Early Grave
Violent Winter
***and1/2 out of *****
The hardcore/punk outfit from Philadelphia features members of Suck Lords, Krigshoder, Delco MFs, and Phantom and play a blistering style of pounding heavy tunes that never slow down to catch a breath. The opening combination of "Combat" and "Rawhead" just may be this album's highpoint as the group shoot out of the gate with tons of tempo changes and musical firepower in the brief openers that twist and turn around slamming, shifting force.
Vocally Early Grave lean into a guttural, black metal-like style which buries all lyrics under raspy wheezes and screams. The vocals act as another instrument rather than lyrical power, as the band plays in the low budget horror realm. However, when there are slight shifts to gang/backing vocal parts, such as on the exuberant "Baby Blood", the fantastically crashing "Corpse Oil" and the screeching "Theater of Horror" the tracks are instantly elevated.
The rampaging metal of "Scalping" the lightning guitar work displayed during "Execution" and "Grim Monument", with it's rumbling bass and drums supporting dynamite solos, are all killer. The chugging guitars of "Black Easter" motor along while the the ripping title track and heavy stomping of "Abhuman" explodes with ferocity.
The tracks are brief, but never one-note as the band displays clear talent throughout the marauding record, never giving an inch even when the finale "Fear Liath" fades out as the band sounds like they could keep up this energy forever. A strong full length debut from Early Grave, Violent Winter is a hardcore/punk monster unleashed.
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