NJ metal/hardcore act SMITH’S GROVE channel pain into perseverance on debut single “Strong”
New Music
NJ metal/hardcore act SMITH’S GROVE channel pain into perseverance on debut single “Strong”
May 20, 2025 3 mins read
Formed in 2022 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, Smith’s Grove is the new project from vocalist Dave O’Neal, bassist Jon Keller, and drummer Zach Kelly—former members of Bury Your Brother—joined by guitarist Jimmy Butler.
When their previous band lost both guitarists, the three decided to pivot sonically, stepping away from a thrashy post-grunge sound toward a blend of early 2000s nu-metal and modern hardcore. The result is Smith’s Grove: a band that’s rooted in a decade-long creative friendship but sharpened by new direction and intent.
Their debut single “Strong” was released on April 22, 2025, with a lyric video, and its official music video—shot by Eric Parker of Seventh Side Productions—is premiering right here and via Fever Dream Entertainment, the label handling their self-titled album due out at the end of summer.
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The album was mastered by Howie Weinberg, known for work with Pantera, Deftones, Slayer, Limp Bizkit, Rammstein, and Metallica.
Built on distorted guitars, heavy low-end, and double-kick grooves, “Strong” stands as a direct reflection of the band’s message and process. “Every single one of us has faced some form of adversity, and life does not discriminate,” they write. “’Strong’ is a celebration of victory over that adversity, and a reminder that we ourselves are responsible for (and capable of) overcoming any obstacle that may place itself in the cross hairs of a true survivor.”
The accompanying visuals—lyric video, single artwork, and the music video—are loaded with imagery of physical strength and exercise. But the band points out that these are “an intentional misdirect.” They elaborate: “If you read the lyrics they paint a picture of emotional strength and mental fortitude… Inner strength is what you need to get through the hard moments and tough times and that’s what the song is actually about.”
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Smith’s Grove cites a mix of musical and non-musical inspirations: from Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, and Kaonashi, to the atmosphere of films like Halloween and The Exorcist, video games like Bloodborne, and even the poetry of Maya Angelou. These influences shape both the tone and the themes present in their upcoming work. The band describes their writing process as collaborative and evolving—either Dave or Jimmy typically brings in the skeleton of a track, which the group then develops together. Lyrics sometimes come first, or are shaped by Dave and Zach based on the emotional direction of the track.
“Despite just debuting our first song this month, we’ve been evolving for a long time,” the band states. “We started writing the material for this record in June of 2022 and Dave, Jon, and Zach had been playing together in Bury Your Brother since 2015. We’ve learned a lot about music, the industry, and each other during those 10 years… Without the mistakes and failures of our past we wouldn’t be here as our best selves.”
More material is on the way. “We’ll be releasing a couple more videos for ‘Strong’ in the coming weeks,” they shared. “Our second single ‘Herd Immunity’ will follow. Our good friend Eric Abyss from Scranton metalcore band Traverse the Abyss was kind enough to link up with us for that song and we’re excited for everyone to hear the collaboration.”
Rooted in the South Jersey/Philadelphia music scene, Smith’s Grove speaks highly of the community around them. “It’s diverse and inclusive and constantly growing… People are held accountable for their actions and anybody doing heinous shit gets cut out. And over the years these trends have only grown stronger as more and more people come in to find their community.”
The band is quick to shout out others contributing to that energy: labels like Fever Dream Entertainment, bands like Stential, SAPPED, Philip Kelly, and Hillhaven; media like the CULT?SURE! podcast; and creators like Kristen Osman, Jakki Valentino, and the team at Seventh Side Productions.
As they prepare to roll out more music, Smith’s Grove frames their work as a call to emotional resilience. “Living is tough,” they write. “Whether it’s because of the state of the world or the state of one’s own mental health, getting through the day can be a trial of strength. Smith’s Grove is a place where you can go to feel less alone. It’s a movement saying we feel the same way but we can find hope in each other not only to get through that shitty day but maybe make a change in the world for the better.”
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