User:Smift42/Before Fire

Before Fire is a death metal band from Honolulu, Hawaii, formed in 2007. They are currently unsigned and seeking label representation. They have been booked alongside international acts such as Between the Buried and Me and The Black Dahlia Murder.

Biography


Before Fire was founded by Charlie Eron and Erik Henze in 2007, originally intended to be a progressive art metal act heavily influenced by the likes of Tool and Opeth. Travis later joined them as their bass player and soon after began performing in the local Hawaii music scene.

The band has gone through several lineup changes, and is currently performing with with Lowell Gerry (vocals), Travis Gershaneck (lead/rhythm guitar/backing vocals), Katelyn Williams (Bass), and Erik Henze (drums). Charlie Eron (lead guitar/backing) founder of the band is currently on hiatus attending college in Maryland.

Playing their first show at Metalfest Hawaii 2007, Before Fire began with strong composure. In 2009 the band was awarded and formally recognized for their achievements in the Hawaii music scene.

Style and Influences


In recent years, Before Fire's sound has changed drastically from progressive metal to progressive melodic death metal. The members of the band have influences that range from many artists throughout the spectrum of metal in its entirety. Aside from the songs in their original set list, which are heavily grounded in progressive melodic death metal, the band also performs covers by well-known metal artists such as Dying Fetus, Decapitated, Lamb of God, and The Black Dahlia Murder.

As with every progressive metal band, their sound continues to evolve. Their more recent compositions have been influenced by sub-genres such as Djent, and Technical death metal.

Before Fire's vocal style is primarily deep guttural death metal growls and high pitch screaming. Their drumming consists of blast beats and precise double bass work whilst integrating complex rolls and fills. The guitar and bass playing make use of the entire fret board encompassing a large variety of playing techniques and complex scales, which attribute to their unique sound.

In a review by What Scene? Before Fire's sound was described as such: "...despite the loudness of their music, underneath lies a bed of prog rock, almost math metal. Instead of some of the same tired old chorus/verse/chorus/verse/bridge song structures you see in most of the publicly lauded bands out there, their music comes off as a story, with a beginning, middle, and end."

Tours
Before Fire has played on neighboring Hawaiian islands, and seek to tour to the continental United States this fall.

Demos and EPs

 * Demo 2008 (Demo, 2008)

Singles

 * "Bedtime Story"
 * "Sanct"

Members

 * Current
 * Lowell Gerry – lead vocals (2008–present)
 * Travis Gershaneck – guitar, backing vocals (2007–present)
 * Erik Henze – drums (2007–present)
 * Katelyn Williams – bass guitar (2009–present)


 * Inactive
 * Charles Eron – guitar, band founder, primary music composer (2007–present)
 * Currently on hiatus from Before Fire while attending college.


 * Former
 * Jessica Kincaid – vocals (2007)
 * Gerrit Evensen – rhythm guitar (2007–2008)
 * Lee Earthy – rhythm guitar (2008–2009)
 * Matt Pena – drums (2007–2010)
 * Jack Jackman – bass (2010)
 * Sam Schecter – guitar (2009–2011)