04.29.09
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04.17.09
02.18.09
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Feature in Shuffle Magazine
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Music Crawl 2008 feature in Free Times
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Coke Machine Glow review of Pink EP
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Free Times feature on Pink release
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Sound as Language review of The Arrangament
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Audiversity review of The Arrangement"The point is that, between all of these musical reference points - Joy Division, Nirvana, Unwound, Young Widows, Mineral, Drive Like Jehu - lies Death Becomes Even the Maiden on their own point in the middle, balancing rigid and nervous post-punk rhythms with the raw fury of primed post-hardcore."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Razorcake review of The Arrangement"Nice mix of arty punk and new wavy pop here. Tunes are diverse enough not to blend into one long drag and you can hear the work the band put into this." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Arrangement CD Release preview in the Daily Gamecock"What sets the three pieces apart is they rely on song structures that are ready to fall apart at any moment yet quickly speed ahead averting disaster."
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Jam Room flings two discs into the '07 air
Kicking off a new year of local releases, Jam Room will put two CDs on the streets this weekend. The songs were compiled from bands that recorded at the studio off Rosewood Drive in 2006. One disc is anchored by hardcore, metal and punk bands, and the other features crafty indie rock. You'll hear bands such as Death Becomes Even the Maiden, Scary Hand, Thank God, Quickfuse, Moment of Truth and Hungry Models. Jam Room is having two CD release shows this weekend (a third was held Thursday at The Whig). The first is at 6:30 tonight at New Brookland Tavern and the second is at 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Art Bar. We talked to Jam Room owner Jay Matheson about the compilation, studio war stories and his favorite new local band of 2006. What's the name of the compilation? We'll just call it the "Jam Room '06 Comp." We were going to call it "The Class of '06." There's no fancy name for it. You have two versions of the comp. What's the difference? It's one that will be distributed at New Brookland Tavern. It's purely heavy with metal and sludgy punk. The other will be distributed at Art Bar. It's generally a hodgepodge of indie and punk. What are some of your favorites on the record? There's some really good stuff (like) Baroness. There's one good band that recorded here in the summer, Kylesa. They're heavier. They're both from Savannah. It's grimy, psychedelic, tuned-down heavy. They hang out with the crusty punks. They dress in black clothes and are covered in tattoos. The Kylesa record got four stars in Revolver. Do you guys work with any band that has money to pay for studio time or are you judicious in selecting who gets to record there? Basically anybody that's got the money to pay for the time. It's a full-time place (and) we try to keep the place booked seven days a week. Unless they are hard to work with. Any memorable recording sessions at Jam Room this year? I don't think there was anything comic that happened here this year. One of the people from Kylesa didn't leave for three or four days. He didn't leave the building. They slept here and didn't shower. That's one of the things you remember. Having guys camp out, basically. Why did you decide to do three days of shows for the release? The people that go to a metal show, they don't want to hear this kind of music. They're not really tolerant. We've done a lot of heavy stuff and a lot of indie rock. You run a studio and play in several bands around town. What do you do to relax? Not enough because it seems like I do that (play in bands) in my spare time. It's a non-stop thing. I'm searching for a vacation. I didn't take one this summer. What was your favorite local band of 2006? The best new band sort of thing would be Death Becomes Even the Maiden. That's the best new band that's come along and I heard what they were doing and was impressed. They get in here and work hard at what they're doing. Anything coming up big this year at Jam Room? We'll probably do some remodeling. We're always upgrading our equipment. We spend probably $15,000 a year on new gear. We're also adding some engineers. Reach Taylor at (803) 771-8362. IF YOU GO Jam Room compilation weekend WHO: Black Tusk, Moment of Truth, From Grave of Valor, Diavolo and Quickfuse WHEN: 6:30 tonight at New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St., West Columbia TICKETS: $3 and $5 WHO: Scary Hand, The Cancer, Thank God, Hungry Models and Death Becomes Even the Maiden WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Saturday at Art Bar, 1211 Park St., (803) 929-0198. TICKETS: $3---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Otis Taylor's best shows of 2006
BRETT FLASHNICK / SPECIAL TO THE STATE
Motley Crue lead singer Vince Neil cheers on the crowd during the band's performance at the Colonial Center.
