Before the Mourning

Last updated

Before the Mourning
Before the Mourning.jpg
Before the Mourning performing in 2015
Background information
Also known asB4TM
OriginLos Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres Heavy metal, thrash metal [1]
Years active2012 (2012)–2015 (2015)
LabelsStreet Smart Recordings
Past membersPhil Gonyea
Adam Ryan
CJ Cussell
Johnny Young
Vincent Ferro
Kyle Mayer
Paul McBride
Jeff Stevenson
Nikki Stringfield
Website Before the Mourning on Facebook

Before the Mourning (also initialized as B4TM) was an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles. They released two EPs, Remembrance and Damned and Forsaken, and published the full-length album Etherial End in August 2015. In November 2015, the band announced that they had permanently split up.

Contents

History

Adam Ryan Adam Ryan.jpg
Adam Ryan
Phil Gonyea Phil Gonyea 2.jpg
Phil Gonyea
CJ Cussell CJ Cussell.jpg
CJ Cussell
Jeff Stevenson Jeff Stevenson.jpg
Jeff Stevenson
Paul McBride Paul McBride.jpg
Paul McBride

Remembrance (2011–2013)

In December 2011, Phillip Gonyea, the former percussionist for bands Instinct of Aggression and Against All Will approached Johnny Young of The Kill Corps about performing music. Because the sessions proved to be successful, Adam Ryan, who also performed with The Kill Corps, was brought in to sing, after which time their first track "Dismember" was recorded. Weeks later, the band met guitarist Nikki Stringfield, at which time Before the Mourning began. In August 2012, their first EP, named Remembrance, was released free of charge via Facebook. [2]

The song "Dead to You" is described by Young as being "breakup music for tough guys", focusing on "a relationship that can't work no matter how hard you try". [3] The lyric video for this song was released on September 6, 2012. [4] [5] "Before the Mourning", the title track from the album, talks about "focus[ing] on the good times" had with someone that people have lost, "the double entendre within the band name". [3] The music video for this song was released on January 17, 2013. [6]

Damned and Forsaken (2013–2014)

Halfway through 2013, the band began work on their second EP, entitled Damned and Forsaken. At the end of July, the band released the title track via their ReverbNation page, [7] followed by "Grim" in early August. [8] In the week following, the ensemble then published "The Right to Die" as well as demo "Need to Bleed". [9]

In early 2014, the band performed on The Hell Pop Tour II with In This Moment, Butcher Babies, Devour the Day, and All Hail the Yeti. [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] Following the tour, Stringfield and the ensemble parted ways. [16]

Etherial End (2014–2015)

In June 2014, a lyric video was debuted for "Another Sleepless Night", [17] with "Continuum" published via SoundCloud just over two months later. [18] [19] The ensemble, along with American rock band Malaki then visited the western United States for their "Pacific Rim Tour". [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] [25]

To begin 2015, the group released the official music video for "Another Sleepless Night", [26] directed by Kevin J. Custer. [1] [27] [28] At the end of July 2015, the ensemble released "The Deception", the third tune from the album. The song is about an abnormal love triangle confounded by the deceptions used by all of the individuals involved. The band made the decision to open the album with "The Deception", as the "happy sounding intro is a complete 180 from the rest of the track" which "drops into a heavy driving groove which doesn't let up". [29]

In mid-August, a new song entitled "Honestly" was released via ArtistDirect. According to Ryan, the tune is "about that time in your life when you come to a crossroads", "that time when you can either keep on living the way you've been living, or make the choice to be something better". The singer goes on to say that "even then, you still struggle with your inner demons who try and convince you that you've made the wrong choice". [30]

In late July, the group announced that their debut full-length album entitled Etherial End would be available on August 21, 2015. [26] Co-produced by Logan Mader, [31] the work was released via Street Smart Recordings. From August until September 2015, the ensemble toured with Fear Factory, Once Human, and Chicago rock band The Bloodline. [10] [32]

On November 7, 2015, it was announced that Ryan and the band had parted ways. [33] Seventeen days later, on November 24, 2015, it was announced that the ensemble had permanently split up. [34]

