Grim Love is an up-and-coming band from Athens, Greece. They have modern metal, nu-metal, hardcore and punk rock influences, which are all integrated into the songs of “Mataroa”, their debut. It is true that every day we receive new albums from newcomer bands that fuse rock/metal with other musical elements but fail to have an impact. And that is because they lack inspiration. Grim Love seems to have the skill to write good songs and appears to be inspired enough to compose tracks that pique our interest. All the songs on “Mataroa” are earworms—so catchy and straightforward that you will be amazed. Seven tracks are included here, and each one of them will stick in your memory for a long time. The killer song ideas come one after another, the melodies and riffs fall like an anvil on your head and the incredible performances are the cornerstone of a great debut album! But apart from having the inspiration and skill, Grim Love sounds very solid and mature—the cohesive rhythm section is the backbone of the band’s brilliant musical corpus. Of course, we have to emphasize the production, which is superb! Listen to “Mataroa”, and you will face a modern metal beast that has just broken its chains and is ready to run and hunt freely! I am excited about Grim Love, who has just released one of the best modern metal debut albums of 2025! The Greeks are serious and ready to spread their wings!
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos
