attack-attack

Attack Attack! is an American metalcore band from Westerville, Ohio. The group is currently signed to Rise Records. Since their inception in 2005, Attack Attack! have released one EP, If Guns Are Outlawed, Can We Use Swords? and two full-length albums, Someday Came Suddenly and a self-titled album. Although some of the group's earlier songs contain Christian-based lyrics, not all members of Attack Attack! follow the religion. As such, they do not consider themselves a Christian band.^[1]
Attack Attack! released a music video for their highly criticized song "Stick Stickly", and made its premiere on MTV2's Headbangers Ball. Two music videos were created, with one of them being produced by a company named DecembersEdge. The band decided to go with the other video featured on their Myspace profile. The "Stick Stickly" video has led to a number of criticisms, including lengthy pieces by Buddyhead and the British newspaper The Guardian.^[8][9] The band also has a "live" video for the song "Dr. Shavargo Pt. 3".^[10]
On October 19, 2009, lead vocalist Nick Barham announced his departure from Attack Attack! just two days short of their headliner tour. He stated in his blog on MySpace that "It was just time for change," and that there was no conflict between him and the other band members.^[11] The band then made the decision of Caleb Shomo to be moved as the band's primary vocalist but still remaining at his place as the keyboardist as well.^[12]
Near the end of 2009, Attack Attack! toured with I Set My Friends On Fire, Miss May I, Our Last Night, and The Color Morale as part of the "Shred Til You're Dead" tour. Attack Attack! started playing "Sexual Man Chocolate", which was the first song leaked from their self-titled album.
Attack Attack! have been known to perform the metalcore^[20] and post-hardcore^[8] genres combined with electronica influence.^[21] This combination usually features distinct traits into Attack Attack!'s music which include (but are not limited to) Auto-Tuned singing, techno-influenced breakdowns and keyboard solos.

Alesana (pronounced /ˈælɨs ˈænə/ Alice-Ana)^[5] is an American rock band from Raleigh, North Carolina. Formed in 2004, the group has released one EP and three studio albums. With their current signing to Epitaph Records, the band reached success after their debut, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, with a high attention drawn to their musical style which regularly shifts between light and heavy music. Their band name is derived from street named Aliceanna St., which is located in Baltimore and where the group originated.

Formation and Try This with Your Eyes Closed (2004–2005)

Although the band's members first began playing together in Baltimore,^[6] Maryland, Alesana officially formed in October 2004 in Raleigh, North Carolina and was founded by Shawn Milke, Patrick Thompson, Dennis Lee, Steven Tomany and Daniel Magnuson. The name of the band is was inspired from Aliceanna St., which Shawn Milke and Patrick Thompson lived on when playing in Baltimore, MD. Aliceanna St. is located in Fells Point, a neighborhood in Baltimore. Alesana was the first band to join Tragic Hero Records in 2005,^[7] and their 3 demo songs titled "Apology", "Beautiful in Blue" and "Goodbye, Goodnight for Good" which were featured on a compilation All The Tragedy Money Can Buy. Later they released their debut EP, Try This With Your Eyes Closed, in May of that year. They toured in the United States, including an appearance at the Cornerstone Festival. In the same year Daniel Magnuson was replaced by Will Anderson.

The Emptiness (2009-present)

In late February, Shawn Milke announced Alesana had started writing new material for their upcoming album. They began recording their third studio album, in July 2009, in Portland, Oregon, with producer Kris Crummett. The album, according to Shawn Milke on The Rave TV, would be entitled "The Emptiness".^[9] The title "The Emptiness" has also been confirmed in a blog on the band's Myspace profile. The band has made their progress in the studio viewable to fans through a Twitter account and an official website run by the band themselves. In mid-July, Alesana had their Myspace profile edited by Justin Reich with pictures that according to Shawn, hint towards themes in the concept album; the photos show the band in fine suits holding bloody weapons inside an abandoned room, and a newspaper article with a headline "Alesana Unveils New Story This Winter."^[10]
Shawn Milke declared on August 19 via Twitter,

“

It is 6:19 AM and I just finished my last scream...the record is finished..."The Emptiness" is complete...xo shawn[11]