Post-breakup (2015–present)

Lead guitarist CJ Cussell performs with bands Corrosion [35] and Forty Winters. [36] Phil Gonyea returned to his old ensemble Instinct of Aggression. [37] Bassist Paul McBride has continued to perform in Florida rock band The Killing Hours. [38] Lead vocalist Adam Ryan started three new musical projects, A Callous Confession, [39] Valor & Vengeance [40] and Alphamega. [41]

Critical reception

Jason Rhode of Cryptic Rock describes debut album Etherial End as "a high-octane soundtrack of raw emotion". Rhode goes on to say that "The Deception" has a "melodic intro that is deceptively Alternative Pop akin to Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do" with "speedy drums kick[ing] in, accompanied by Cussell and Stevenson's guitars". The reviewer then talks about "Another Sleepless Night", [10] a track that discusses the end of one of Ryan's relationships and his self-medicating to cope, [42] then returning the listener to hard metal as the guitars fade and the drums kick. Rhode concludes by stating that the band "is precise like a striking cobra with the elegance of a panther, musically and vocally" and that "each track is like Christmas; as they unfold, the beauty within is seen". [10] Jeff Kendrick, DevilDriver guitarist and co-founder of All Axess describes the band as "very comfortable in their own shoes they blend perfectly delectable riffs and heaviness with cathartic screams and vibrant choruses", going on to portray them as a "very promising band with what we're sure is a vibrant future ahead". [42]

BraveWords stated that the band "definitely understand[s] their roots", and that "Possessing a timeless grasp on melody, propensity for airtight riffs, and emotionally palpable vocals, they deliver technical, taught, and tough metal that's as memorable as it is magnetic". [1]

Alice Roques of Rock Revolt Magazine gave Etherial End "4.5 skulls", describing it as "an album that showcases everything this band can accomplish, and more", going on to say that Etherial End is a record that should be absorbed and reabsorbed" and that "A listener should put their ears on it and become one with it, because it is powerful and has all the intricacies that a musical enthusiast can dissect and savor over and over again." [43]

Anthony Giles of The Pit: Sports & Entertainment and The Oakland Post describes the composition as "intricate, with enough punch to draw new faces into the scene" being a "hard-hitting mixture of chugging breakdowns, bass drops, loud and angry screams, and some heartfelt, mid-tone clean vocals". [44] [45]

Bill Jolliemore of National Rock Review describes the work as bass and drums that "snake from simple to complex time signatures with a mix of straight forward and syncopated beats providing a solid foundation", with guitars "adding layers of chugging rhythm, and slow to shredding melodic leads". Jolliemore goes on to say that "the technical, galloping, and helicopter like drums will challenge even the most experienced air drumming metal heads out there". [46]

Personnel

Final lineup

Former members

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

Videos

Other information

Bassist Paul McBride is an editor for Bass Musician Magazine [61] and also performs with American heavy metal band The Killing Hours from Miami, Florida. [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Within Temptation</span> Dutch symphonic metal band

Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. They have been classified by critics as gothic metal and symphonic metal, although each album contains other influences outside these genres. Critics have noticed the band's experimentation and musical versatility. In an interview, den Adel said they fell into a symphonic rock genre with various influences. In another interview, den Adel stated that "We consider ourselves more an atmospheric melodic symphonic metal/rock band... In my opinion, we are not a gothic band but we have gothic elements".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lacuna Coil</span> Italian gothic metal band

Lacuna Coil is an Italian gothic metal band from Milan. Since their formation in 1994, the group has had two name changes, being previously known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal, and they have recorded nine studio albums, two extended plays, two live albums, two compilation albums, one video album, and sixteen singles and music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smile Empty Soul</span> American rock band

Smile Empty Soul is an American rock band, originally from Santa Clarita, California, United States. It was started in 1998 by Sean Danielsen, Ryan Martin (bass), and Derek Gledhill (drums). Following the departure of Gledhill and Martin from the band in 2005 and 2017, respectively, Danielsen remains the only founding member still active as well as the band's primary songwriter, frontman, and leader.

