Earthen Grave

Lore & Background

Earthen Grave was founded late in 2008 when guitarist Jason Muxlow, working on material for The Living Fields and listening to Saint Vitus, sought musicians for a doom metal project. He contacted drummer Scott Davidson, general manager of Chicago radio station WPJX 'Rebel Radio', and the project quickly expanded. Bassist Ron Holzner, formerly of Trouble, joined, and after a classified ad on Craigslist, vocalist Mark Weiner responded the next day. Davidson invited violinist Rachel Barton Pine to a rehearsal; she was already known for playing electric violin in metal contexts and used a new amplified six-string 'Viper' electric violin at the session. The band invited her to join, and Tony Spillman, who had worked with Ministry, Prong, and Trouble, became the final member.

Reader's Guide

Earthen Grave's significance lies in its fusion of thrash and doom metal with the prominent use of an electric violin, a rarity in the genre. The band gained unusual mainstream media attention for a metal act, including a profile on NBC's 'Today' program and a live broadcast on WGN-TV's 'Midday News'. They were named '2010 Best New Entertainer' at the Chicago Music Awards in January 2011. Their debut demo, 'Dismal Times', was recorded in June 2009, and their self-titled album was released in 2012. The band opened for major metal acts such as Megadeth, Pentagram, and Anvil. Despite this early momentum, the band disbanded in September 2014, leaving a legacy as a brief but distinctive entry in Chicago's metal scene.

Did You Know?

• Earthen Grave featured violinist Rachel Barton Pine, who played an amplified six-string 'Viper' electric violin.
• The band opened for Pentagram and Anvil as of January 2010.