Craig Owens releases frenetic, 4-track grindcore EP

February 1st, 2016

Brian Leak

Craig Owens (Chiodos, D.R.U.G.S., Cinematic Sunrise, etc.) has released a surprise EP through his subscription-based service, Cheer Up Kid. To the shock of many, it’s not exactly what most would likely expect from the Michigan artist. This project’s debut, dubbed Empathy Is A Gift, is a rip-roaring grindcore effort worthy of the project’s vicious moniker, BEA5T. Offering four tracks, which when combined clock in at just around six minutes in total (so yeah, grindcore), the EP is relentless in its delivery and sounds pretty damn good for being recorded in a bedroom. In all honesty, if you can handle grindcore, you’ll probably enjoy this. If anything, it’s a brief experience to endure if you’re not into chaotic guitar work, blastbeats and ferocious, unintelligible vocals.

“Growing up some my favorite bands were Ed Gein, the Locust, Converge and Botch. I’ve always wanted to do a grind-core thing,” Owens has shared. “My friend Hiram was down to make an album, so we did. He came over and stayed with me for a couple of days in Malibu, and we recorded the entire thing in my bedroom. We just wanted to make an album because it felt good—not for money, not for fame—but because we love music, and making art is cool.”

The EP’s opener, “Werewolves, Not Swearwolves,” is inspired by the excellent, 2014 horror-comedy mockumentary, What We Do In The Shadows, so we’re extra on board. Listen in below.

<a href="http://cheerupkid.bandcamp.com/album/empathy-is-a-gift-ep">Empathy Is A Gift – EP by BEA5T</a>