Early Graves - We: The Guillotine
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What a difference a name makes! Apiary were a technical metalcore outfit that put out one record of faceless Dillinger Escape Plan worship. After various lineup changes and touring-related adversities, they re-assessed themselves. They found they had no original members left; perhaps they also discovered their sound was obsolete. So they renamed themselves Early Graves, and changed their sound wholesale. Now they’re a seething stew of thrash, crust punk, hardcore, and early Entombed. (The transformation is like Demiricous’ between their first and second records.) Today Is the Day’s Steve Austin recorded We: The Guillotine (Ironclad/Metal Blade, 2008), and it’s his best work in a while. The guitars are thick and fuzzy, while ragged roars slather abrasion on top. Austin and Oxbow’s Eugene Robinson lend their mighty lungs to a few cuts. Many bands yell and scream, but few belch forth such sincere urrrgh. I’m not glad that bad things have happened to Apiary/Early Graves. But I’m glad they’ve inspired such magnificent sadness, anger, and filth.
