Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
From the Grave
Title
Hope, It's The Devil's Favorite Poison
Type
LP/EP
Company
Independent
YOR
2006
Style
Heavy/Extreme
10/27/2006 - Review by: Etiam
From the Grave - Hope, It's The Devil's Favorite Poison - 2006 - Indy

Track Listing
no 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

  • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
    2.5 :AVE RATING

ALL REVIEWS FOR: FROM THE GRAVE
TITLE
DOR
COMPANY
REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
Hope, It's The Devil's Favorite Poison
2006
Independent
Etiam10/27/2006
2.5

ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: FROM THE GRAVE
INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


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