.. --> --> --> Sobriquet and Baumer, Feb. 11 at New Brookland Tavern: The electro-pop of Baumer and the post-everything math-rock of the not-soon-to-be-forgotten Sobriquet was blissfully intense. Motley Crue, Feb. 13 at the Colonial Center: Singer Vince Neil got smacked in the head with a bottle. Rock 'n' roll is awesome! The fan cam was awesome, too! Willie Nelson, Feb. 22 at The Township: Nelson barreled through his set like a nomadic cowboy. The Rempis Percussion Quartet, April 11 at Hunter-Gatherer: Jazz expands in theory and presentation when you hear this band. The Heist and The Accomplice and Orgone Accumulator, April 15 at New Brookland: The Heist released "Improvement" with an impressive, high-energy set after Orgone's brilliant shoegazing slow burn. Richie Havens, April 22, 3 Rivers Music Festival: The set was minimal (guitar, foot-stomp bass), pristine and gut-wrenching. Remembering it makes me miss the festival already. Sunshone Still and Meredith Bragg, April 24 at The (Art) Garage: It was a show to share, but so few were there to see. It was intimate, kind of like listening to their songs in my living room. It was cozy, almost dreamy. Solveig Slettahjall, May 27at The Cistern in Charleston, during Spoleto: Sitting outdoors with tree-lined jazz vocals, a pianist with a sampler and a "Take it With Me" Tom Waits cover was something to treasure. Venice is Sinking, May 28 at Art Bar: After "Andropolis," local guitarist Ken DuBard said, "That made Mercury Rev look like a bunch of losers." Death Becomes Even the Maiden, July 1 at Art Bar: Overhyped? Please. Scott Taylor got booted from the show, it had so much buzz. And the guys delivered brash, pulsing and deconstructionistic rhythms. What else did you expect? "Maya's Big Vermilion," July 29 at Red Tub: Lorrie Rivers, a lounge-style singer with a captivating voice and ambitious ideas, unveiled "Maya's Big Vermilion," a project with local film director Rand Courtney. The show featured Rivers' songs with Courtney on electronics and visuals. It took performance in Columbia to a new level. Band of Horses, Sept. 18 at Headliners: The May show at NBT was unbearably hot, but this show was like Goldie's porridge — just right. Ben Bridwell's vocals haunt and soothe at the same time. Other high spots: Merle Haggard, the Mountain Goats, Gretchen Wilson, The Walkmen, Spoon, The Movement, The Coup, Thank God, the Hold Steady and The Movement.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------..
The Playlist By Patrick Wall It's no secret that we here at Free Times love local music. And when we look back at a year we thought was disappointing in the fields of film, sports and popular music, it's good to know that Columbia is still alive and rocking as hard as ever. That said, we present you with 10 of our favorite local releases of the year (at least according to Playlist standards): Orgone Accumulator, self-titled
From the dense atmospheric melody of "Progress" to the frantic psych-punk of "Metallic/Organic" to the quiet, cathartic beauty of "OAOAO," the gone-too-soon art-rock foursome crafted what is from top to bottom one of the most outstanding releases not just in Columbia, but anywhere. Thank God, For Pregnant Virgins
Building on the solid foundation of last year's self-titled EP, Thank God is a veritable force to be reckoned with. Equal parts brain and brawn, the hardcore quintet fuses thrashing guitars, kinetic drumming and hyperactive, stream-of-consciousness lyrics into a brutally brilliant barrage of crushing quickies. The Heist and the Accomplice, Improvement
Improvement is an apt title for the Heist's sophomore effort. Sure, the home-recorded production doesn't stack up against the studio-slick pop of its debut, Vocals and Orchestrations, but focus here is on the songs ‹ Improvement finds the Heist older, tougher and a little meaner, toning down the jangle and getting a bit rougher around the edges ‹ and it's all the better for it. Preach, Garveyism
Hands down the best local hip-hop release of the year. Call it the power of positive thinking: Preach eschews bullets, bitches and bling for a street-wise sense of urban nobility and the value of love and brotherhood anchored by a soundtrack of old-school soul and jazz samples. And for those looking for an anthem of hometown pride, look no further than "South Coca."
