Maximum Metal Rating Legend

From the Grave - Hope, It's The Devil's Favorite Poison - 2006 - Indy

Track Listingno track listing as of now

Down-tuning one’s guitar is the standard for metal bands nowadays, as the ‘heavy’ status quo continues to expand. Drop D is de rigueur, Drop C isn’t unheard of, Drop B is maybe getting obscure…

But who has ever heard of Drop G? From the Grave have. ‘Drop Godzilla’, they call it. The concept may seem gimmicky, but damned if they don’t know how to pull it off. Their muddy breakdowns and strong bass presence recall the crushing assault of Converge, but without the maniacal, hardcore edge. They favor instead a more melodic path, with hooks and leads reminiscent of Killswitch Engage. From the Grave’s guitarists use seven strings, so their transitions between sludge metal rumbles on the lowest string and more earthly tones on the standard six are well performed and actually quite palatable. Indeed, apart from this extravagant tuning method, From the Grave do not otherwise try to sidestep conventional techniques too dramatically, resulting in approachable metalcore that lingers on the edge of familiarity while still tweaking the standards.

Each member rises ‘From the Grave’, if you will, of earlier bands from Chicagoland’s underground scene, making this current project a more focused, experienced core of musicians than one would expect for a troupe so young. Though the provided listening sample was brief, it is apparent that From The Grave know their goals and have to tools to achieve them. In fact, the band already has a twelve-track CD forthcoming, although they were only formed in February of this year.

DIY-styled aficionados who prefer the raw energy of a young local band to the polished, impersonal products of today’s larger labels will hopefully take notice. And within the local scene, From the Grave’s undoubtedly bowel-shaking live performances will certainly turn some heads. Culling the positive traits from nearly every strain of modern core, From the Grave are efficient and effectively heavy.



--Etiam 10.12.06