The tale of the angel Tyrael was first told two years ago, as heard on the album Hell Walker by Tyraels Ascension. The album told his story of conquest in a demon-threatened world through the medium of really solid metalcore that sucked me back in over and over again (as well as an enjoyable, Zelda-style video game with 16-bit renditions of songs from the album). Now the band is back to continue telling the story on their sophomore record, Grave Seeker.

"No End In Sight" jumpstarts the record and showcases what the band does well right off the bat, wasting no time introducing (or reintroducing) themselves to the audience. The song features crushing guitar riffs, pounding drums, mammoth vocals, and a killer guitar solo; these are some of the major ingredients for the bulk of the album, and it makes for a wonderfully consistent listen. The guitar work is especially great throughout the album, like the blistering introduction of "The Summoning" and the nasty chugging in "Tyrael's Curse." Much of the riffing and pinch harmonics actually remind me of Killswitch Engage at times ("Search for the Cure," for example). Comparisons aside, though, Tyraels Ascension nails the classic metalcore sound once again while displaying growth as well.

Like Hell Walker before it, Grave Seeker is a concept record that balances in-universe commentary with real-world meaning and inspiration behind the lyricism. In fact, it's quite possible to listen to Grave Seeker and not catch on to the story at all. Of course, there's enough here to make it eventually click in the listener's head with a few focused listens, like in "Fire from the Sky" ("Passed through flames and darkness, betrayed by light / but still I fight on while you sleep through the night / you think you know the darkness, you preach like you know hate / I fought for countless years, demons know me by name"). However, other tracks hit on universally relatable topics, such as regretting past mistakes ("I lost you years ago, I was the culprit / everyday an introspection of all my coping methods" - "Bittersweet") and issues with mental health and self-deprecation ("Every step I've taken forward seems like there's two steps back / I'm stuck in all of my failures when I know that I shouldn't look back / there's something inside that keeps up the lie / I am worthless tonight" - "Ethereal"). All that to say, the story of Tyrael is good, but the album is still fully enjoyable if you're not one to dig very deep into concept albums.

Hell Walker was my favorite album of 2024, so it almost goes without saying that I had big expectations for the follow-up. Grave Seeker continues to show that Tyraels Ascension is a force to be reckoned with. I personally can't wait to look deeper into the story of the album, but, as mentioned above, you don't have to dig into the lore of the album to enjoy it, so don't let that hold you back if you're just looking for some solid metalcore in the vein. Fans of Killswitch Engage, War of Ages, and maybe even Unearth could find a lot to like here.

- Review date: 7/22/26, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 Record Label: Rottweiler Records
 Album length: 12 tracks: 54 minutes, 59 seconds
 Street Date: July 24, 2026
 Buy It: Bandcamp

1. No End In Sight (4:46)
2. Darkened Soul (3:20)
3. Bittersweet (4:02)
4. Fire from the Sky (4:29)
5. The Serpent’s Demise (4:33)
6. The Summoning (4:01)
7. Search for the Cure (3:29)
8. Ethereal (4:14)
9. Impossible Decisions (4:53)
10. Fragmented Pieces (4:59)
11. Tears (4:22)
12. Tyrael’s Curse (5:51)