Soilwork:"As We Sleep"

Soilwork is a Swedish melodic death metal band from Helsingborg. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast. Formed in late 1995 byBjörn Strid and Peter Wichers, originally under the name Inferior Breed, the band changed their name in late 1996 to Soilwork (meaning "working from the ground up").

Their sound is a fusion of the classic Gothenburg metal sound with power-groove riffs of late 1970s, early 1980s British, and European metal. However, in their most recent albums, Soilwork has also introduced elements from other genres such as blues rock and alternative metal, and adopted a more melodic sound. Their most recent work has more singing and lighter melodies than their earlier work, as well as a more polished production.

Secondhand Serenade:"Fall For You"

Secondhand Serenade is an acoustic rock band, led by vocalist and guitarist John Vesely. Vesely has released three studio albums to date under the name Secondhand Serenade: Awake in 2007, A Twist in My Story in 2008 and Hear Me Now in 2010. The debut album usedmultitrack recording to create the sound of a band using technology, while the second album took a different path, using a proper band and synthesizers to establish a more accomplished sound.

John Vesely formed Secondhand Serenade in his home town of Menlo Park in California, USA, in 2004. Vesely was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area in a musical family and as the son of a professional jazz musician father, commenting that "getting into music was a natural thing" for him. He spent 8 years playing bass in local bands, featuring in a number of acts ranging in style from ska and hardcore to rock and pop. One of the bands he played in, Sounds Like Life, included fellow Bay Area artist Ronnie Day. After years of playing bass, he opted for an acoustic guitar. Vesely follows in the tradition of John Ondrasik's Five for Fighting. Vesely was also the son of a Czech immigrant.

Vesely began writing his own songs when he met his wife Candice Vesely. She had wanted him to play a song and "serenading her with a bass guitar was out of the question." He has admitted he found his "true calling" when he picked up the guitar. The pseudonym Secondhand Serenade is a reference to the way in which his songs were 'serenades' sung to his wife Candice, with whom he has two young sons. People around the world are merely getting to hear the songs 'second-hand. While Vesely continues to market the affectionate biography, the couple broke up in 2008. Vesely was heart broken as can be seen in many of his songs. He released "A Twist In My Story" as a reference to the divorce.

In 2005, Vesely released his debut album titled Awake. It was recorded as a demo, after booking a few days at an Ontario studio earlier in 2005, "using just an acoustic guitar and his multi-tracked vocals." The album was promoted through the Secondhand Serenade Myspace page and by playing local shows. The CDs were originally sold through mail order with aPayPal account by Vesely, eventually he signed up with distributor TuneCore, making Secondhand Serenade's songs available on music portals including iTunes. The album experienced tremendous online support, and by the end of 2006 Secondhand Serenade had received millions of plays on Myspace and had been the social-networking site's No. 1 Independent Artist for months. Financially, he was said to be bringing in up to $20,000 a month from downloads and merchandise sales out of his home. He sold over 15,000 copies of the album on his own, and on the strength of these sales and the support, naturally, the labels came knocking. Secondhand Serenade was signed by longtime label executive Daniel Glass, on his new label Glassnote Records, which is distributed through Warner's Independent Label Group. In 2006, Rolling Stone announced Secondhand Serenade as #3 in the magazine's reader's poll for Best Myspace Artist.

Caliban:"My Little Secret"

Caliban are a five-piece metalcore band from Germany. They have released seven studio albums to-date, and two split albums with the band Heaven Shall Burn.

Caliban was formed in Hattingen, Germany in 1997 under the name Never Again". After six months of playing together, the band recorded their first two songs for a demo, which were never released. The songs were sent to several record labels, and Lifeforce Records was the first to offer the band a record deal. The band's first self-titled EP came out in the summer of 1998. To promote it, Caliban played many shows all over Europe and a few support shows for bands including Morning Again, Earth Crisis and Cro-Mags.

