Grammy-nominated metalcore band As I Lay Dying has been hitting the metal scene hard since their formation in 2000. After putting out five full-length albums, As I Lay Dying is preparing to release their latest album, Awakened, on Sept 25.
Phoenix welcomed the San Diego native rock band to the Valley of the Sun when they toured with the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival July 6.
Founded by vocalist Tim Lambesis, As I lay Dying now includes lead guitarist Nick Hipa, drummer Jordan Mancino, rhythm guitarist Phil Sgrosso and bassist Josh Gilbert.
On July 6 at the Mayhem Festival, Nick Hipa said the production of Awakened began in January 2012 and was completed just before the festival took off on June 30.
“We’ve been working on this album for a while,” Hipa said. “Bill Stevenson helped produce the album and Colin Richardson mixed it, two very talented men.”
Stevenson is a distinguished rock producer and the drummer for the Descendents.
Although As I Lay Dying has found a successful rhythm with the music they’ve produced in past years, Hipa is excited to disclose that fans might be a little shocked, in a good way, with what Awakened has to offer.
“I can’t reveal the track listing yet,” Hipa said. “But I think fans are really going to respond to it. I hope they like it. I don’t see why they wouldn’t.”
In the past, As I Lay Dying’s fourth album was really what put them on the heavy metal map. An Ocean Between Us reached the no. 1 spot in the Top Rock chart and no. 8 on the Billboard 200. They were named Artist of the Year in 2008 at the San Diego Music Awards and were nominated for a Grammy Award in the same year.
The band has been careful not to leak too much information about the tracks expected on the 2012 album aside from their newest song, “Cauterize,” which premiered just before the launch of the Mayhem Festival.
“Cauterize” is a little different from the former tracks As I Lay Dying is known for; it starts off heavy on vocals and lead guitar while holding back on the drums a little bit. Not to say the drums aren’t there, the percussions are smooth, fast and precise with the tom-toms and the snare drum, but the bass drum isn’t used as heavily as it has been in earlier singles.
“(Cauterize) is a good first impression to the album, fast and melodic,” Hipa said. “It’s not my favorite on the album but it gives our fans a good idea of what to expect. Every song is different though, we hope our fans like it and are open minded for what we’re offering.”
Although they’ve been categorized as metalcore, their style of music wavers between metal genres, something fans can expect in Awakened.
“It’s unpredictable what’s going to be the next big thing, it’s exciting not really knowing what’s on the horizon,” said Hipa. “I guess you could say it’s progressive music, you can call it whatever. We’re collectively proud of the work we’ve done with Awakened and that’s pretty cool. We’re just excited to see the reaction from fans, regardless of genre.”
Hesitant to say too much about the album, Hipa does say there is an album-release tour in the works that should bring As I Lay Dying back through Arizona, possibly in early 2013, but nothing is concrete so he can’t make promises at the moment.
Reach the reporter at Mctabata@asu.edu.
