greaver - Clockwork, Creatures

Greaver

Clockwork, Creatures
self-relesed; 2013

4.0 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

When I heard Deafheaven last year I was thinking how I loved the way they combined post-rock, punk and metal.  I was also hoping for different variations since then of the same theme and when I listened to Clockwork, Creatures by Greaver I was starting to get amped because I found a band that was doing just that. In this EP they sound like a combination of Blood Brothers and Godspeed! You Black Emperor (yeah that’s one mighty combo).  The guitars are huge throughout usually with more than an ample amount of distortion and reverb as they slice through riffs. Thunderous drums and steady bass are constant but the vocal work here is fantastic. For the most part the vocalist is screaming at the top of his voice and makes the blood curdle in your veins. 

Clockwork, Creatures starts with “The Unknowing Divide.” It starts off atmospheric and clandestine leading you to believe this won’t be the most cathartic song you heard this year. A little after the one-minute mark the band digs deep and goes full force. Guitars shred, drums crash and the vocals are sung from the pit of the vocalist’s stomach. It is at this moment when the song is at its apex. It feels like a cleansing of frustrations and grief not only for the band but the listener as well.

As impressive as the vocal work was on the first song, “Generations (Devouring Love)” has it beat. The overlaying harmonies are so piercing they act as sheets of white noise above the already distorted guitars. “Red (Elusive as the Sea)” may have the most punk influence on the album while “Southern Swans (Of Pestilence)” contains a minute of psychedelic ambience after the epic heights it reaches.

I’m happy these guys didn't decide to get soft and end with a whimper. They put everything they have into “Creates Me (Betrays Me)” and leaves your ears bleeding.

What most surprising to me is that the band formed a little more than a year ago. They crafted an EP that has some good songs and sometimes-great moments. This album is not perfect but clearly shows Greaver is right on its way to becoming a band you will not want to miss.

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