After their European tour in 1999, Caliban entered the studio to record their first full-length entitled A Small Boy and a Grey Heaven. The CD received favorable reviews in many big magazines and many smaller hardcore and metal zines. The band was described as a mixture ofSlayer, Poison the Well and Hatebreed. They also released the first part of a split-CD with Heaven Shall Burn, named The Split Program.

Vent came out in April 2001. Vent was released by Imperium Records and by Howling-Bull Records in Japan. Shortly after the release, Caliban was offered the opportunity to tour Japan to play the Beast-Feast 2001 in the Yokohama Arena, sharing stage with bands including Slayer, Pantera, Machine Head, Biohazard and Morbid Angel. The Japan trip was followed by a U.S. tour with Bloodjinn, which was interrupted by the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In August 2002 Caliban recorded their third official release Shadow Hearts. This record was more melodic and harmonic than its predecessors. In 2004 the band got a record deal with Roadrunner Records in Europe (Abacus Recordings in the US) and started to record their fourth Album The Opposite from Within alongside producer Anders Fridén, who is known for fronting In Flames.

In July 2005 the band released the second part of their split-CD with their friends from Heaven Shall Burn, called The Split Program II. The band released their fifth album called The Undying Darkness in February 2006 and toured with All Shall Perish, Bleeding Through and I Killed The Prom Queen for the "Darkness over Europe" tour.

In 2007 Caliban recorded their album The Awakening with producer Benny Richter and it was released in Germany on May 25. The album reached 36 in the German charts.

In 2009, the band toured with German band Kreator on the "Chaos Over Europe Tour". They also signed a worldwide contract with Century Media Records. They released their new album, Say Hello to Tragedy, on August 24, 2009. This album - just like The Awakening - reached 36th place on the german media charts. In October and November they toured Europe on the "Beastfest European Tour 2009" with Suicide Silence, German friend-band Maroon and American acts Emmure and After the Burial.

Caliban will enter the studio in February to record a cover album to be releases sometime before or during summer 2011. The album will consist of around six songs, and may be a limited release. During the summer the band will again enter the studio to finish writing and recording a new full length album to be released in the Fall.

Unearth:"The Great Dividers"

Unearth is an American metalcore band from Winthrop, Massachusetts. Formed in 1998, the group has released four studio albums. Their latest record, The March was released on October 14, 2008 meeting with high positive reception by many.

Unearth was formed by Trevor Phipps, Buz McGrath, Ken Susi, Mike Rudberg, and Chris Rybicki in Eastern Massachusetts in 1998. The band began as Point 04 (containing McGrath, Rudberg, and Rybicki), and Susi was recruited soon afterwards. The band attempted to recruit Phipps while he recovered from appendicitis, but Phipps was reluctant to join. However, when Phipps showed up to a jam session for one of Susi's side bands, Unearth was practicing instead, and Phipps agreed to join after hearing the song "Shattered by the Sun." The name "Unearth" was coined by drummer Mike Rudberg's as he wanted the band to "Unearth" a new sound in the metal and hardcore world. On the small independent label, Endless Fight Records, they released their first EP called Above the Fall of Man in May 1999. Unearth then signed to Eulogy Recordings to release The Stings of Conscience in 2001 and the Endless EP in 2002. During the process of Endless, Chris Rybicki left the group and was replaced by John Maggard.

The Oncoming Storm 

After playing tours and festivals like the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival with Unearth, Mike Rudberg departed from the group days after their performance at The SXSW in 2003, having performed the show in the nude. Also Buz McGrath left for personal problems but came back shortly after. The rest of Unearth would then use Tim Mycek of Sworn Enemy as temporary replacement drummer and Kia Eshghi of Rumi and Mike Martin of All That Remains as revolving touring guitarists (before Buz returned).