Death Becomes Even the Maiden, self-titled 7"
We know we've extolled the virtues of Heyward Sims' athletic guitar wizardry, Eric Greenwood's penchant for perfect post-punk basslines and Chris Powell's Animal-like skills behind the skins many times before. But we'd be remiss if we didn't mention them again, what with the claustrophobic "At Panic" and the dynamic "Changing Trains" getting repeated spins on our iPod. Dig that red vinyl, too! American Gun, Dark Southern Hearts
"It's not fair," Donald Merckle laments on "Modern Art Blues," one of the standout tracks on American Gun's first full-length. And it's not fair, really, that this band isn't revered more widely than it is ‹ Dark Southern Hearts' souped-up Americana picks up where Uncle Tupelo left off oh-so-many years ago. Danielle Howle, Thank You, Mark
We're sure the modest Ms. Howle will direct all the credit to her producer (Hootie and the Blowfish's Mark Bryan), but the fact is that this is the chanteuse's most diverse record to date, and her voice is as powerful and mellifluous as ever. The Microwaves, Clean Up on Aisle Kitchen
There are no sacred cows in the eyes of The Microwaves' Zander Lyvers, and his poisonously funny stabs at political, religious and pop culture blend smoothly with tuneful, arpeggiated guitar lines, simple-but-effective keyboards and effortlessly steady drumming. Ryan Monroe, Pangroid
The former Captain Easy songwriter plays space cowboy on his first solo venture, exploring the outer realms of off-kilter pop with unsurprising aplomb. Hot Lava Monster, The Belly of a Whale
Y'all want some rock 'n' roll, don't ya? Well the Monster is more than happy to dish out nine tracks of guitar-heavy rock frenzy on this solid follow-up to The Way of the Dinosaur EP. The Playlist is a discussion of life, the universe and everything, but mostly music. Let us know what you think: Email music@free-times.com. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charleston City Paper
November 15, 2006
52/5: In-Store The hard-hitting post--post-rock band Death Becomes Even the Maiden (from Columbia) will perform a free in-store set "on the rug" at 52.5 records on Fri. Nov. 17 at 7 p.m. "They play powerful, frantic indie-rock," says shopkeep Clay Scales. "It should appeal to fans of Shellac, Fugazi and the like." –TBL
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Free Times
September 27, 2006
It might be a tough pill for some to swallow, but this band has not needed things like hype and nepotism to quickly become one of the town's biggest acts. This is an example of merit getting its proper due in a market that is often starved for good indie rock. Remember: "The music scene has been waiting for this." Lest we forget, Eric Greenwood, Heyward Sims, and Chris Powell belonged to three very good bands before this project, and their pedigree shines. Their pulverizing sound is the product of meticulous songwriting played with reckless abandon--like ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead through a Fugazi microscope. This performance marks the release of a two-song 7" recorded at the Jam Room and released through German label Sie Gesagt.
