Death Becomes Even The Maiden

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. --Kevin Langston - Free Times

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. --Otis Taylor - The State (newspaper), Columbia, SC

Comprised of members of deaprted local favorites From Safety To Where, Bolt, and Haunted Bulldozer, Death BEcomes Even The Maiden is the very definition of a power trio--assertively deft guitar-play melds with fluid, Peter Hook-esque basslines and steady, inventive drumming to create a terse, frantic sound that lies somewhere between the fierce angularity of Unwound and the raucous riot of Nirvana. --Pat Wall - Free Times (Columbia, SC)

If true happiness is a gun warm to the touch, then unequivocal ecstasy—for this Capitol City triage at least—is in the wrist-breaking kickback. The B side from their hot-off-the-lathe Pink 7”, this pillage-n’-plunder anti-anthem was a session leftover from last year’s The Arrangement EP. Nuked and with enough feedback though, one man’s scraps become another derelict’s feast—and while you certainly can’t gorge yourself here on words alone (bassist/iron shriek Eric Greenwood proffers only a quatrain’s worth of transgressive tropes), by the time this one is over, a pistol whipping would be a welcome respite from the post-punk pith still knotting itself in your belly.
- Logan K. Young - Coke Machine Glow

Eric Greenwood is a world-class screamer. He’s right up there with In Utero-era Kurt Cobain. Just give his band Death Becomes Even the Maiden’s “At Panic” a spin, and you’ll hear it for yourself. It’s a beautiful thing — this is if throat-shredding vocals and a Nirvana-meets-the-Police-by-way-of-Fugazi sound is your type of music. Of course, that particular style of singing takes its toll. “Screaming is never a good idea, if you’re worried about saving your voice,” Greenwood says. “But I’ve only had one real blowout. I’ve learned how to scream without shredding my throat any more than I have to.” The Columbia-based outfit features Greenwood on vocals and bass, Chris Powell on drums, and Heyward Sims on guitar/keys. They deliver the noise rock goods on their latest EP, The Arrangement (Vie Devant Soi). When asked to describe their sound, Greenwood says, “We sound like when you hit the reset button on an old arcade Mrs. Pac-Man machine. But sexier. Or, minimal post-punk with aggressive dynamics. Your call.” —Chris Haire - Charleston City Paper

Death Becomes Even the Maiden - The Arrangement EP / Vie Devant Soi

On Saturday we mentioned briefly how the braintrust behind Factory Records branched out to reach the enthusiastic young group of musicians on the other side of the English Channel which led to the creation of Factory Benelux. Over two decades on from artists like Marine and Minny Pops, Death Becomes Even the Maiden found themselves in a similar situation experienced in reverse for pressings of their latest release, The Arrangement: The Columbia, South Carolina trio opted for Brussels label Vie Devant Soi.

As a matter of coincidence, "Control" is the first of five songs presented here. This is by far the cleanest track on the album and, as a direct result, sounds the most like Joy Division and Factory anything. The difference is that there's no macabre monotone in bassist and lead singer Eric Greenwood's voice. The man is pure Jehu, utterly Unwound in his vocal delivery. You get that in the chorus of "Control," but for the most part clean guitar parts courtesy Heyward Sims and rapid-fire drummer Chris Powell's hi-hat madness dominate proceedings. Not too surprising when you consider Greenwood's old band was named From Safety to Where.

"We Have Your Diamonds" is a better example of grimy guitars and Soda City scribe Tug Baker's accurate description of 'the Maiden as "Nirvana doing Joy Division covers." In other words, Greenwood is more willing to let his excellent screaming talents loose on this track. You'd never know it from the introduction, but eventually the song blossoms into something that would not sound out of place in Louisville or San Diego a decade ago. "Identify" follows in this same path with a lot more crashing cymbals and a ringing guitar sound piercing through the chorus. It's a vivid display of getting the most out of what you've got.

As a fan of feedback, "To Your End" was a personal favorite of this particular listener. For me, "To Your End" represents the exact opposite end of the spectrum from "Control:" All of Death Becomes Even the Maiden's most chaotic elements reveal themselves for the loudest song on the EP and a perfect foil for the concluding track, "Frames." I might get a bollocking for saying this, but "Frames" also has ghosts of early Mineral with only Chris Simpson's wailing thankfully absent. The music is straight from a The Power of Failing. b-side, and I mean that in the best possible way.

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. Considering how easy it would be to simply kick back with a 40 down at the Congaree and listen to Kenny Chesney, one of Columbia's finest bands has backed up their debut 7" with a better EP that shows how alive one of the quietest college towns in the Southeast really is. Sorry, did I say quiet? Bring earplugs. You'll need them.

