Earthen Grave
Encyclopedia
Earthen Grave is an American
thrash
/doom metal
band
from Chicago
, Illinois
, formed in 2008, featuring violin
virtuoso
Rachel Barton Pine
.
doom metal band) and writing down various doom metal guitar riffs. Looking for who might be able to play this style of music with him, Jason reached out to drummer Scott Davidson, General Manager of Chicago's WPJX
'Rebel Radio' heavy metal radio station, and "things just snowballed.”
They then enlisted bassist
Ron Holzner, formerly of Trouble
, to help with this new project. Jason says of the first jam as a trio, “The first rehearsal was tough, but after we sorted out some issues with downtuning, things really jelled.”
The trio put out a classified ad on craigslist.org looking for a vocalist, and Mark Weiner responded the very next day.
Scott, who had known violin virtuoso
Rachel Barton Pine
for many years through the Chicago metal scene, invited her to a rehearsal. Until this point in her career, Rachel had played (including metal) on a traditional acoustic violin, but participated in the band rehearsal using her new amplified six-string "Viper", an extended-range instrument related to the electric violin invented by Mark Wood
. The band invited Rachel to join them shortly thereafter.
Tony Spillman was the final member to join Earthen Grave, having previously worked with such bands as Ministry
, Prong, and Trouble.
In early June 2009, the band spent a weekend Farview Recording in St. Charles, IL and recorded their first demo, Dismal Times.
On the evening of July 11, 2010, Earthen Grave performed at Chicago's Millennium Park
as part of the Great Performers of Illinois celebration.
In January 2011, the band was named the "2010 Best New Entertainer" at the Chicago Music Awards.
's "Today" program on September 25, 2009 following a profile segment focusing on Rachel.
The band also received a short profile on the Chicago Reader's The List ("Critics' Choices and other notable concerts") by local music critic Monica Kendrick, specifically noting the unique sound brought to the group by Rachel's violin.
The band was also broadcast live December 16, 2009, on WGN-TV
's "Midday News" program.
Besides the level of media coverage unusual for the genre, the young Earthen Grave has, as of January 2010, already opened
for some big names of metal, such as Megadeth
, Pentagram
and Anvil
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
thrash
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
/doom metal
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, formed in 2008, featuring violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
Rachel Barton Pine
Rachel Barton Pine
Rachel Barton Pine is a violinist from Chicago. Considered a child prodigy at the violin, she started playing at the age of 3 and a half. She played at many renowned venues as a child and teenager...
.
History
Earthen Grave was founded late in 2008, as Jason Muxlow was working on a new album for The Living Fields, listening to a lot of Saint Vitus (an 80s1980s
File:1980s decade montage.png|thumb|400px|From left, clockwise: The first Space Shuttle, Columbia, lifted off in 1981; American President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev eased tensions between the two superpowers, leading to the end of the Cold War; The Fall of the Berlin Wall in...
doom metal band) and writing down various doom metal guitar riffs. Looking for who might be able to play this style of music with him, Jason reached out to drummer Scott Davidson, General Manager of Chicago's WPJX
WPJX
WPJX 1500 is an AM radio station, licensed to Zion, Illinois, that airs a Spanish format since February 2011. The station is owned by Polnet who also owns WKTA Evanston, WNVR Vernon Hills, and WEEF Highland Park-Deerfield. The station transmits with a directional 250 watts of power from 3 towers...
'Rebel Radio' heavy metal radio station, and "things just snowballed.”
They then enlisted bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Ron Holzner, formerly of Trouble
Trouble (band)
Trouble is an American doom metal band noted as one of the pioneers of their genre, alongside bands such as Candlemass and Saint Vitus. The band created a distinct style taking influences of the British heavy metal bands Black Sabbath and Judas Priest, and psychedelic rock of the 1970s...
, to help with this new project. Jason says of the first jam as a trio, “The first rehearsal was tough, but after we sorted out some issues with downtuning, things really jelled.”
The trio put out a classified ad on craigslist.org looking for a vocalist, and Mark Weiner responded the very next day.
Scott, who had known violin virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
Rachel Barton Pine
Rachel Barton Pine
Rachel Barton Pine is a violinist from Chicago. Considered a child prodigy at the violin, she started playing at the age of 3 and a half. She played at many renowned venues as a child and teenager...
for many years through the Chicago metal scene, invited her to a rehearsal. Until this point in her career, Rachel had played (including metal) on a traditional acoustic violin, but participated in the band rehearsal using her new amplified six-string "Viper", an extended-range instrument related to the electric violin invented by Mark Wood
Mark Wood (violinist)
Mark Winthrop Wood is an electric violinist, as well as the founder of Wood Violins, a company that makes unique electric violins. He is also an Emmy-winning composer. His music and strings education program has been featured on news programs nationwide....
. The band invited Rachel to join them shortly thereafter.
Tony Spillman was the final member to join Earthen Grave, having previously worked with such bands as Ministry
Ministry (band)
Ministry is an American industrial metal band founded by lead singer Al Jourgensen in 1981. Originally a synthpop outfit, Ministry changed its style to industrial metal in the late 1980s. Ministry found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its most successful album Psalm 69: The Way to...
, Prong, and Trouble.
In early June 2009, the band spent a weekend Farview Recording in St. Charles, IL and recorded their first demo, Dismal Times.
On the evening of July 11, 2010, Earthen Grave performed at Chicago's Millennium Park
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a public park located in the Loop community area of Chicago in Illinois, USA and originally intended to celebrate the millennium. It is a prominent civic center near the city's Lake Michigan shoreline that covers a section of northwestern Grant Park. The area was previously...
as part of the Great Performers of Illinois celebration.
In January 2011, the band was named the "2010 Best New Entertainer" at the Chicago Music Awards.
Media / Attention
Since releasing their demo EP, the band has been receiving promising attention from even mainstream media, performing live on NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's "Today" program on September 25, 2009 following a profile segment focusing on Rachel.
The band also received a short profile on the Chicago Reader's The List ("Critics' Choices and other notable concerts") by local music critic Monica Kendrick, specifically noting the unique sound brought to the group by Rachel's violin.
The band was also broadcast live December 16, 2009, on WGN-TV
WGN-TV
WGN-TV, virtual channel 9 , is the CW-affiliated television station in Chicago, Illinois built, signed on, and owned by the Tribune Company. WGN-TV's studios and offices are located at 2501 W...
's "Midday News" program.
Besides the level of media coverage unusual for the genre, the young Earthen Grave has, as of January 2010, already opened
Opening act
An opening act or warm-up act is an entertainer or entertainment act that performs at a concert before the featured entertainer...
for some big names of metal, such as Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Pentagram
Pentagram (band)
Pentagram is a American heavy metal band from Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of doom metal. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost...
and Anvil
Anvil (band)
Anvil is a Canadian heavy metal band comprising Steve "Lips" Kudlow , Robb Reiner , and Glenn Five...
.
Band members
- Mark Weiner—Vocals
- Rachel Barton PineRachel Barton PineRachel Barton Pine is a violinist from Chicago. Considered a child prodigy at the violin, she started playing at the age of 3 and a half. She played at many renowned venues as a child and teenager...
-- Extended-range electric violinElectric violinAn electric violin is a violin equipped with an electronic output of its sound. The term most properly refers to an instrument purposely made to be electrified with built-in pickups, usually with a solid body... - Tony Spillman -- GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Jason Muxlow—Guitar
- Ron Holzner -- BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Scott Davidson -- Drums