With Buz McGrath and new permanent drummer Mike Justian, of The Red Chord and previously post-hardcore band Hassan I Sabbah, Unearth released The Oncoming Storm through Metal Blade Records on June 29, 2004. That summer, they played at Ozzfest and would later begin touring with Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, and Lamb of God for MTV's Headbangers Ball US tour. They would also tour withSlipknot the next year. In 2005, Unearth performed in the first ever Sounds of the Underground tour with numerous bands like Norma Jean,Gwar, and All That Remains.

In the Eyes of Fire 

In early 2006, they began writing their next album. After the writing process, they recorded III: In the Eyes of Fire with well-known heavy metal producer Terry Date at Seattle. This latest coup was yet another landmark in their blossoming career, a fact the band were quick to acknowledge: "Working with Terry Date is another amazing feat for us on a growing list of accomplishments". As they finished their latest album, they performed at Ozzfest for the second time, including songs from the album even though it was not destined for release until August 8, 2006. During the release, they began their headlined Sanctity of Brothers tour with Bleeding Through, Animosity, Through the Eyes of the Dead and Terror. After participating in Japan's Loud Park festival, Unearth and Slayer toured together all around the U.S. in early 2007 on the Christ Illusion tour. They headlined a European tour in the beginning of 2007 withJob for a Cowboy, Despised Icon, and DÅÅTH. Which was followed by a U.S. & Canadian tour with Dimmu Borgir, DevilDriver and Kataklysm that began in the middle of April. It was during this tour that drummer Mike Justian was fired from the band for numerous reasons. To fill in for the rest of the tour, Gene Hoglan of Strapping Young Lad was recruited. They played in the 2007 Download Festival with Seemless/Kingdom of Sorrow/studio drummer Derek Kerswill who has since joined the band officially.

The band's live DVD Alive from the Apocalypse was released on March 18, 2008, and debuted at #13 on the Billboard Top Music Video Chart, with sales around 1,800. It was also certified gold in Canada a week after its release.

The March (2008-present)

On October 14, 2008, Unearth released their fourth album, entitled The March. The album features a re-recorded version of the song "The Chosen," which they contributed to the albumAqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters Colon the Soundtrack. The band recently completed a tour with Gwen Stacy, The Acacia Strain, Whitechapel and Protest the Hero. They have completed the Never Say Die Club Tour with Parkway Drive, Architects, Despised Icon, Protest the Hero, Whitechapel and Carnifex. They have also completed the Metal Hammer Defenders of the Faith tour with other acts such as Lamb of God, Dimmu Borgir and Five Finger Death Punch

As of early 2009, it has been confirmed that The March has sold more than 100,000 copies worldwide. In March 2010, Unearth confirmed that they will be playing the Download Festivalopening the festival on the Maurice Jones Stage (formerly known as Main Stage) along with Killswitch Engage, 36 Crazyfists and Them Crooked Vultures.

On September 20, 2010 it was announced that former bassist, Chris Rybicki was killed in a car accident provoked by an intoxicated woman. He was 39 years old.

Unearth just completed a North American tour with As I Lay Dying, All That Remains and Carnifex and will head to Europe for the 10 day "Persistence Tour" in December 2010.

The band plans to enter the studio in January/February 2011 to record their fifth full length with an expected World Wide release in May or early June 2011.

On October 25th 2010, Unearth issued a statement saying they and Derek Kerswill had amicably parted ways. The band stated there is no bad blood towards Kerswill, and that the situation is purely based on musical differences.

Shadows Fall:"The Light That Blinds"

Before the so-called “New Wave of American Heavy Metal” was even a ripple, Shadows Fall were there. Emerging from Springfield, Massachusetts in 1995, this D.I.Y. band ultimately found legions of fans, worldwide fame, two Grammy nominations, and even a song on Guitar Hero. Of course, none of this came from luck. Instead, hard work and musical innovation have been the forces propelling Shadows Fall, continually revealing ever more of this band’s greatness. They are beyond simply best-in-class; in so many ways, Shadows Fall – with their unmistakable, seamless blend of metal and hard rock – have grown to help define the very essence of modern aggressive music.

