Story of the Year
Story of the Year (a.k.a. Story or SOTY) is a band that was originally formed in St. Louis in 1995.It currently consists of Dan Marsala (vocals), Ryan Phillips (rhythm guitar, vocals), Adam Russell (bass), and (lead guitar), Philip SneedJosh Wills (drums). Initially named Big Blue Monkey, they changed their name to Story of the Year in 2001 because a blues group of the same name had already existed.
It would not be until eight years after forming that Story of the Year saw its first piece of commercial success in its major label debut, Page Avenue, containing the popular singles "Until the Day I Die" and "Anthem of Our Dying Day". A second album, In the Wake of Determination, followed in 2005, but did not achieve the success of its predecessor. The band has returned with their third album The Black Swan, their first on Epitaph Records, which was released on April 22, 2008.
In Flames
In Flames is a melodic death metal, or Gothenburg metal founded in 1990. Along with , band from Gothenburg, SwedenDark Tranquillity and At the Gates, they pioneered what is now known as melodic death metal. They have released nine albums since 1994.
Musical style
In Flames' musical style is characterized by the constant use of harmonized lead guitar melodies. In early albums such as The Jester Race, In Flames would many times employ two harmonized lead guitars playing over a rhythm guitar. However, since the band only has two guitar players, they found it hard to reproduce those songs during live performances and ever since Reroute to Remain they have focused on writing songs with the intention of playing them live.
In Flames' vocal style is characterized by the use of growled vocals complemented at times by clean vocals. In more recent albums such as Come Clarity, the band makes more prominent use of clean vocals, especially during choruses. In Flames' lyrics have also varied during their career. In early albums such as The Jester Race and Whoracle, In Flames' lyrics focused on astrology, mankind, and other global themes. In later albums such as Soundtrack to Your Escape and Come Clarity, In Flames' lyrics focus more on personal issues, thoughts, and other introspective themes.In Flames have, since the release of Reroute to Remain, started to incorporate many influences from modern metal genres - the later albums have had alternative metal, nu metal and some metalcore influences on them.
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a metal band from Espoo, Finland. There is some contention regarding the band's genre classification, but in general the band's musical style can be described as a cross between melodic death metal and power metal (with some concluding this tag only includes their earlier works. Their name was derived from the Lake Bodom murders.
The lyrics of Children of Bodom's songs are written in English and are most often concerned with the subjects of death/the grim reaper, personal struggles, war and the Lake Bodom murders. Recent albums have seen a shift to more antagonistic lyrics (songs such as "You're Better Off Dead" and "In Your Face") and a more straight-forward heavy metal style.
Avenged Sevenfold
Avenged Sevenfold is an American hard rock/heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California.
Band name and lyrical content
The band's name is a reference to the Book of Genesis in the Bible, where Cain is sentenced to live in exile for murdering his brother. God marked him so that none would kill him on account of his sin; the man who dared to kill Cain would suffer "vengeance seven times over" (KJV). The title of Avenged Sevenfold's song "Chapter Four" references the fourth chapter of Genesis, in which the story of Cain and Abel takes place. The song's subject also appears to be this story. "Beast and the Harlot", yet another song derived from the Bible, comes from the book of Revelation only it is written in the first person and refers to the punishment of Babylon the Great, world empire and seat of false religion. Another biblical reference occurs in the song "The Wicked End". In this song, several times it is said "dust the apple off, savor each bite, and deep inside you know Adam was right." making reference to Adam eating the forbidden fruit. Although the band's title and members' stage names make references to religion, Shadows stated in an interview that they are not a religious band. "Anyone that reads the lyrics and really knew anything about us, they would know we're not promoting either," he said. "That's one thing about this band that I love is that we never really shove any kind of, like, political or religious beliefs on people. We just, the music's there to entertain and maybe thought-provoking on both sides, but we don't try to, like, really shove anything down anyone's throat. There's too many bands that do that nowadays, I think."The band has a few songs that are somewhat political in nature like "Critical Acclaim" and "Blinded In Chains".
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles, California in 1991. The band's continual members are vocalist Zack de la Rocha, guitarist Tom Morello, bassist Tim Commerford, and drummer Brad Wilk. Rage Against the Machine is noted for its blend of hip hop, heavy metal, punk and funk as well as its revolutionary politics and lyrics. Rage Against the Machine drew inspiration from early metal instrumentation, as well as rap acts such as Public Enemy and Afrika Bambaataa. The group's music is distinguished primarily by de la Rocha's rhyming styles and powerful stage energy, and Morello's unorthodox guitar techniques.
Rage Against the Machine released their debut album Rage Against the Machine in 1992, which became a commercial success. Following a slot on the 1993 Lollapalooza, the band did not release a follow-up record until Evil Empire in 1996. The band's third album The Battle of Los Angeles was released in 1999. During their initial nine year run, they became one of the most popular and influential political bands in contemporary music.
The band released their fourth studio album Renegades in 2000 and broke up shortly afterwards. Zack de la Rocha started a low-key solo career; the rest of the band formed the rock supergroup Audioslave with former Soundgarden frontman Chris Cornell. In April 2007 Rage Against the Machine performed together for the first time in seven years at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. The band has continued to perform at multiple live venues since.
Rancid
Rancid is a punk band formed in 1991 in Albany, California, by Matt Freeman and Tim Armstrong. Rancid includes Armstrong on guitar and vocals, Freeman on bass and vocals, Lars Frederiksen on guitar and vocals, and Branden Steineckert on drums. The band was formed by Armstrong, Freeman, and former drummer Brett Reed, who left the band in 2006 and was replaced by Branden Steineckert. Frederiksen joined Rancid in 1993 when the band was searching for a second guitar player.
They are credited, along with fellow California punk bands The Offspring and Green Day with reviving mainstream popular interest in punk rock in the United States during the mid 1990s.
Rancid is perhaps best-known for the singles "Ruby Soho", "Time Bomb", "Salvation", and "Fall Back Down". As of 2007, Rancid has been working on a studio album expected to be released in June 2008 on Hellcat Records.
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