Sludge/doom quartet GRAVES AT SEA was formed in 2002 by friends Nick Phit a… Read Full Bio ↴Sludge/doom quartet GRAVES AT SEA was formed in 2002 by friends Nick Phit and Nathan Misterek, with then-members Roger Williams & Steve Klatz (RIP). After self-releasing the demo Documents of Grief, they toured extensively and were quickly noticed by Greg Anderson of Southern Lord/Sunn, who released their 7" Cirrohosis/Atavist Arise in 2004. Later in 2005 the band released a split with friends Asunder on Life is Abuse (CD) and 20 Buck Spin (vinyl). In 2007 GRAVES AT SEA went through a line up change when Nathan moved to Oakland and Nick moved to Portland, OR. In 2008, after playing two final shows with Chiyo Nukaga (Noothgrush) on drums and Miguel Veliz (ex-Sourvein, The Roller) on bass, the band broke up. Four years later, however, they decided to reunite with Chiyo on drums and Greg Wilkinson (Brainoil) on bass, but due to touring constraints, Chiyo and Greg decided to step down.

2013 marked the band's first venture to Europe, with a lengthy tour, in addition to a string of West Coast performances. 2014 brought forth their first new material since 2005 - GRAVES AT SEA released a split LP with Sourvein on Seventh Rule records at the start of their second European tour (this time with Sourvein), a trek that also included appearances at Roadburn Festival and SWR Festival. The split with Sourvein was quickly followed by an EP on Eolian Records titled This Place Is Poison and numerous live US appearances, including performances at Maryland Deathfest and California's Day of the Shred Festival.

Now, after having joined forces with renowned independent label Relapse Records, GRAVES AT SEA are poised to unveil their long-awaited debut full-length, The Curse That Is, a tour-de-force of incredible magnitude almost 15 years in the making. Engineered by Greg Wilkinson (Noothgrush, Brain Oil) and mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, YOB), The Curse That Is effortlessly fuses colossal walls of feedback-laden sound with gargantuan riffs that crush and crawl with the weight of mountains alongside thunderous rhythms meant to tear a hole in this dying earth. Coupled with self-loathing lyrics of torment and demise, the listener is engulfed in wave upon wave of aural misery throughout the 70+ minute ride through hell. With The Curse That Is, GRAVES AT SEA are poised to unleash their strongest, most ear-shattering material to date.

GRAVES AT SEA are:

Nathan Misterek - vocals
Nick Phit - guitar
Bryan Sours - drums
Jeff McGarrity - bass

http://www.myspace.com/graves_at_sea
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Wormwood
Graves at Sea Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

through wormwood leaves and anise seed
give rise absinthe addiction never cease
my mind fades
now i see
thegreen fairy
glass set aflame green curse of france
just one more drink addiction never cease
pain of mind

parchedwith thirst
i tip my glass
upon my lips
i drift away

apsinthion
even glory has a bitter taste

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Graves at Sea's song "Wormwood" convey the physical and mental effects of absinthe addiction. The first stanza mentions wormwood leaves and anise seed, which are ingredients commonly used to make absinthe. The addiction to this drink is emphasized with the line, "never cease." The next line, "my mind fades," suggests that the singer is already under the influence of the drink. The phrase "thegreen fairy" is a nickname for absinthe, which is often associated with hallucinations or altered states of consciousness. The second stanza continues the theme of addiction and the physical effects of absinthe. The line "glass set aflame green curse of france" could refer to the traditional method of serving absinthe, which involves setting a sugar cube on fire and dropping it into the drink. The line "just one more drink addiction never cease" suggests that the singer is aware of the destructive nature of their habit but is unable to quit. The last few lines of the song convey the idea that even things that seem desirable or glamorous (like absinthe) can have negative consequences. The final line, "even glory has a bitter taste," suggests that success or fame can be hollow or unsatisfying.

Line by Line Meaning

through wormwood leaves and anise seed
By using wormwood leaves and anise seed, absinthe beverage is prepared.

give rise absinthe addiction never cease
Absinthe addiction keeps on rising and never stops.

my mind fades
Absinthe consumption fades away the clarity of the mind.

now i see
The hallucinogenic impact of absinthe takes effect.

the green fairy
The term 'Green Fairy' symbolizes absinthe and its impact on human perceptions.

glass set aflame green curse of france
The green color of absinthe is so intense that it seems like it is set on fire. Also, the phrase 'curse of France' is a reference to the controversial ban on absinthe in France back in the early 1900s.

just one more drink addiction never cease
The addiction of absinthe prompts one to crave just one more drink despite the adverse consequences of addiction.

pain of mind
Absinthe impacts the mind, leading to experiencing distress and discomfort.

parched with thirst
One feels the need to consume more absinthe despite being thirsty and dehydrated due to previous consumption.

i tip my glass
The artist raises their glass for another round.

upon my lips
The beverage touches their lips, as they consume more absinthe.

i drift away
One enters a state of altered perceptions upon drinking absinthe.

apsinthion
A term given to Wormwood, the main ingredient in absinthe.

even glory has a bitter taste
The pleasurable impact of absinthe eventually gives way to bitter after-effects and consequences.

Contributed by Chloe N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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