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When the Bite Becomes the Voice: Guttural - Lockjaw (EP Review) Released: 7/3/25

 


Guttural’s Lockjaw is a debut that doesn’t just introduce a band; it attacks. The Chicago‑based groove‑metal outfit delivers six tracks of snarling riffs, explosive drums, and a vocal performance that feels like it’s ripping through concrete. Drawing from death metal, hardcore, and thrash influences, the EP becomes an 18‑minute assault that shows a young band already wielding a fully formed identity. Lockjaw is raw, heavy, and unashamedly feral, the kind of release that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. The opener "Hate. Breeds. Life." wastes no time showing its teeth. It erupts with slamming riffs and a gritty, unpolished mix that feels intentional and a nod to classic metal’s rough edges while still pushing forward with modern aggression. After a tense buildup, the track detonates into a grooving breakdown loaded with pinch harmonics and explosive drum work, immediately establishing Guttural’s mission: hit hard and leave marks. "Carve" follows with a more surgical edge, slicing through the mix with sharp guitars and stomping drums. The vocals feel torn from the chest, and the track leans heavily into the band’s groove‑metal backbone, making it one of the EP’s most rhythmically satisfying moments.

"Apple Fritter" brings a deceptive sense of playfulness in name only, but the song itself is chaotic, fast, and unrelenting. It shows the band’s ability to balance brutality with hooks, the kind that stick in your head even as the music pummels you. "Jack In The Box" pushes the EP into a more theatrical direction, twisting between riffs that lurch, sprint, and collapse in on themselves. It’s unpredictable in the best way, capturing the band’s willingness to experiment within their heaviness. "Rift," which is the shortest track at just over a minute, acts like a violent interlude and a jagged tear in the EP’s fabric that hits fast and disappears just as quickly. The closer, "That Sinking Feeling," ties the project together with a sense of dread and weight. Slower and darker, it lets the heaviness breathe, dragging the listener underwater in a fitting end to an EP built on pressure and impact.

 Lockjaw is a fierce debut, the kind that demands attention from the moment it starts swinging. Guttural proves they’re not just another heavy band emerging from the scene; they’re a force sharpening their claws, carving out a sound that’s as relentless as it is intentional. Every track hits with purpose, every riff feels like a blow to the sternum, and every vocal eruption reinforces just how hungry this band is. If you’re drawn to music that thrives on raw energy, groove‑driven brutality, and the kind of heaviness that rattles your bones, this EP stands tall as a record that proves itself the moment you press play, and Guttural have arrived with teeth bared, and Lockjaw makes sure you feel every second of their impact, so do yourself a favor and stream it.


                                                        Check out the track Apple Fritter:

Give them a follow on Instagram: Guttural

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