Over a year ago, Jason Roach and Mary Joyce sat in a room and watched Steven Soderbergh’s experimental comedy “Schizopolis.” The two had a “that’s it!” moment as the phrase “maximum busy muscle” sounded through the television. Thus came Athens metal duo Maximum Busy Muscle.

The band has played all over town in venues ranging from mainstays to basements and houses. And every time they bring the noise.

Roach (guitar) and Joyce (drums) founded the band last year but added Adam Hebert on bass two months ago – despite his hesitation to clutter their sound.

“Maximum Busy Muscle was definitely one of my favorite bands in town,” Herbert said. “I was oddly reluctant to join the band because I didn’t think they needed a third person.”

The addition has proved beneficial and interesting. The bass has filled out Maximum Busy Muscle’s already solid, heavy sound.

The band’s chemistry is apparent on and off the stage – in their songwriting and performance as well as in their perfectly-aligned sense of humor.

“I like it when all three of us have stupid ideas and then when they come together it sounds awesome,” Joyce said.

The band’s brand of what Hebert calls “non-cheesy vegan progressivism” is intricate, loud and entertaining. The three friends combine strong musicianship with an easygoing accessibility that is rare in a scene as dense, yet sometimes as exclusive as Athens. They have been happy so far with response from friends and fans, and have rather ambitious goals as far as which venues to play next.

“The Alps,” Roach said. “An ice hotel in the Alps.”