A Chat With Gravewitch About Blackened Death Thrash

Pipeman has an amazing interview with the band Gravewitch and discuss their music and philosophies on Blackened Thrash Metal, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Black Metal, and metal music genres in general. Great interview. Don’t miss it!

Social Media Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gravewitch/photos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gravewitchofficial
Bandcamp: https://gravewitchofficial.bandcamp.com/album/gravewitch

Band Bio: Bend, Oregon — 2013. Chris Fleming and Andrew Ingraham first raised the banners of Gravewitch in the heart of Oregon's shadowed high desert; the world of blackened thrash metal wasn’t exactly waiting for them—but it should’ve been. Their unholy alliance would go on to carve a jagged path through a decade of turmoil, triumph, and relentless performance, delivering a brutal fusion of thrash, black, death, and melodic metal that strikes with the fury of an avalanche and the cold precision of a blade through bone. 

From the very beginning, Gravewitch—born as a two-piece with Fleming on guitar/vocals and Ingraham on drums—laid the foundation for something far darker than their humble beginnings suggested. Their sound, a storm of buzzing riffs, blast beats, and unyielding growls, evolved with each release and performance, folding in elements from legends like Kreator, Testament, Amon Amarth, Emperor, and Vader. The chemistry between the founding duo is undeniable.

The music, like the band itself, is unrelenting—a blend of old-school thrash’s speed and aggression, black metal’s cold, atmospheric darkness, and the weight of death metal’s hammer. Fleming’s lyrics are just as aggressive, each track an exploration of battle, rebellion, and darkness, all delivered with a razor-sharp edge. "Circle of Power," their anthemic fan favorite, serves as a testament to their unyielding spirit, always present in their setlists, a grim declaration of their musical fire.

A Decade of Relentless Grind

Gravewitch's rise through the ranks of the Pacific Northwest's underground metal scene has been marked by a slew of impressive performances and accomplishments. Local press documented the band's early days, and by 2015, they were carving their name into the region's live music circuit, sharing stages with heavyweights like Lord Dying, Castle, Inanimate Existence, and Nervosa.

But their story doesn’t stop there. Gravewitch has long been a fixture on the road, expanding their reach with every tour. In 2017, they booked their own West Coast tour hitting California, hitting Arizona, & circling back through Southern California, through Northern California, & into Oregon. Later in 2017, they embarked on a much larger tour supporting Voltumna, a blackened death metal band from Italy, on the “Itinere Inferi West Coast Tour.” Their unrelenting performances took them across a wide swath of the U.S, carving a permanent mark in the underground metal scene.

On the Rise Gravewitch’s first EP, Soul Reaper, released in 2015, was the spark that set it all off, laying the foundation for their towering presence in the scene. Their debut full-length, The Summoning (2020), marked a defining moment in their sound, blending the harsh precision of black metal with the thundering force of thrash. Tracks like “Circle of Power” became staples of their live shows, songs that encapsulate the very soul of Gravewitch: fast, dark, melodic, and utterly crushing.

Through the years, they’ve stood tall alongside legendary acts, opening for the likes of Warbringer, Flotsam and Jetsam, and Goatwhore. Their performances are nothing short of ferocious, a raw assault on the senses that leaves crowds battered, bruised, and begging for more. Whether playing in packed venues like The Domino Room or under the stars at The Capitol in Bend, they know no other way but to play with the intensity of a band determined to rise above.

Unyielding and Uncompromising

Even so, the band’s journey has always been defined by their refusal to conform. Never signing with a major label, Gravewitch has remained fiercely independent, upholding complete creative control over their music. From the start, they’ve chosen the DIY path, with Chris Fleming handling the bulk of the instrumentation on their releases, ensuring that every riff, every growl, and every pounding drumbeat aligns with their unrelenting vision. This independence has been the bedrock of their identity, allowing them to remain true to their sound and uncompromising in their approach. 
As they gear up for their second full-length album, Gravewitch (2025), the anticipation grows. It promises to be the most ambitious record yet, one that will no doubt expand on their unique fusion of blackened thrash with all the melodic and guttural elements fans have come to expect. And with plans for a second music video for the album's first single, their visual presence is poised to be as formidable as their sonic assault.

Gravewitch—A Legacy Carved in Steel

Gravewitch’s story is far from over, and their legacy continues to grow with every show, every album, and every fan that sings their dark hymns. For a band that began in the isolation of Bend, Oregon, their music has spread far and wide, building a cult following that grows with each passing year. Gravewitch is the unrelenting storm, the shadow that haunts the edges of the Pacific Northwest, and a band that demands to be heard—whether you want to or not.

The circle of power is just beginning to take shape.

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