User:Ultim8um/sandbox

Degravation is a melodic metal band from Cypress, California. The band was founded by Shane Vargas in 2007, and has undergone stylistic changes as well as line up changes. This page has been made by the band, for the fans who want to know all there is to know about us. Hope you enjoy :)

=Biography=

New Drummer and a New Name

 * Due to personal issues with current drummer Sonny, Shane began a search for a replacement. He was recommended to contact Blake Chadwick, a member of the 4-time WGI PSO World Champion Pacifica Drumline and fellow classmate since elementary school.  Shane send Blake a text message asking if he would be interesting in auditioning for Operation Overload, and Blake was quick to accept.  Shane gave him a CD of all the current OO songs, recorded on an iPod microphone attachment, to learn for his audition, which took place just a couple weeks afterward.  (OTHER DRUMMER THAT AUDITIONED).  He came over to Shane's for a practice, and while Shane was warming up to Metallica's song One, Blake joined in.  They immediately found musical chemistry as they continued playing the song.  Once Blake began the quick double bass bursts, Shane brought Taylor, Casey, and his mom in the room to watch.  They then all went through their original songs, and Blake had mastered them on the first run through of each, bringing the whole band together tighter than they had ever been before.  After the practice, the members of OO were excited to ask Blake to join the band, which he humbly accepted.  Casey and Shane then delivered the news to Sonny that he had been replaced, and soon after he went to Shane's to get his gear out of the practice room.


 * With Blake now backing the band, they continued performing and practicing, and soon wrote the song "Never Back Down," a guitar jam song in which Blake was able to show off his talents. As they became more comfortable with their new lineup, the group was able to build from the foundation they had created for themselves, and modernize their sound.  Blake pushed the members of the band to explore darker, more progressive musical influences, which led to the writing of "Left For Dead."  The new perspective and influence Blake brought to the band resulted in stronger song writing and an overall tonal shift in the band's sound.  This was coupled with the fact that the name Operation Overload was not very well received by friends and family of the band, and so they considered changing the name of the band.  After weeks of vigorous brainstorming, the band finally agreed to use Degravation, a name recycled from a short-lived garage band that Blake had previously been involved with.  The meaning of Degravation is "the act of making heavy," which fit perfectly for the process the band was going through of writing darker, heavier material.

Album Production and Taylor's Departure
The album went into official production in January 2012. Originally planned to be an EP release, the band braced themselves to record songs to send to labels as a serious gesture to let themselves be known to record labels and officials.

=Recording Production=

Album Recording and Production
=Members= Casey Ray McDonald: Vocals ........................(2008 - present)

Shane Vargas: ...........Guitar .........................(2007 - present)

James Butler: .............Guitar, Backup Vocals (2010 - present)

Jordan Eres: ..............Bass ..........................(2012 - present)

Blake Chadwick: ........Drums ........................(2009 - present)

Previous Members
Santini "Sonny" Vilardo: Drums (2007 - 2009)

Taylor Marvin: ..............Bass ..(2007 - 2012)

Member Influences
These artists have really made a difference in our musical perception and interpretation. Whether old favorites or new discoveries, these are the most noteworthy bands that have shaped us as musicians and as people.

Casey Ray McDonald:

Shane Vargas:

Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, Guns 'N' Roses, Lamb Of God (band), Led Zeppelin, Nevermore, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen

James Butler:

Jordan Eres:

Blake Chadwick:

Devin Townsend, Dream Theater, The Faceless, Helloween, Lamb Of God (band), Nevermore, Megadeth, Metallica, Oingo Boingo, Opeth, Pantera, Revocation (band), Soundgarden, Slayer, Symphony X, Trivium (band)