Sikth are a British progressive metal band from Watford, Hertfordshire, formed in 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Kennison</span> American rock musician

Patrick Kennison is an American rock musician. He co-founded The Union Underground, who played on Ozzfest 2001 and released an album An Education in Rebellion, which sold 350,000 copies. Union Underground broke up due to musical differences with Kennison forming a new band, "3-Faced", with Marty O'Brien.

Femme Fatale was an American hard rock band. Originally from Albuquerque, the band moved to Los Angeles and released one studio album before disbanding. Lead vocalist, Lorraine Lewis, restarted the band in 2013 with an all-female line-up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Iron Maidens</span> American heavy metal band

The Iron Maidens are an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 2001 as an all-female tribute act to English heavy metal band Iron Maiden. The band currently consists of drummer Linda McDonald, bassist Wanda Ortiz, lead vocalist Kirsten Rosenberg and guitarists Nikki Stringfield and Shani Kimelman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All That Remains (band)</span> American metal band

All That Remains is an American heavy metal band from Springfield, Massachusetts, formed in 1998. They have released nine studio albums, a live CD and DVD, and have sold over a million records worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pierce the Veil</span> American rock band

Pierce the Veil is an American rock band formed in San Diego, California, in 2006. It was founded by brothers Vic and Mike Fuentes after the disbanding of Before Today, which formed out of the San Diego punk scene. Jaime Preciado and Tony Perry joined the group in 2007, on bass and lead guitar respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Memphis May Fire</span> American metalcore band

Memphis May Fire is an American metalcore band formed in Denton, Texas, and currently signed to Rise Records. The band currently consists of lead guitarist Kellen McGregor, lead vocalist Matty Mullins, bassist Cory Elder, and drummer Jake Garland. Formed in 2006, they have released seven studio albums and two EPs to date. Their fourth album, Unconditional, debuted at No. 4 on the US Billboard 200 and atop the Alternative Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heaven Below</span> American rock band

Heaven Below is an American hard rock band based in Los Angeles. The band's debut album Countdown to Devil was released March 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avatar (band)</span> Swedish metal band

Avatar is a Swedish heavy metal band, formed in Mölndal, Gothenburg in 2001. The band has released nine studio albums, the most recent being Dance Devil Dance in 2023. The band has had some success on US rock radio, notably with their song "New Land", which peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in May 2017 and "The Dirt I'm Buried In" peaking at number 1 of the same chart in August 2023, making it the song with the longest journey to number 1 in the last 20 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Broco</span> British rock band

Don Broco are a British rock band formed in Bedford, England, in 2008. The band consists of Rob Damiani, Simon Delaney (guitar), Tom Doyle and Matt Donnelly. The band have released four studio albums, including Priorities (2012), Automatic (2015) and Technology (2018). Their most recent album Amazing Things (2021) was their first to reach No.1 in the UK Album Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Johnson (musician)</span> American drummer

Dan Johnson is an American drummer currently with American rock band Soundmankillz and formerly with the Christian rock band Red, Christian metal band Love and Death, rock metal band Back from Ashes, and hard rock band The Sammus Theory.

September Mourning is an American alternative metal band that incorporates a transmedia dark culture project created by Emily Lazar and Marc Silvestri. The conceptual project was formed by frontwoman, vocalist, and screamer Emily Lazar in New York in 2009. The concept narrative created by Lazar and incorporated in the band and their performances, centers around the fictional story of a human-grim reaper hybrid named September, as she navigates the worlds of the living and the dead. The character's human-side possesses the empathy to give some human souls a second chance. The story is presented on different media platforms, including music, comic books, and live concerts. The comic books are published by Top Cow Productions Image Comics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Texas Hippie Coalition</span> American heavy metal band

Texas Hippie Coalition is an American heavy metal band from Denison, Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikki Stringfield</span> American guitarist

Nikki Stringfield (born 1990) is an American heavy metal musician. She is the current guitarist for The Iron Maidens, Femme Fatale, and Heaven Below, as well as the former guitarist for Before the Mourning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Once Human (band)</span> American metal band