”

concluding the band's recording session, which began on July 10. Alesana then set out for North Carolina to rest before they began their Vs. tour, which they headlined and included the bands The Bled, Enter Shikari, Broadway, Madina Lake, and Asking Alexandria. On the Vs. tour, Alesana's set included two new songs titled "To Be Scared By An Owl" and "The Thespian". Soon after concluding their month long Vs. tour, Alesana headlined the "You'd Be Way Cuter in a Coffin" Tour with From First To Last, The Word Alive, Asking Alexandria, and Memphis May Fire.
On October 2, Milke and Lee held a second interview with TheRave.tv where they revealed that they were shooting a music video in the fall for one song from The Emptiness. The two members went on to tell Linda, the interviewer, that due to their large fan base in Mexico and South America, they would be releasing a Spanish version of 2 of their songs. Milke also revealed that the album, The Emptiness, is to be released on January 26, 2010.^[12] The band finally released the track listing and cover art to the new album on November 10 on their myspace blog^[13] On November 23, Alesana released their first recorded work off of The Emptiness, "To Be Scared By An Owl" and began to promote it as a single.^[14] The same week, they entered the studio to begin filming their third video which according to their website, is "The Thespian", the song was released on December 8, 2009. In 2009, the band won the Best Hardcore/Screamo Band at the Top in Rock Awards.^[15]
Milke announced

“

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, today is a VERY exciting day for Alesana! we have released a streaming version of The Emptiness in its entirety today right here on myspace! this is your first chance to hear our story from start to finish! The Emptiness received a ( 2.5 / 5.0 ) by AP Magazine (www.altpress.com), a 7/10 by RockSound (www.rocksound.com), a ( 2.0 / 5.0 ) by RRR (www.reviewrinserepeat.com),and a ( 4.0 / 5.0 ) by Lexington Music Press (www.lexingtonmusicpress.com).[16]

”

After the release of their music video for "The Thespian" on March 17, the band became less active and starting promoting the 2010 Warped Tour, which they took part in at the end of June.^[17] Right before their first venue on the Warped Tour, guitarist Jake Campbell left the band to be with his family, and Alex Torres of Greeley Estates took his place.^[18] The album debuted at #68 on the Billboard 200 making it their highest charting album.
July 22 of 2010, Shawn Milke posted a blog on the official Revolver website regarding his constant desire to write scripts, stories and music; considering The Emptiness his 'first printed story'. Milke went on to say that he is constantly writing, and that new material for an Alesana album—as well as material for Wake Me Up, Juliet and Tempting Paris—was already being created.^[19]
The group announced a headlining tour entitled: Two Frail Weeks of Vanity and Wax, in which they would perform their debut album, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax in its entirety on each tour date of the tour along with stating that some songs would never be played again after the tour. The band stated that chosen VIP's will be involved within the testing of new tracks that are prepared to be included on their fourth studio album, which is going to be recorded in March 2011 with producer Kris Crummett.^[20] On November 1, 2010, it was comfirmed that Alesana signed to Epitaph Records.^[21]

asking alexandria

Asking Alexandria are an English metalcore band from York, North Yorkshire. Founded in 2008 when Ben Bruce (lead guitar) contacted old companions after residing back to England from Dubai. The current line-up of the group consists of Ben Bruce, Danny Worsnop (vocals), Cameron Liddell (rhythm guitar), Sam Bettley (bass guitar) and James Cassells (drums).

 

Inception and debut album (2008–2009)

Asking Alexandria have their roots in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, wherein guitarist Ben Bruce started a band and released one full-length album (titled The Irony of Your Perfection) with the group under the name Asking Alexandria. The band shortly afterwards broke-up and Bruce made a statement that at later date that the band known as Asking Alexandria from Dubai only had the name for about a month before leading to their disbandment, hence the band never embarked on a tour.
In 2008, Bruce moved back to England, leaving behind his former bandmates. However, Bruce had no plans on putting his musical career on hold and not long after the move he started fresh with new members, though deciding to carry on the name Asking Alexandria. Bruce has stated that he was the one that created this title, that he still liked it and the meaning/reason behind the name still remained, and therefore decided to continue it in the new project.^[1] He also made an emphasised statement in the same blog post that the current Asking Alexandria is not the same band that wrote The Irony of Your Perfection, in style nor members,^[1] hence they are two different bands, despite their links. The same statement has been emphasised in interviews and is known to still be a confusion to many fans.
Asking Alexandria, since their formation in 2008, has had some member changes, including going from a six-piece to a five-piece, with the departure of synthesist Ryan Binns.^[2] The last known change was bassist Sam Bettley, who replaced Joe Lancaster in January 2009.^[3] Lancaster played his final show at Fibbers in their hometown York on January 4.^[4] The band left for the United States the day after the show to promote their music through shows, as well as to prepare for the recording of their debut album.
After spending 2008 and the first months of 2009 touring, the band recorded their debut studio album between May 19 and June 16, 2009 at The Foundation Recording Studios in Connersville, Indiana, United States with producer Joey Sturgis.^[5] They announced their signing with Sumerian Records shortly after finishing the recording and released their debut album, Stand Up and Scream, on September 15, 2009 through their new label. The band spent 2009 focusing on gaining success in the United States, touring with well known bands such as Alesana, Enter Shikari, The Bled and Evergreen Terrace, amongst others.