True rock 'n' roll can be found in the blood, they say. It courses through the veins, moves through the body, and comes out in a scream or a wail that rips paint off the walls.
Guitarist/vocalist Mike Conte has rock 'n' roll in the blood. Ever since he moved to New York City from Ohio to start putting together the first discharges of Early Man, it was apparent that he had the drive and passion to accomplish his goals and live out his dreams. He was broke, but managed to scrounge up recording equipment. Hooking up with Ohio-native, friend, and drummer Adam Bennati, Conte was off and running.
The dynamic duo blasted away at the NYC club circuit, playing to an assortment of smoky bars and backdoor joints as they made a name for themselves. In the spring of ’05, Early Man released their first three-track EP. Later that year, Matador Records signed the guys and they released their debut full-length, Closing In.
The record did rather well for Conte and Bennati, making its way to MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball for several weeks of rotation and granting the band touring slots with acts like Turbonegro, The Sword, Priestess, Mastodon, and 3 Inches of Blood. Early Man also fleshed out their sound by adding guitarist Pete Macy.
After mammoth amounts of touring and three years without a release, Early Man is back to make an impact with their kick-ass riffs and pounding rhythms.
The Beware the Circling Fin EP is the band’s first release for The End Records and functions as a set-up for an upcoming full-length. Containing four songs, the EP is swift, succinct, roaring, a little bit dirty, and LOUD!
“Sinking the Blade” kicks things off with a riff that conjures visions of Motörhead. It storms out of the gate at a preposterous speed, knocking over everything in its path. The riffs are stellar, tearing through the track as Bennatti’s drums unremittingly beat about with ear-splitting snares and intense crashes. Conte’s vocals are pitch-perfect.
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