10 Amazing Metal Bands That Totally Defy Genre
3. Erdve
When you think of the geography of heavy metal, Lithuania is probably not the first country that pops into your head. But the incessantly heavy trailblazers Erdve prove that their corner of the world deserves far, far more attention than any metalhead is giving it. The incendiary up-and-comers are easily their nation’s most valuable rock ‘n’ roll export, their unstoppably violent tunes consisting of a mix of black metal, hardcore and vitriolic sludge.
To date, the outfit have only one album, 2018’s Vaitojimas, to their name, making now the perfect time to hop onto their momentous bandwagon before they leave you behind in a cloud of particularly gritty dust. The album is an exercise in undiluted, unfettered heaviness, down-tuned to hell and back with vocals and drumming to match.
Erdve’s punishing tunes are refreshing in their honesty and allegiance to a love of nothing but sheer power and aural fire. They’re not subtle, they’re not quiet and they’re certainly not shy; they’re that boisterous kid at the back of the class that keeps shouting “F*ck you!” at the supply teacher. It may not be charming, but you have to admire the sheer balls of such a brash and unapologetic act.