With Retribution – the band’s fifth full length and follow-up to 2007’s critically acclaimed Threads of Life – it’s no surprise to find Shadows Fall once again taking bold steps in their quest for constant evolution. It starts, of course, with the guts of Retribution – the sound. “With each album we’ve gotten a little more confidence to really let all of our influences show,” says vocalist Brian Fair. “We’re unapologetic about the old-school metal and the 80s influence, as well as the thrash and the melodic death metal.” And Retribution – with music production by Zeuss (Hatebreed, Municipal Waste) and vocal production by Elvis Baskette (Incubus, Alter Bridge) – surely has that thrash-metal bedrock which has long served as the foundation of Shadows Fall – but there’s more. “We’ve really taken some songs all the way,” explains Fair. “The brutal parts are a complete, non-stop assault, and the rock-influenced songs go all the way within that rock direction. A song like ‘Picture Perfect’ – the chorus is more Journey or Def Leppard than it is death metal,” laughs Fair. “There’s really no holding back when it comes to our songwriting. Once the floodgates open, we go all the way.” The result is Retribution – a collection of songs that showcase the versatility and vision of this band that only seems to get better over time.

But the evolution of Shadows Fall is not limited to their music. Atop the shifting grounds of an unpredictable music industry, they’ve found even more opportunity to try new ideas. “We learned everything from the ground up,” says Fair, reflecting on more than a decade of experience and lessons learned. “We’ve gone through the independent metal world to the major label world, and have come to realize that, given the way things are now, it’s all about the band re-taking the control of everything: music, business, ownership, publishing. Everything.”

In taking that control, Shadows Fall knew they would need strong partners. “We wanted people who understood where we come from,” says Fair. They found just that, in the team of Ferret Music and Independent Label Group. “We see it as the Justice League of Metal,” says Fair. “Ferret was started by guys who were in hardcore bands – who did it all the hard way, themselves. Having someone like that in your corner is just huge. And with Independent Label Group, you have a major label distributor that can kick open some doors, but the people who are doing the every-day work understand the DIY approach we have always taken. So the whole way that we’re handling this is super exciting. We get the best of both worlds.”

True brilliance doesn’t just navigate change – it anticipates, adapts, and turns it into opportunity. This is so much of what separates Shadows Fall from so many other bands: a work ethic as forward-thinking as their musical instinct. Strong, savvy self-determinism shoring up a distinctive mix of bone-splintering aggression and melodic nuance.

It’s Retribution from Shadows Fall. It’s not to be missed.

Haste The Day:"Who We Are"

Haste The Day is a Christian metalcore band signed with Solid State Records from Carmel, Indiana, formed in 2001. Their band is named after a lyric in the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."
In 2001 Haste The Day formed in Indiana. The name was discovered by Devin Chaulk who read it from the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul." The band originally started out as a three-piece including: Brennan Chaulk, guitar/vocals, Devin Chaulk, drums/vocals, and Mike Murphy, bass/vocals. Six months after inception, the band added longtime friend Jason Barnes to the group as a second guitarist. Then in 2002, after a series of auditions, the band listed Jimmy Ryan as their lead vocalist. Then, in the summer of 2002, the band went on to self-produce their first EP titled, "That They May Know You" with the song "Substance" being the single off of the album. A year later Haste The Day signed with Tooth & Nail Records subsidiary Solid State Records.

2011 Disbanding

The band announced their break–up on November 22, 2010. Their final tour will be in February and March 2011.^[6] The next day, November 23, the first three full length albums were re-released in one package entitled Concerning the Way It Was.

Linkin Park forgets a new path

It would have been easy for Linkin Park to coast along, cranking out more of the catchy, hip-hop-textured rock that had long been its stock-in-trade.

The California six-piece was, after all, the best-selling new band of the '00s, scanning more than 21 million albums in the United States and becoming a fixture at hit radio with songs such as "What I've Done" and "In the End."

