Review: “Tongue Tied” by Earth Groans

South Dakota Metallic Hardcore heavyweights Earth Groans have been treading the boards and embracing the EP format for the past six years churning out short bursts of energy since 2017 via Solid State Records. 2018’s “Rahab” put them on our radar and we haven’t looked back since, joining their devout fan base and enjoying 2018’s “Prettiest Of Things“, 2020’s “Waste” and 2021’s “The Body“. Does that make us biased? Not a bit of it, there have been plenty of bands we’re fans of whose records we’ve called out as disappointing when they don’t live up to expectations. A seemingly more personal record, “Tongue Tied” finds vocalist Jeremy Schaeffer explaining that he was actually born with the condition, his tongue fused to the bottom of his mouth and having to be freed at birth. Here it is a has been used as a metaphor for anyone finding their voice and way to connect with others, something that he has admitted to struggling with in his earlier life…

A haunting and sinister moment bursts into flames of pure violent anguish as Earth Groans roar to life with opening cut and title track, a powerful statement piece that finds Schaeffer at his monsterous best. Stuccato riff infestations fly in all directions as the band create something to incite Mosh pit violence in a release of pure cathartic energy and one almighty head rush. A deeply personal lyric makes for a more emotive performance vocally and that bleeds through the bandages into “Overgrown“, another turbulent cut of pure ferocity that finds the band in firey form. Reaching up into the void and touching Deathcore extremes at points, a piece of melodic lead acts as respite and a forewarning of a huge breakdown section that requires a tow truck once it’s over in similar fashion to “Nomad” era Kublai Khan.

The tidal wave of Metallic Hardcore riffs and tsunami of rhythmic battery keeps coming with “Over The Edge“, a call to arms as much as the Mosh pit as the band pack the gunpowder down tight and provide all the venom that the lyrical narrative requires to get the message across, while at the same time capturing the renound live energy like lightening in a bottle. Putting the pedal to the Metal with pure punk rock fury, “Same Blood” flies through, stripping back some of the guitar intricacies in favour of a Deez Nuts style gallop. It works incredibly well as a change up with variety being the spice of life. Turning things up to 10 “Discordant Symphony” finds the band attacking with angular riffs that float between Nu-Metalcore and Deathcore levels of spice. It finds them in similar territory to bands like Alpha Wolf which should be no surprise as Schaeffer is a self confessed fan of Impending Doom and even had Brook Reeves himself make a guest vocal appearance. An absolute pile driver of a cut, it ensured that every ounce of energy is put into the record and ends it on a dark and bitter note. Put this on in the car and it will blow out the windows, on headphones it will burst your ear drums and at a BBQ it will annoy the neighbours and that’s exactly what we want [8.5/10]

Track Listing

1. Tongue Tied
2. Overgrown
3. Over The Edge
4. Same Blood
5. Discordant Symphony

“Tongue Tied” by Earth Groans is out now via Solid State Records