Alesana
The crowd is still screaming at a sold out show in Anaheim,
California as the sweetcore phenomenon known as Alesana exits the stage.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to this," says frontman Dennis Lee
as he tips back the last wallow of his water bottle. "Seeing kids go
crazy like that thousands of miles away from home reminds me that I have
the best job in the world." Crowd response like this is something that
the six-piece from Raleigh, North Carolina is quickly becoming
accustomed to all over the country and other parts of the world: and
this is only the beginning.
The band's debut full length record On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax
is built around a dynamic, emotionally charged, three guitar, three
vocal attack. "We're all about dynamics, both musically and vocally,"
says vocalist/guitarist Shawn Milke about why the band elected to employ
three guitarists and three vocalists. "We don't try to be like anyone
else or to be something we're not. By having six members we are able to
pull off the same guitar and vocal harmonies in a live setting that we
have on the record."
Forming in November of 2004, Alesana has always focused a great deal
of their attention on having an energetic and memorable live show. The
raw, honest intensity of the band's performance on stage has played a
huge role in their growing popularity over the last year and a half.
"Our music is always fun," says drummer Jeremy Bryan. "There isn't a
single
night on tour that I don't have a blast on stage. We give everything we
have each and every night and it is a great feeling to see that same
energy increasingly coming back from the crowd everywhere we go...and
always play 'til you puke." Having already completed tours with
Chiodos, From First To Last, Bayside, The Devil Wears Prada, and Drop
Dead Gorgeous the band is ready to continue hitting the road hard and
strong.
2007 saw the band play 325 shows in 365 days and 2008 is looking to be
no different. Alesana is embarking on a world tour playing shows in the
US, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany, South America, Japan, and
Australia. In addition to their international travel, the band is
headlining the Vans Warped Tour all summer long on the Smartpunk Stage.
In June of 2005, Alesana released their debut EP, Try This With Your
Eyes Closed on Tragic Hero Records. After selling nearly 3,000 copies of
the EP at shows and online, the band hit the studio with friend Kit
Walters to co-produce and record their first full
length record On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax. After nearly two months
of round-the-clock writing, self-conducted pre-production, and two
solid weeks in the studio, the band felt they had finally locked up the
exact sound they were striving to achieve. The record did a soft
release which included being sold at smartpunk.com where it remained in
the top 10 for a solid year. The success of the record prompted
Fearless Records to come check out the band live near their headquarters
in California. Less than one month
later, the band was signed to their new label. "We feel very at home
with Fearless," says
guitarist/vocalist Adam Ferguson. "I feel like I can pick up the phone
anytime and call anyone on the entire staff. Plus, with a smaller
roster of bands than some of the other labels out there, it feels more
like family." Bassist Shane Crump adds, "Our label
takes just as much pride in our success as we do. It feels good to know
that we can make the people who work for us so proud of what we
accomplish." Fearless re-released On Frail Wings Of Vanity And Wax in
March 2007 and record sales are pushing 50,000, having never dropped
below 400 records in any single week since being released.
In January of 2008, Alesana began work with producer Steve Evetts
(Senses Fail, Story Of The Year, Saves The Day, Every Time I Die) on
their new record Where Myth Fades To Legend, scheduled to hit store
shelves everywhere in June. "Everything we have done on the road and
accomplished as a band is here on this record," says Shawn. "We are
proud of the concept, the lyrics, the music, simply everything." The
recording process found the band working around the clock for three
months straight. Four weeks of finalizing the writing, three weeks of
pre-production, and six weeks in the studio led to the completion of
what the band calls, "everything we ever envisioned our music being."
Where Myth Fades To Legend is Alesana at its very best. Following
the footsteps of On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, the band elected to
continue its thematic approach to lyric writing. Many of the tracks on
the new record are based on the fables of The Brothers Grimm and other
famous fairy tale stories. "People reacted so well to the greek
mythology theme with our first record," recalls Dennis. "It was so much
fun writing with a theme so we decided to continue the approach on the
new record."
It is very apparent during the entirety of Where Myth Fades To Legend
that the band is playing straight from the heart. "Shawn used no vocal
auto-tuning at all," states guitarist Patrick Thompson. "He wanted to
be honest with himself and with the fans so he pushed and pushed until
it was done right, without the help of any trickery. Our producer,
Steve, pushed all of us. We are all stronger musicians coming out of the
studio."
The bands first single off of the new record is entitled,
"Seduction." "We based the lyrics on The Maiden Maleen, a tale of The
Brothers Grimm about a girl who is trapped inside of a tower left with
enough food to survive for only one year," explains Shawn. "She finally
escapes to find that her one true love is with another. Dennis and I
couldn't think of a better tale to discuss the trials of temptation and
jealousy than one where the main character battles starvation and
loneliness only to be left with nothing."
With the sincerity of their lyrics, the energy of their music, and
the passion of their live show, there is no doubt that Alesana will
fight its way into your stereos and into your hearts.


