GRAVESTONE Power/Speed Metal Canada Featured Vinyl Albums and Photo Gallery

God, this Gravestone page is like stumbling into a dusty Canadian garage where amps still hum decades later. The words scream POWER/SPEED METAL like it’s the gospel according to battered Marshall stacks, and the gallery slaps you with lurid cover art that dares you to doubt its authenticity. Forget polish, forget arenas—this is raw vinyl communion, the kind of underground scripture kids once traded in sweaty fists. A shrine not to fame, but to the furious riff and the eternal hiss of the needle.

Gravestone – Canadian Power/Speed Metal (1980s)

Gravestone was a Canadian power and speed metal band active during the 1980s. Their sound combined the aggression of early speed metal with melodic structures that hinted at the rise of European-style power metal. Although they never broke into the mainstream, their discography from this decade remains highly regarded among collectors and fans of obscure Canadian heavy metal.

Biography

Gravestone formed in Canada during the first half of the 1980s, a period when heavy metal was exploding into numerous sub-genres. Their sound was built on a foundation of speed metal aggression—fast riffing, double-bass drumming, and harsh but soaring vocals—tempered with melodic guitar leads and anthem-like choruses typical of power metal. This placed them in the same league as European outfits like Helloween, Rage, and Running Wild, but with a distinct North American edge.

1980s Discography

  • 1984 – Victim of Chains
    Raw and unpolished debut, circulated in underground tape-trading circles. Featured early speed metal riffs with NWOBHM influences.
  • 1985 – Back to Attack
    Improved production and songwriting. Balanced galloping speed tracks with heavy mid-tempo grooves. Standouts included “Dirty Tales” and “I Love the Night.”
  • 1986 – Creating a Monster
    Their most defining work, with science-fiction imagery and ambitious power metal leanings. Songs like “Creating a Monster” and “The Highest Mountain” showcased strong musicianship and epic scope.
  • 1988 – R.I.P.
    Final release of the decade, darker in tone with apocalyptic themes. Despite strong material, it was under-promoted and became the band’s swansong.

Collector Notes / Liner Notes

  • Original pressings of Victim of Chains and Back to Attack are scarce and highly sought after by collectors.
  • The albums were primarily distributed through small independent Canadian and European labels, making early copies rare.
  • Reissues and CD compilations have surfaced in later years, ensuring that Gravestone’s legacy remains accessible.
  • The band’s albums bridge traditional heavy metal, speed, and power metal, making them important artifacts of 1980s Canadian underground metal.

Index of GRAVESTONE Featured Vinyl Album Discography and Album Cover Gallery

Thumbnail Of  GRAVESTONE - Back to Attack 12" Vinyl LP album front cover
GRAVESTONE - Back to Attack

Released in 1985, Gravestone’s “Back to Attack” roars with unpolished firepower and melodic bite. It’s the sound of five maniacs from southern Germany pushing their amps until the fuses begged for mercy. The twin guitars blaze, the vocals hit like steel on granite, and every riff drips with that mid-’80s urgency — the kind you can almost smell in the vinyl grooves.

GRAVESTONE - Creating A Monster 12" Vinyl LP
Thumbnail Of  GRAVESTONE - Creating A Monster 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

GRAVESTONE's swan song, 'Creating a Monster,' marks the final chapter of this German Heavy Metal band's journey. Produced by Gravestone and Gama, with renowned Sound Engineer Tom Krüger at the helm, this LP showcases their farewell to the metal scene. Recorded at Spygel Studios, Kircheim/Teck, the album's artwork, designed by Martin Appoldt, adds a visual dimension to their parting musical statement.

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GRAVESTONE - Victim of Chains 12" Vinyl LP
Thumbnail Of  GRAVESTONE - Victim of Chains 12" Vinyl LP album front cover

GRAVESTONE's debut, 'Victim of Chains,' on Scratch Records, is a relic of old-school German Power, Speed, and Thrash Metal. This 1st Issue LP is a treasure for collectors and a sonic delight for fans of Helloween, Accept, Edguy, and Gamma Ray. For those who relish IRON MAIDEN's guitar mastery, 'For a Girl' delivers. An authentic piece of metal history in every groove.

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