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.... Free Times
August 23, 2006
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Free Times
August 16, 2006
"Featuring ex-members of Bolt and From Safety To Where, Death Becomes Even The Maiden manages to capture the kinetic urgency of the latter, while shedding itself from the prog-rock trappings of the former..." P. Wall
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The State
July 6, 2006
Review | Death Becomes Even the Maiden
Written by By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR., columbiatunes.com
Thursday, 06 July 2006
So what did you think? It seemed like everyone I knew at ..Art.. ..Bar.. asked me the question after Death Becomes Even the Maidens debut set at ....Art.. ..Bar.... July 1. The band waited almost a year to play its first show, so if the room felt hyped, it was because it was. So what did you think?.... It seemed like everyone I knew at ..Art.. ..Bar.. asked me the question after Death Becomes Even the Maidens debut set at ....Art.. ..Bar.... July 1. The band waited almost a year to play its first show, so if the room felt hyped, it was because it was..... (Scott Taylor was yelling "hype" and "Free Times writer" at the band before it played and unfortunately he got escorted out. He had the right idea, but shouldve kept to himself.) .... The set was loud, the decibels clawing at my ears. The music pulsed the bass and guitar weaving through hyper ecstatic drumming..... It was just the way I like it, but not what I expected. .... During the first song, "No. 7," (there arent titles yet, only numbers), I felt I was trying to jump rope, trying to catch a rhythm..... I had taken what I knew of the band Heyward "5000" Sims (Bolt), Eric Greenwood (From Safety to Where and the Free Times writer) and Chris Powell (Haunted Bulldozer) and imposed upon Death what I thought it should sound like..... It was during the second song, "No. 3" to us, that I began feeling what the band really sounded like. .... The former bands melded well. Heyward 5000 is still technical and punchy with his guitar playing, while ....Greenwood....s bass lines remain low and dynamic..... Quite possibly the most impressive aspect of the bands debut is how thick Powells drumming has become..... The last song of the set was the best. It was the breakdown anchored in tension. It was smooth and flawless, and the screaming vocals were pleasant to hear..... I tapped my friend on the shoulder and said, "this is it.".... As everyone was asking me what I thought, I turned the question around on them. I heard "powerful," "restrained" and "something different for ....Columbia....." .... I said: "I cant wait to hear them again." Hopefully I wont have to wait as long..... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The State
June 30, 2006
Eight things
Written by By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR.,columbiatunes.com
Friday, 30 June 2006
In no particular order, here are 8 Death Becomes Even the Maiden Things.1. Death Becomes Even the maiden is playing its first show. The critics (at the very least, me) will be there to see how Eric Greenwood, the bands bassist and vocalist, performs. ....Greenwood.... also happens to be a Free Times music critic, quite possibly the best the weekly rag has ever had. No pressure..... In no particular order, here are 8 Death Becomes Even the Maiden Things.... 1. Death Becomes Even the Maiden is playing its first show. .... The critics (at the very least, me) will be there to see how Eric Greenwood, the bands bassist and vocalist, performs. ....Greenwood.... also happens to be a Free Times music critic, quite possibly the best the weekly rag has ever had. No pressure..... 2. Whats with the death bands? .... DFA, DFA 1979, Eagles of Death Metal, Murder by Death, Death (though thats simply generic. Come on), Death Cab For Cutie, A Death For Every Sin, Death Vessel...OK, you get it. Lets pray the music isnt morbid. ....3. Forget "Rock Star: Supernova." How about Rock Star: Chris Powell? .... Powell was a fan of guitarist Heyward 5000s former band Bolt and Greenwoods former band From Safety to Where. Now hes playing with two musicians he admired..... "From Safety to Where was the first band I ever saw in this town when I was deciding whether or not to come to college down here," Powell said in an interview last week. .... "So we convinced you," ....Greenwood.. asked....... "I was rocked. You dont get this kind of rock in ....Spartanburg....," Powell said. "It didnt have no part in it.".... 4. Its so hard to say goodbye...No it really isnt..... Bolt and From Safety to Where were two of my favorite bands in ....Columbia..... (FSTW played my birthday party). Of course I had to bring up the band breakups with Heyward 5000 and ....Greenwood..... The irony of the questioning thickened when ....Greenwood....s former From Safety to Where bandmate Steven Walters walked into The Whig, where the interview was held. Though ....Greenwood...., Heyward 5000 and Powell said band breakups are worse than those with girlfriends (Heyward sent a letter to a former bandmate), each said it was necessary and there wasnt any guilt. .... "Shouldve done it years before," ....Greenwood.... said..... "I was ready to do something different other than instrumental, whatever," Heyward 5000 said. .... 5. Who said this?.... "Id like to be a badass frontman, but I think my skill levels lie much better behind the kit." .... 6. What can bands learn from Death Becomes Even the Maiden?.... How to wait (and wait, and wait, and wait) until youre completely ready to play live. Powell said one of his other bands didnt do the same. "We came together because we had a show booked before we practiced. Our first show was booked before we had one song written." .... Death, ....Greenwood.... said, "is the polar opposite of that.".... 7. All three have a healthy respect for Nirvana..... 8. One of the early band names was Architect (or a variation of), but Spin.com had a ....Kansas City.... band by the name of Architects as its band the day when Heyward 5000 told me. I broke the news to them at The Whig. I remember because I was on my second date with my girlfriend. (The date was Feb. 28, just in case)..... ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The State
June 29, 2006
Written by By OTIS R. TAYLOR JR., columbiatunes.com
Thursday, 29 June 2006
The music scene has been waiting for this.
