THE BIRTH AND DISINAGRATION OF ABSURDA
The "advent" of AbsurdA can go back as far as 2003. Within a band known as Held In Scorn, Matt and Ray began a side project that would bring them away from the melodic metal scene they now dominated in their region. The side project, aptly titled Dark Hail, was to be a fusion of melodic metal with heavy doses of dark ambience and orchestrated set pieces with regards to acoustic and string instruments. Think Opeth, Inflames, and Godspeed...You Black Emperor in a no-holds-barred threesome. The seed of that heavy insemination would be Dark Hail. With Matt and Ray pulling double and even triple duty within the band, the project was set to be a studio only band. Matt was to drum as well as contribute to guitar and bass. Ray was to do the same, minus the drumming, and eventually both would inevitablly pick up a cello, violen...even a sitar.
With the dilluting of Held In Scorn, Ray was unfortunately released from the band that he co-founded. Matt was still on board. Reliving a scene from a long while ago, Ray was furious.
"I saw the entire ordeal in the same light as when Metallica let Dave Mustaine go. I was let go because of the constant clashings with our then drummer, and I guess it was easier for them to just release me. After that, the only thing that kept me going in the music world was revenge."
Thus, Advent was born.
Ray secluded himself for months to write endlessly for hours and days at a time, producing more than 20 songs in a 2 month period.
"I had a mission and all I wanted to do was write better, more melodic songs than Held In Scorn. It was a modern Metallica/Megadeth war of our era. I wanted to go all out. The only thing was that Matt was writting all of their material because my replacement guitarist supposedly "sucked". So when I wrote a song going against them, I was actually going against Matt."
Matt was still alongside Ray in the now full blown project. They practiced wherever and whenever they could, even invading the Held In Scorn practice spot, which Matt had access to.
"It was starting to get bad over here man! It started getting to the point where Matt was ditching Held In Scorn practice because he liked our stuff so much better. I guess he was getting tired of pulling all of the weight over there. With him and myself...everything was equal. It still is. I write something, he does as well, we put it together, its magic."
The search for a name came from an influence both members hold close to their hearts. The name change came after a long listen to Opeth's 2nd album: Morningrise.
"It was the 1st song on their album which marks the Advent for Opeth, probably in my opinion, one of the most talented bands to ever live. They are on the same level with bands like Pink Floyd, Godspeed You Black Emperor!, King Crimson, Tangerine Dream, etc. Bands that had that X-Factor. One of a kind geniuses that knew no boundaries for music. That is where we achieved our name."
Within the time frame of composing and rewritting many of the songs, the guys sought members to fill the vacant spots in the band. They achieved the help of a long time friend of Ray's, Mike, on guitar, as well as former friend and one time neighbor, Myka, on bass.
"That was the only lineup we ever had as far as the core of the band. Both guys were amazing at what they did. They probably thought I was a tyrannical asshole during those times because I only wanted to be the best in this town and sort of crush the competition. Mike understood where I was coming from and was hyped up as well. He served as a guitar tech for me during the Held In Scorn days. He went everywhere with us. Myka was a young bass playing prodigy. Its sad we are not on speaking terms anymore. He was an amazing Jaco of his era."
With the core of the band intact, a new name, and songs ready to go, they fell short of a singer. Auditioning many, they settled for two vocalist over their short span.
"As I recall, we played only two shows, and we had two different vocalist during them. We had auditioned maybe 5 vocalist in a one month period. Even a female vocalist. Our 1st show was a memorial show for a musician that passed away in Oakland, CA. That show and vocalist was a complete joke. I couldn't believe we came so far to suck so bad. And then our second and highly successful show was in our hometown of Stockton. We had an old friend, Chris on vocals and he absolutley blew everyone away. That was a great show. Matt put that show together himself. Made flyers and everything. I had a friend watching the doors, Mike's parents were selling our merch and taking in the cover charge. Absolutley amazing show. Held In Scorn was even in the audience that night, which made it sweeter cause Mike was acting like an ass onstage for them. We played with some great bands that night as well, friends Atendency To Fracture and Solace, Normandy...hell I think that was it. It was fun."
Soon after, the band started to hit a downward slope. Their vocalist started to skip practice and disappear for weeks at a time. The disbanding of the group was imminent. Before a show at the Blackwater Cafe that got cancelled at the last minute, Ray walked away from the band and never looked back.
"I was just pissed that things weren't going my way. Our vocalist was out and we had a show and everyone wanted to have the Held In Scorn vocalist fill in with us, and I was kind of appalled. I started this band for solace and revenge and we were going to let the enemy in right through the gates. I feel differently about the situation now, 3 years later, of course. Derrick (HIS vocalist) is one of my good friends and we get along great. We always really have. He has helped me out in some rough spots in my life and I would like to start a project with the HIS crew once again. I only hope Dave Mustaine can follow in "my" footsteps and reconcile with Metallica....yeah right! Then he wouldn't be Dave Mustaine!"
After a three year hiatus, Advent is currently recording their loooooong awaited album. Look forward for the band making a breakthrough in and around Northern California and the Bay Area.
UPDATE 4/11/2008: Due to legal issues, Advent has changed their name to AbsurdA or The AbsurdA.
~Bio written by Brett Wilson~
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