Doomed Confessionary: David Kreft (Graceless)
Photo credits: Eus Straver
Graceless is a four-piece death/doom metal band from Leiden, Netherlands. Founded in 2016 the four piece quickly gained a respectable reputation, releasing 4 full-length albums, 2 splits and playing countless memorable live performances, including Ruhrpott Metal Meeting, Party.San Metal Open Air, Eindhoven Metal Meeting, Stonehenge, Into The Grave and many more.
Their latest album »Icons Of Ruin«, out in May 2025 on Listenable Records, is the band’s most groundbreaking release to date. Massively produced, it boats crushing, unrelenting, large-scale, bombastic sonic destruction! For fans of Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Gorguts, Paradise Lost, Death and Bloodbath.
Graceless consists of David Kreft (guitar, vocals), Björn Brusse (guitar), Jasper Aptroot (bass) and Marc Verhaar (drums).
Can you please say a few words about your band?
Graceless is an old-school death metal band from Leiden, the Netherlands. We formed Graceless in 2016, so we’ve been around for almost 10 years. We’ve released four albums, the latest of which, »Icons Of Ruin«, this May.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
Playing live as much as possible, all over the world. We love partying with our friends and fans. But also, how do you stay interesting and relevant as an old school death metal band?
What are you most proud of so far?
We’re currently most proud of our latest album, and that we’ve been together since we formed, unchanged. We have a close-knit and strong group, and I know from experience that’s exceptional.
What was your biggest regret?
Our AI music video – what a terrible choice that was. But you know what? Not everything you touch will turn to gold. We sometimes try different things within our little budget, and often it works out well, and sometimes it doesn’t.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
I think headlining the tent stage at Party San in Germany is still our favorite. And the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise from Miami was also an amazing experience. The best recent gig was definitely our album release show in our own city, Leiden. It was packed, and we had our friends from Release The River and Asphyx to complete the night. A truly insane evening.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
That’s a tough question. I’m often surprised by many new bands (Knocked Loose, Lorna Shore), but definitely also by the older bands that are still playing at an absolute top level. Like: Testament, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Exodus, and even Judas Priest! At festivals these days, we have a wonderful mix of the old and the new. Metal is here to stay!
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Death metal, always and forever, that’s why I still play it.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
That hard work and belief in yourself are even more important than talent. And choose a side when you start a band. A death, doom, or thrash metal band with black and grind influences won’t find an audience. Push the boundaries within a metal style and push them if necessary. Trying to combine everything into one band is pointless.
What are your guilty pleasures?
K-pop, Country, German schlager, Sami folk and Indonesian Krontjong music of course!!
Can you tell us a bit more about the current music scene in Leiden?
We’re from Leiden in South Holland. That’s near the Dutch coast, close to Rotterdam, Amsterdam, and The Hague. In Katwijk, we used to have the infamous Scum club, and in Leiden, we have the Groenoordhallen, the Stadsgehoorzaal, and now the Nobel. Our region has always had a very strong metal presence. All the legendary bands have performed here: Metallica, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Queen, Slayer, Deicide, Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Sodom, you name it! And many metal bands come from our region too: Sinister, Creepmime, Houwitser, Within Temptation, and Golden Earring.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
We’re going on a European tour in December with the mighty Sinister and the legendary Pessimist. We’ll be playing in Italy, Belgium, Germany, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, among other places. And we’re going to do some festivals again in 2026, super excited!!
What are your future plans as a band?
To improve in every aspect: songwriting, live shows, and as musicians. We also want to have played on every continent and rocked every metal festival in the world. We love what we do.
How can people best support your band?
By buying our albums, CDs, shirts, and other merchandise. And of course, by going to our concerts!
Do you have a message for your listeners?
Thanks for your interest in Graceless. Go listen to our new album, and we’ll see you on the road! Horns up, my friends!
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well