Monday, April 19, 7:00 p.m., sitting on the cement floor of storage unit 131. I’m watching the two-liter Coca-cola bottle pulsate as Manchester based “soul grind” band Cauterize The Earth digs in to their third song of the set.
They’re practicing to improve and perfect for their demo but also to break in the new arrival, drummer Dane Rand. Rand is former drummer for the metal band Porphyria. Who has taken the place of CTE’s former percussionist Steve Dolan? Rand is going to add his own “blend of style and intensity to the mix” said bassist and general manager for the band Zach Pappas.
Cauterize formed in Manchester in Sept. of 2009 and have played shows in that area for some time. The core members include bassist Zach Pappas (of ex-Goratory and Valasyrka), vocalist Chris Berntsen (of SYSTEMATIC SUICiDE, and Valasyrka) and “guitar virtuoso” Markus Ross of Berklee School of Music.
Berntsen currently has a nasty case of strep throat, so he spends the majority of practice moving around the studio adjusting mics and cords while Pappas, Ross,and Rand work on the songs. These three alone bring a powerhouse of what Pappas calls “soul-grind, jazzy blues metal.”
Wed. Apr. 21, 7:30 p.m. Unit 131 has an audience tonight and on stage Ross, Rand and Pappas break into “Mind Manooka,” just one of their grooved-out grinds – and the jam is really coming together with clean progressions.
It’s hard to put a finger on the exact term for this bands current sound. They’ve got a self-proclaimed blend of “grind and soul” pouring out of a lot of musical facets. “It really does come from the soul,” says Pappas, ” I only write what comes natural and not mimicked from other bands. Everyone’s trying to be original these days so it’s hard to be original,” He tries to explain to me that it’s a mix of “Funky Claypool-ish bass lines” giving way to “Beneath the Massacre breakdowns,” while “Sabbath inspired grooves” hook in to straight-up sound madness. It’s sound like I’ve never heard before. These three guys are packing a loaded sound that’s funked out and fresh; a serious mix of “epic transcendent mind alternating wig wam juice” as Pappas refers to it.
Wed., Apr. 28, 8:02 p.m. my last sit in on CTE’s practice is, by definition, rad. Rand has the drumming on lock down and with the addition of his triggers to the snare the sound has transformed into an invitingly overwhelming blend of funky groove and heavy musical insanity.
This week also brings a surprise for all the band members as Rand arrives accompanied by Jason Wing, former guitarist for Dying Breed. With a willingness to learn the band’s songs and a full PA system set up, Wing’s arrival was greatly approved.
Wing picked up the riffs fast and as the band played as a whole for the first time, non-stop. With vocalist Berntsen, it was like being on stage at full-blown performance. With Wing’s addition and the added guitar the band is bringing more “umph” than before.
Cauterize’s official live debut is scheduled for Sun. July 4, at O’Brien’s Pub in Allston, Mass. But be on the lookout for a recording soon!
For more on Cauterize The Earth or to get it on some of their soul grind sound check them out at Myspace.com/cauterizetheearth or look them up on Facebook.