Review Summary: The Chaos of Communion
With multiple EPs under their belt, Earth Groans has established themselves as a force to be reckoned with. Over the years, the band has continuously perfected their style of hardcore/metalcore mixed with a heavy mathcore influence within their technicality. Although each effort since the debut has been more structured than the last, the band still consistently shows off their technical prowess of their songwriting.
Much like the previous EPs,
The Body features an intense variety of guitar and bass work, shifting effortlessly from chaotic dissonance to aggressive beauty. From the abrasive, chugged breakdown of “Remember” to the melodic progression of “Take,” Earth Groans fires on all cylinders, providing listeners with a vast array of riffs. The chaos is further accentuated by the constantly changing rhythms of the drum grooves, moving quickly from the pummeling simplicity of the ending of “Drink” to the speedy bursts of energy throughout “Believe.” Matching the aggression of the instrumentation, the abrasive harsh vocals drive each track along, guiding the listener through the story of
The Body. For a brief moment,
The Body offers listeners room to breathe as clean vocals are introduced into the mix, yet it never fully detracts from the chaos of the record. As Earth Groans continues to delve deeper into the realm of structured composition,
The Body builds upon its songwriting and follows a clear lyrical flow.
When looking at the EP as a whole, the title and tracks suggest a discussion of the Holy Communion. Amidst the aggression and chaos of the musicality, the lyrics point to the story of the Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ and the future of the event for Christians. As the songs present, the Holy Communion involves believers who “Take” of the bread and “Eat” from it and “Drink” from the cup to “Remember” what Christ did for those who “Believe.” With each track,
The Body focuses on how Christians should remember the Holy Communion, how it serves as a reminder of life and its purpose, and how it strengthens those who have faith.
As one of Earth Groans’ most cohesive efforts both compositionally and lyrically,
The Body continues to display the band’s immense amount of potential as they push to solidify their sound. With each release, the group has grown in songwriting and have truly begun to find their musical identity with their chaotic metalcore/hardcore style with faith-centered lyrics. Although Earth Groans still faces some issues with consistency and progression,
The Body stands as a highlight within their discography and paves the way for a future of great success in the genre.
