing to explore macabre historical themes through their distinct sound.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Exhumed· Carcass· Napalm Death
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Locusta 2:57
- 2 Nero's Inferno 2:43
- 3 The Black Knight 4:05
- 4 Dracula 5:10
- 5 The Big Bad Wolf 4:06
- 6 Countess Bathory 3:26
- 7 Burke and Hare 4:17
- 8 Mary Ann 3:37
- 9 The Bloody Benders 2:46
- 10 Lizzie Borden 1:33
- 11 The Ripper Tramp From France 3:38
- 12 Bella the Butcher 3:00
- 13 The Kiss of Death 3:24
- 14 The Sweet Tender Meat Vendor 5:04
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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