But for band leaders Mike Shinoda (rap vocals, guitar) and Chester Bennington (vocals), kicking back wasn't a very enticing choice. So last year they steered Linkin Park into ambitious new territory with "A Thousand Suns," an experimental, high-concept fourth album that has kept fan debates roiling for months.

"As the years go on, we're learning new things," Shinoda told journalists in a teleconference ahead of the band's Tuesday visit to Joe Louis Arena. "We're changing. We're listening to different music. We're playing different instruments, interested in talking about different things. So all of that stuff gets mixed into the pot and at the end of the day, the music is built upon all of that stuff."

The new direction was apparent from the earliest demo sessions for "A Thousand Suns," a sound Shinoda described as looser, more electronic, more abstract. The band tapped an age-old technique known as "automatic writing," adapting lyrics from a stream-of-consciousness flow. And with Rick Rubin -- who had also produced 2007's "Minutes to Midnight" -- the group found a receptive accomplice for its new sonic adventure.

The resulting album was a far cry from the Linkin Park of a decade ago, the band that turned out a monster debut in the form of "Hybrid Theory" -- all adolescent angst, roaring nu-metal guitars and crisply alternating rap-singing. The kaleidoscopic "A Thousand Suns" reveals a band in transition: Roles are morphing, sounds mutating. The lyrics have become political. Guitars have made way for pianos, synths and processed noise. The acoustic song "The Messenger" closes the album on a radically different note.

And while the catchy bits are intact -- Linkin Park probably couldn't stop the hooks from seeping out if it tried -- the band approached the album as an album, rather than a selection of tracks.

"We wanted to have a vibe," said Bennington. "We wanted the album to be presented as a piece of art, as a whole."

The sounds are cutting-edge, even futuristic. But the album's flow, said Shinoda, was intended to hark back to the concept records of the 1970s, cinematic in scope.

"The approach is to try and make it almost more visual, to really pace it in a way that paints a picture and is not about, like, hitting you with pop songs," he said.

In a music industry that is increasingly geared toward tracks and downloads, Shinoda, Bennington and their band mates -- guitarist Brad Delson, drummer Rob Bourdon, bassist David Farrell and DJ Joe Hahn -- knew they were taking a risk.

"We had to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, 'Are we comfortable with the possibility that this will work against us in the long term?' " Shinoda recalled. "Obviously we decided to go through with it and go against the grain. And I feel like creatively, artistically, it was a choice that we needed to make."

While "A Thousand Suns" prompted a mixed response among the Linkin Park audience, the more severe backlash seems to have dissipated with time as fans grow into the music. And the album's first two hits -- "The Catalyst" and "Waiting for the End" -- have probably lured more than enough new fans to compensate for any departures. Like each of Linkin Park's albums since 2003, "Suns" debuted at No. 1 in Billboard. Still, its first-week sales of 241,000 were significantly lower than the 625,000 for "Minutes to Midnight" three years earlier.

"The diehard fans of Linkin Park are really open-minded to what we do," said Bennington. "Sometimes it takes people a while to digest the new music. But when it sits -- especially with this album -- I think people really are going to appreciate what we've done here and see it for what we intended."

Shinoda, a gadget whiz and studio fiend, has always injected a high-tech feel into Linkin Park's studio work, one that must ultimately be translated onstage. But material from "A Thousand Suns" may prove even more challenging than usual. The band got a chance to start honing the music with a run of overseas dates in the fall, but the performance will continue getting tweaked and improvised as the U.S. tour gets under way tonight in Florida.

The group would like to eventually stage full front-to-back performances of the new record, Shinoda said, but he emphasized that the current tour will include music from the band's entire catalog.

"I think they work well together," he said. "The new record definitely lends ... a narrative to the show, which is really nice. It kind of ties different parts of the show together, and I find that some of the old songs take on a new meaning when they're put in that context."