Death Becomes Even the Maiden will play its first show Saturday night at Art Bar.
Not since Newgenics a supergroup, if you will, that featured members of Marion, Guyana Punchline and Damn. The Sun in 2004 has a bands debut been this hyped.
The demise of post-punks From Safety to Where and Tron-like agitators Bolt both popular bands on the scene led to the incarnation of Death Becomes Even the Maiden. Eric Greenwood (FSTW) and Heyward 5000 (Bolt) began making the band not to be confused with Diddys MTV version last year.
One thing, though: Few people know what Death Becomes Even the Maiden sounds like. Will the emphatic, screeching vocals of FSTW or the zooming and darting guitar chords of Bolt still be present?
Its melodic indie thrashcore, drummer Chris Powell, formally of Haunted Bulldozer and Deaths third member, said during a recent interview at The Whig.
I dont know what thrashcore means, Greenwood responded.
I dont either, Powell admitted.
Greenwood said in May that Death lurches beyond the neo-post-punk aesthetic to incorporate intricate guitar architecture, rumbling bass tones and a frenzied, propulsive rhythm with desiccating vocals.
That doesnt make it any clearer, does it?
What is clear from talking to the three is that meticulous preparation went into the songwriting.
(It was) rewrites and rewrites, and reworkings and new ideas. Things were constantly changing, Greenwood said. It was a total attitude of never being satisfied.
The guys wonder whether they took too long, thus making the hype for their debut ridiculous, though when they began writing last August, Heyward 5000 did say, theres no way were playing before 2006. (Maybe he meant seven months into 2006.)
The months since have been spent toiling in a Rosewood Drive storage shed. And driving around in their cars, listening to the previous nights work. Death is definitely a take-home band.
We ran into trouble at one point because Chris was listening to the old versions, Heyward 5000 said.
That didnt make Heyward too happy, Greenwood said.
Greenwood is the unquestioned mouthpiece (what frontman isnt?); Powell adds the levity necessary to keep bands together for longer than two years. Its apparent that Heyward 5000 is the vocal maestro during production.
I definitely took a less aggressive approach. We kind of balance each other out, Greenwood said. Heyward is hyper-critical.
I think I stayed mean, probably, Heyward 5000 added.
There was a lot of me having to kill my ego, Powell confirmed.
Band arguments dont become personal, but Heyward sometimes reinforces his point too much.
What did Chris tell me one night? I dont need any more commentary, he said. I do go on.
At least you admit it, Powell said. Heyward will tell me exactly how to play my part and it will kill me ... and then Ill do it the way he says to do it and Ill like it more.
Death Becomes Even the Maiden has 10 songs. The first one well hear Saturday is Greenwoods favorite. Fans of From Safety to Where will notice an immediate difference in Greenwoods singing.
Theres definitely obvious choruses, which is something sort of new for me he said. It wasnt intentional. I find it really easy to sing over Heywards guitar parts.
Weve waited long enough to hear Death Becomes Even the Maiden. If the bands music is anything like talking about the bands music, we should be pleasantly satisfied.
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Free Times
June 28, 2006
While Columbia's indie elite are all aquiver about the much-anticipated debut of Death Becomes Even the Maiden...for a band whose bassist/vocalist wrote a piece for us last May on how to choose a good band name, Death Become Even the Maiden is a head-scratcher of a handle. This all-star trio incorporates the guitar dexterity of Heyward Sims (Bolt), the post-punk panache of Eric Greenwood (From Safety to Where) and the drumming of Chris Powell (Haunted Bulldozer), whose face contortions are as entertaining as his skill with the skins. The band's music is nowhere near as pretentious as its name, taking its cues mostly from Greenwood's former band but marvelously employing the talents of his new mates for an altogether turbulent tempest. K. Langston