When’s the last time you listened to a progressive metalcore album that was influenced by outer space? It’s probably been a while, right? Well the New Jersey based quartet Dig Two Graves is here to save the day with a new six track EP titled Deathwish.
Hailing from New Jersey, Mike Reisser, Josh Brewer, Jesse Agins and Kenny Meeks have assembled to defeat some of the clichés that run rampant in most metal music. Working tirelessly since their conception in 2017, Dig Two Graves have managed to separate themselves in what has become a very crowded genre. By combining different musical styles from atmospheric to pop to electronic to metal, the group has been able to draw in fans from all across the board.
For Deathwish, the whole album comes together to create a feeling of emptiness and loneliness, reminiscent of if you were floating alone in the void of space. With a guitar that cuts cleanly through the echoey, metallic background noises and Reisser’s strong voice that pairs nicely with the dueling sounds of serenity and calamity, the album is an art piece. There’s even the sound of space transmittals in the opening track “As Above,” which also bookends nicely with the closing track “So Below.”
While the sounds of solitude are apparent on Deathwish, the entire album is primarily based around hurt and loss. Conveying a feeling of genuine loneliness, Brewer has drawn upon his own losses:
“We would like to dedicate the album to Pete from Big Bang Music, the local music shop Kenny and I grew up going to. He recently passed away, and he was a great man.”