EARTH GROANS

We all unlock our voices at just the right time. As if by fate, we recognize the value of speech and utilize it to, ultimately, connect to one another. Earth Groans have fully realized their voice as an aggressive sonic outlier steeped in both metallic precision and hardcore chaos. As the vision of frontman Jeremy Schaeffer, the South Dakota outfit emerges with a potent and personal signature style that’s equally catchy and cathartic. After tallying millions of streams and building a devout fan base, the band amplifies its message louder than ever on the 2023 Tongue Tied EP [Solid State Records].

The EP holds a special significance for Schaeffer as it tells his story via the very title…

“I was actually born tongue tied,” he states. “I had skin all the way up to my teeth, and I couldn’t move my tongue at all. They performed the surgery right away and freed my tongue completely. Throughout my life, it has been a metaphor. I’ve always had a hard time fitting into the community I’m in. This whole record refers to a person finding his or her voice. I found my voice through music. It’s how I’ve been able to communicate what’s on my heart and find my true calling. My dad always said, ‘Ironically, you don’t talk a whole lot, but your music is really loud’.”

Earth Groans initially incited shockwaves through heavy music out of South Dakota with the Renovate EP in 2017. They buzzed out of the local scene and clawed their way into the international consciousness with the Rahab EP [2018], Prettiest of Things EP [2020], Waste EP [2020], and The Body EP [2021]. The latter gained traction on streaming platforms as the band earned plugs from HM Magazine, The PRP, Lambgoat, and many more. Along the way, they performed with the likes of August Burns Red on the popular Christmas Burns Red Festival and packed venues on tour coast-to-coast. Working with producer Ryan Leitru [For Today], Earth Groans honed their sound in 2022.

“Ryan helped us preserve the heavy and chaotic elements, while enabling us to cast a wider net,” he goes on. “It’s Earth Groans, but it could appeal to a bigger audience with a little more atmosphere and melody.”

The first single “Overgrown” seesaws between a trudging groove and wrecking ball riffing enhanced by airy sonics. It culminates on a crushing chorus with the blunt force of a battering ram.

“It’s about feeling stuck in the position you are in and not being able to fully use your talents,” he explains. “I’ve gotten to a place where I’m trying to figure out what I’m doing with my life. I got stuck in this complacency, and I wasn’t really progressing. It’s a song of frustration.”

Then, there’s “Over The Edge.” The song’s bulldozing barrage subsides on a melodic riff and hummable hook with a message of empowerment as he promises, “I won’t let this passion turn to poison.”

“It’s about staying true to what you’re doing and not losing the passion,” he elaborates. “For me, I started doing music because of the passion I had behind it. You can’t let that go.”

On “Same Blood,” mangled synths dissolve into pummeling guitar and a punk-style gallop. It confronts “racism, homophobia, and discrimination” head-on. The title track “Tongue Tied” commences with a clean intro only to snap into a frenetic onslaught of double-bass, jarring screams, and head-spinning fretwork. “It’s the literal story of coming into this world without the ability to speak and finally finding it,” he says.

Tongue Tied culminates on the aural exorcism of “Discordant Symphony,” which projects the central theme at full blast with a guttural growl.

“This track brings the EP full circle,” he notes. “It’s all about using the abilities that God gave you to do good and make the world a better place. When we do, it’s a beautiful symphony.”

Ultimately, Earth Groans might just encourage you to use your voice as well.

“I’m always inspired when people are going against the grain, living out their callings, and using their voices,” he leaves off. “They’re defining what their dreams are. It’s possible to use this gift for whatever makes you happy.”