Posted by pmmasterson at 11:12 AM - Audiversity

Death Becomes Even The Maiden sees the remnants of three former Columbia bands coming together to pool their talents. Bassist/vocalist Eric Greenwood fronted the post-punk fixture From Safety To Where, Heyward Sims played guitar in the instrumental outfit Bolt and Chris Powell manned the skins for Haunted Bulldozer. DBETM released their debut, a two-song seven inch record, in 2006. Stylistically, those two songs bore a great resemblance to From Safety To Where’s brand of angular rock. That is why The Arrangement comes as such a pleasant surprise. There is tremendous growth shown and DBETM are able find their own unique voice within these five songs. From Safety To Where dabbled in new wave territory but nothing like DBETM do on The Arrangement. Greenwood’s vocals take on a new dimension as he exercises a great deal of restraint here. That is key as it gives the nimble guitar playing of Heyward Sims room to breathe. Greenwood’s pounding bass and the frenetic drumming of Powell only work to enhance the DBETM’s musical landscape. The power and the aggression remain but Greenwood and his bandmates have focused on the quieter aspects of their songwriting. Meaning you can finally hear the beauty that lies beneath all the chaos. - Sound As Language

Saturday night at The Whig, Columbia can stop waiting for the new release from local phenoms Death Becomes Even The Maiden. Comprised of bassist-slash-vocalist Eric Greenwood (ex-From Safety To Where), guitarist Heyward Sims (ex-Bolt) and drummer Chris Powell (ex-Haunted Bulldozer), Death Becomes Even the Maiden has already garnered a well-deserved reputation as one of the best bands to come out of Columbia’s music scene in years, and this five-track EP, entitled The Arrangement, only gives that distinction more credence. Recorded at the Jam Room with engineer Steve Slavich, The Arrangement is another example of just how important it is for local musicians to have someone they trust behind the boards. According to Sims, “Steve knows how I work, and he and I just work quickly.” The album is technically brilliant: Greenwood’s vocals are especially impressive as he switches from melodic singing to scorching screams, giving his just-plain-fed-up lyrics weight; Sims’ guitarwork is as dexterous as ever, switching between nimble runs, heavy crunches and various squeals and beeps with seemingly effortless ease; then there’s Powell’s drums, tight and thunderous like the controlled explosions of a demolition crew. Like the band’s live shows, the EP is short and to the point — an ethic the band believes in. “Keep people wanting more,” is Greenwood’s credo, and the band certainly has. Speaking of Sims’ ability to constantly bring new material to the table, Greenwood says, “He’s just got so many ideas going; he’s so musical.” The members’ different backgrounds definitely lend to a unique sound. While not a perfect description, the best this poor music journalist can come up with is that Death Becomes Even the Maiden sounds like Nirvana doing Joy Division covers. But of course, all of Columbia will be able to judge for themselves on Saturday at The Whig, when they get to take home the best local recording of the year. Five bucks gets you into the show as well as a copy of the EP. Be sure to get there early. And bring earplugs. - Go Go IndieRocket!

Combine Cobainian snarls with the dark, exacting riffage of metal, and brisk drums equally indebted to the Police and post-punk, and you've got evidence that Columbia, SC has come quite a ways since the days of Hootie. In one sense, it's pre-Blowfish: the energy of DBETM is pure grunge. - CNET

Do you remember the days of an intimate music scene, friends in smoky bars, local bands with promise, and that infectious youthful enthusiasm? Sure. And fondly?

Playing before a small crowd of locals and eager postrock enthusiasts recently, Columbia, South Carolina band Death Becomes Even the Maiden began its CD-EP release show quietly and without fanfare. Later, what I took away from the show--besides a sweaty body, sore muscles, and a ridiculous smile--was how the immediacy of music as a personal and interactive ritual can become so lost in the digital era...or at least in mine.

Skipping the "waxing poetic" business, these guys rocked. This Shakespearean-titled group spoon-fed the indie-rock crowd the way I remember it from yesteryear: analog, loud, and fun. The crazy buzzing bass lines, a drummer who smashed his sweaty way through fast-paced songs, and a guitarist who looked as if he was dancing with live power lines, all that made me thrilled not only to be there, but glad I'd brought along my camera.

I first thought of Joy Division, then Unwound, and then I stopped comparing and let the band rock my face off.

If you haven't been excited by a new band that renews your enthusiasm, then open up and say "yeah!" Along with Death Becomes Even the Maiden there are plenty more bands out there pushing envelopes that aren't software-sequenced or sampled from sci-fi. Plus, it's refreshing to be able to approach the band after a show, talk, and buy a CD straight from them.

As digital downloads become ubiquitous and grandmothers shop for iPods in Wal-Mart, music scenes and record stores are suffering. So the next time you're bored on a Saturday night, tempt the fates and go out to see something awesome that's not filled with CG effects and Hollywood A-listers. Go see live music.

- CNET