Graverust is a Los Angeles-based band that thrives in the gray area between black metal and hardcore, without fully committing to either. The group began as a studio project between Alex and Dandee, who had been writing together since 2019, but things took a more defined shape once vocalist Furn Zavala entered the fold. Having previously worked with Dandee in Haarm and long admired Alex’s drumming, Zavala immediately connected with the material. “After hearing what they recorded, I knew this was a project for themes and tones that I’d been yearning to be a part of,” he tells No Echo.
Initially, Graverust wasn’t even intended to be a live band. That changed quickly after the release of their early material, when show offers began to come in. Bringing in bassist Brian Murray and drummer Chris Dwyer added a new level of intensity to the songs. “During that first practice, you could hear that the songs had a way more visceral dynamic to them,” Zavala explains—an evolution that now defines the band’s sound both on record and on stage.
Trying to neatly categorize Graverust is a losing battle. Zavala describes it as a blend where grind, black metal, and hardcore all coexist, but if forced to choose, “blackened punk” comes closest. The band’s sound draws from a wide spectrum—Darkthrone-inspired riffing, the raw urgency of bands like Siege, Craft, (The Infamous) Gehenna, and even the off-kilter textures of Sonic Youth and The Jesus Lizard through Murray’s bass work.
That balance is fully realized on Obscure Reality, a record shaped as much by personal experience as by artistic influence. Lyrically, the album pulls from what Zavala describes as “the grim aspects of life,” with grief playing a central role. “There is no denying the overwhelming grasp that grief has had on my life,” he says. “It’s a daily balance, and I wanted to channel all that pain and hopelessness into an outlet.”
Zavala also looks beyond music for inspiration. Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Chris Dwyer at his home studio, the album’s opening track, “El Perro,” is based on Francisco de Goya’s haunting painting of the same name—a lone dog seemingly sinking into the earth, staring upward toward an uncertain fate. “To my interpretation, it’s a doomed fate with no sense of rescue or help,” he explains, a sentiment that echoes throughout the record’s themes.
Outside of Graverust, Zavala remains deeply embedded in the Southern California hardcore community, both as a musician and on the venue side. That perspective has given him a clear view of how the scene has evolved. Rather than seeing gaps, he points to growth—especially in the rise of new bands, DIY spaces, and younger participants taking initiative. “It’s awesome to see flyers for shows at spots I’ve never even heard of,” he says. “It just shows people are willing to give it a shot and create something.”
For Zavala, that sense of community is everything. Whether it’s supporting newer bands or ensuring shows are run with care and respect, the goal is to contribute rather than compete. It’s a mindset shaped by years in the scene—and one that feels especially important now. “If we don’t show love to people who are just starting out, it’ll lose its steam,” he says.
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Obscure Reality is out now on streaming, and a physical release will be announced soon via Contraband Goods.
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