Once Human is an American melodic death metal band from Los Angeles, California, founded in 2014 by producer and former Machine Head/Soulfly guitarist Logan Mader. The band released their debut album, The Life I Remember, in 2015 through earMUSIC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Myka Relocate</span> Defunct American metalcore band

Myka Relocate are an American metalcore band formed in Lafayette, Louisiana in 2007, later based in Houston, Texas. The band has released three studio albums, Self Portrait as a Frozen Father, Lies to Light the Way and The Young Souls in addition to taking part in four annual South by So What?! music festivals between 2012 and 2015 as well as the 2016 SO WHAT! Music Festival. The band is credited with being able to successfully combine electronic elements, guttural screaming and pop vocals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharptooth</span> American hardcore punk band

Sharptooth was an American hardcore punk band from Baltimore, Maryland, United States. Formed in 2013, the band released two EPs and two studio albums, entitled Clever Girl (2017) and Transitional Forms (2020), before disbanding in 2023.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "BEFORE THE MOURNING Premier "Another Sleepless Night" Music Video". Bravewords.com. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  2. ↑ "Before The Mourning Gets Amped By". All Axess. August 17, 2012. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Free Music Wednesday Feat. Before The Mourning Benefit Show – Tickets – The Roxy Theatre – West Hollywood, CA – September 4th, 2013". The Roxy. September 4, 2013. Archived from the original on November 26, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  4. ↑ "BEFORE THE MOURNING – "Dead To You" (Lyrical Video)". YouTube. September 6, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Good Mourning!!! Music Video Shoot is... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. September 16, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  6. 1 2 "BEFORE THE MOURNING – "Before The Mourning" (OFFICIAL VIDEO_High Quality HD)". YouTube. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hey all you Angels and Demons! Check out... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Angels and Demons, our new track "Grim"... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. August 9, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Make sure you're getting your daily dose... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "Before the Mourning – Etherial End (Album Review) | CrypticRock Cryptic Rock". Crypticrock.com. August 11, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  11. ↑ "In This Moment featuring Devour The Day / Butcher Babies / All..." www.ktvu.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  12. ↑ "The Hell Pop Tour II with In This Moment and More | Missoula, MT". Jade Presents. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  13. ↑ "In This Moment – Tickets – Trocadero Theatre – Philadelphia, PA – January 17th, 2014 | The Trocadero Theatre". Thetroc.com. May 7, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ↑ "In This Moment The Webster Theater". Webstertheater.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  15. ↑ "The Hell Pop Tour II with In This Moment, Seattle WA, Showbox". Clubzone.com. October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on December 19, 2013. Retrieved December 19, 2013.
  16. 1 2 "Nikki Stringfield (The Iron Maidens) – GHS". Ghsstrings.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Timeline Photos – Before The Mourning". Facebook. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Continuum by Before The Mourning Ofcl | Free Listening on SoundCloud". Soundcloud.com. September 5, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Angels and Demons, we give you – Before The Mourning". Facebook. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Cover Photos – Before The Mourning". Facebook. September 17, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Before The Mourning- Malaki in Olympia, WA – Oct 17, 2014 7:00 PM". Eventful. October 17, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Before The Mourning- Malaki- Madame Torment- AxeCrack in Portland, OR – Oct 19, 2014 7:00 PM | Eventful". Portland.eventful.com. October 19, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Before the Mourning, Requiem, Malaki, Limnus, Manisfestiv | DNA Lounge | On the Cheap, All Ages, Metal, Rock, Music, Nightlife | San Francisco News and Events". SF Weekly. May 6, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Malaki- Before The Mourning in Ventura, CA – Oct 22, 2014 9:00 PM". Eventful. October 22, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Before The Mourning- KAUSTIK- RattleheaD- ENROT". www.countrylegends971.com. October 27, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  26. 1 2 3 4 Brandon Davis. "Before the Mourning Premiere New Song and Music Video, "Another Sleepless Night" – Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News | Music Videos |Golden Gods Awards". revolvermag.