Chain Cult - Shallow Grave

Chain Cult – Shallow Grave
Label: La Vida Es Un Mus | Format: Vinyl LP (Reverse Board Jacket with Printed Inner Sleeve)

On Shallow Grave, Athens' Chain Cult unleash a fiercely melodic and emotionally charged full-length that solidifies their place at the vanguard of modern post-punk. Following a powerful demo and 7” that hinted at their potential, this debut album captures a band sharpened by relentless touring across Europe and honed in the shadows of a city gripped by unrest, decay, and resilience.

Chain Cult’s sound is both urgent and elegiac—anthemic post-punk steeped in idealism and defiance. Drawing from the bleak beauty of early The Cure, the melodic drive of The Sound, and the angular pulse of Second Empire Justice-era Blitz, the band also channels the spirit of their Greek forebears like Metro Decay, Stress, and ANTI. The result is a record that feels as timeless as it is immediate—raw and driving, yet intricately crafted.

Recorded by George Christoforidis at Ignite Music in Athens, Shallow Grave is a document of place and mood. Its songs are militant in rhythm and haunted in tone, a soundtrack for navigating modern desolation with clenched fists and clear eyes. The passion in the performances is undeniable, with vocals that ache and guitars that burn like dying light on crumbling walls.

Housed in a beautifully designed reverse board sleeve with printed lyric insert by Aris Panagopoulos (A.D. Visions), this album is as visually compelling as it is sonically devastating. Shallow Grave is not just a highlight of the Athens underground—it’s one of the most vital post-punk statements of recent years.