The name Incendiaries implies something explosive and loud. Though that doesn’t describe the road the band has taken during the course of its formation, it is without a doubt a perfect fit for the sound that comes out of the speakers.

“Sometimes you see all-female bands, and [they're] quieter,” said vocalist and guitarist Mary Joyce, also of not-quiet local acts Maximum Busy Muscle and Shitty Candy and the Circus Peanuts. “That’s the assumption, that it’s going to be a folk duo. So we have a good time being really loud.”

When you think Incendiaries, you shouldn’t just think “girls with guitars.” The band cites influences such as Erase Errata and Drive Like Jehu and has been playing heavy math-rock in Athens for three years.

Incendiaries began as a project between Joyce and guitarist/vocalist Erica Strout. The two would write songs independently before coming together for practices. They added Mandy Branch of Down With the Woo on bass and cycled through drummers until coming across Erika Rickson.

“This line up now really seems like it’s coming together, like this is the one that’s going to work out,” Joyce said.

With less testosterone than most heavy bands, Joyce feels they’re more able to focus on the music.

“I think we’re able to get a lot more out of ourselves because no one gets offended or has an ego about it,” she said.

Where machismo might inhibit the creative process of other bands, Incendiaries collaborates openly. The band members are all self-aware enough to cooperate without ego.

“I think we’re able to take constructive criticism from each other a lot easier than most bands that I’ve dealt with,” Joyce said. “We’re all very aware of our strengths and weaknesses as individuals.”

Although female musicians are generally welcomed by the Athens music scene, they still experience some severely out-of-date prejudice.

“I think it’s almost even unconscious,” Joyce said. “If you’re sound checking and the sound guy says, ‘Are you sure you want your drumset set up like this?’ or ‘Maybe you should try this setting on your amp,’ whereas if it was an all male band that question wouldn’t happen.”

Strout agrees but is grateful for the supportive music community.

“I feel like maybe if we were in a different place it would be a little tougher socially,” Strout said. “There are a lot of women who have paved the way for us, so I feel grateful for that, that it’s not that weird anymore.”

Strout previously toured the nation three times with Cinemechanica, helping her identify what she wants in bandmates.

“I learned out of being in that band that I cared more about having band members that I respect and admire rather then dealing with people that I’m not into socially but are good musicians,” Strout said. “But I feel like I have both now, which is awesome.”

Now, with the band dynamic clicking into place, Incendiaries is booking shows and hoping to record an album by the end of the year.

Strout knows of several other all-girl bands starting up, and she can’t wait.

“I’m looking forward to forming more of a community with the other girls around town,” she said.