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  27. ↑ "Before the Mourning Unleash Album + Tour With Fear Factory". Loudwire. August 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Before The Mourning – Another Sleepless Night (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)". YouTube. February 17, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Before the Mourning Premiere New Song, "The Deception" – Hard Rock & Heavy Metal News | Music Videos |Golden Gods Awards". Revolvermag.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Song Premiere: Before The Mourning "Honestly" @ARTISTdirect". Artistdirect.com. August 17, 2015. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  31. ↑ Welding, Alan D. "THE BLOODLINE and BEFORE THE MOURNING to support FEAR FACTORY on tour". Pittsburgh Music Magazine. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  32. ↑ "Fear Factory Plan Headlining Tour With Once Human + More". Loudwire. July 22, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  33. 1 2 "Adam Ryan – It is with a heavy heart that I write this to..." Facebook. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  34. ↑ "It's with great regret that I inform you... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
  35. ↑ "Corrosion". Facebook.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  36. ↑ "Forty Winters". Facebook.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  37. ↑ "Instinct of Aggression". Facebook.com. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  38. 1 2 "The Killing Hours, MIAMI, FL, Metal, Progressive, Thrash". Indieonthemove.com. March 3, 2011. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  39. ↑ "A Callous Confession – Facebook". facebook.com. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  40. ↑ "Valor & Vengeance « Valor & Vengeance". Valorvengeance.com. June 20, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
  41. ↑ Blabbermouth (May 28, 2019). "ALPHAMEGA Feat. Former BUTCHER BABIES Drummer CHRIS WARNER: 'Lords Of The Flies' Video". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  42. 1 2 "Before The Mourning Release Lyric Video for 'Another Sleepless Night'". All Axess. July 7, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  43. ↑ Alice Roques (August 16, 2015). "Album Review: Before The Mourning – Etherial End – Rockrevolt Mag". Rockrevoltmagazine.com. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
  44. ↑ Giles, Anthony (August 14, 2015). "The Pit: Sports & Entertainment Before the Mourning – Album Review – "Etherial End" – The Pit: Sports & Entertainment". Thepit-se.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  45. ↑ Dennis, Damien (April 4, 2013). "Oakland to Horizon: It's not a 'done deal' – The Oakland Post: Sports". Oaklandpostonline.com. Retrieved August 19, 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  46. ↑ "Etherial End by Before the Mourning". National Rock Review – Rock Music Magazine. August 20, 2015. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  47. ↑ "27 years ago today, angels decided they... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. April 18, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  48. ↑ Chad Childers (February 27, 2015). "Ex-Trivium Drummer Nick Augusto Returns With Corrosion". Loudwire.com. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  49. ↑ "Nikki Stringfield: Before The Mourning at The Canyon Club 2013 Jack Lue Series". Shreddelicious. January 1, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  50. ↑ "The Augments Project – Awaken (Live)". YouTube. May 29, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  51. ↑ "The Augments Project: Awaken (Video 2015) – Full Cast & Crew – IMDb". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  52. ↑ "Johnny Young – It's B4TM week!!! Our music video,..." Facebook. January 21, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  53. ↑ "Started Working at The Augments Project". Facebook. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  54. ↑ "Nikki Stringfield: Before The Mourning – Dismember". Shreddelicious. August 12, 2012. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  55. ↑ "Good Mourning America!!! 27 years ago... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Alright so here's the deal. We've found... - Before The Mourning". Facebook. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  57. ↑ Burke, Teresa (October 20, 2013). "Unsung Meolody – Connect. Sick Puppies, 10 Years and Charming Liars in Chicago". Unsungmelody.com. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  58. ↑ "Free Music Wednesday Feat. Before The Mourning Benefit Show – Tickets – The Roxy Theatre – West Hollywood, CA – September 4th, 2013". Ticketfly. September 4, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  59. ↑ "iTunes – Music – Damned and Forsaken EP by Before the Mourning". Itunes.apple.com. April 8, 2014. Archived from the original on November 29, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  60. ↑ "Fall tour dates coming soon! - Before The Mourning". Facebook. August 18, 2014. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
  61. ↑ "Bass Musician Magazine Editorial Staff". Bassmusicianmagazine.com. February 14, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.