Alesana (/ˌælɪsˈænə/AL-iss-AN-ə) is an American post-hardcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina.[1] The group was founded by Shawn Milke, Dennis Lee, Patrick Thompson, Steven Tomany and Daniel Magnuson during the fall of 2004, and is currently signed to Revival Recordings and Artery Recordings. In total, Alesana has released five full-length studio albums and three EPs.
The band initially received underground attention shortly after the release of the debut On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, featuring a musical style influenced by pop, punk, metal and classic rock.
History
Formation and Try This with Your Eyes Closed (2004–2005)
Shawn Milke and Patrick Thomson were both living in Baltimore, Maryland in the early 2000s where they both played in different bands. Milke was a member of the punk rock band The Legitimate Excuse, which formed in 2001.[2][3] After a year into looking for members around the Baltimore area and writing/recording early demos under the de facto/prototype Alesana name, the pair decided it would be best to move to Raleigh, North Carolina and continue their search . Dennis Lee was invited to join as the band's vocalist after Milke had met him in a restaurant was working at. Milke recalled, "he looked like a band guy".[4] They were eventually joined by Steven Tomany and Daniel Magnuson. With these new members in place, Alesana officially formed in October 2004. The band had its first practice in an upscale car wash.[4] The name of the band is inspired from Aliceanna St., which Shawn Milke and Patrick Thompson lived on when playing in Baltimore, MD. Aliceanna St. is located in Fells Point, a neighborhood in Baltimore.[citation needed]
Alesana was the first band to join Tragic Hero Records in 2005,[1] and their three demo songs titled "Apology", "Beautiful in Blue" and "Goodbye, Goodnight for Good" were featured on the compilation All The Tragedy Money Can Buy. In May 2005 they released their debut EP, Try This With Your Eyes Closed. In the same year, founding drummer Daniel Magnuson was replaced by Will Anderson, who was soon replaced by Jeremy Bryan. Alesana then toured across the United States, including an appearance at the Cornerstone Christian music festival, despite them not being a Christian band.[citation needed]
On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax (2006–2008)
In 2006 they added guitarist/vocalist Adam Ferguson to their lineup.[1] They followed with a full-length album, entitled On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, produced by Kit Walters, during the summer of 2006. The album was their first foray into concept albums with most songs being based on Greek mythology. In late 2006 Alesana signed to Fearless Records, which re-released their LP in March 2007 to mostly positive reviews and released a music video for "Ambrosia". In the same year, the song "Apology" in an acoustic version was featured on the compilation release, Punk Goes Acoustic 2. The group parted ways with Steven Tomany on the second to last day of tour followed by a break before playing the entire Warped Tour 2007. He was replaced by Shane Crump. The record is also the first to feature Shawn Milke's sister, Melissa Milke, who performs all female vocals.[citation needed]
In early 2008, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax charted on the Billboard magazine's Heatseekers chart, peaking at #44.[5]
On the 2008 Warped Tour, Shane Crump briefly left due to personal matters at home and Jake Campbell, formerly of Twelve Gauge Valentine, became a temporary fill in-bassist. Upon Crump's return, Adam Ferguson and the band parted ways and Campbell became the new guitarist/vocalist. Shane Crump also took care of all the backing unclean to this point.[citation needed]
On January 20, 2009, the music video for "Seduction", the song features a few screams made by Ferguson before he left the band, because of that Shane Crump lip sync all his screams. On March 10, 2009, the album Punk Goes Pop 2 was released which includes Alesana's cover of "What Goes Around...Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake. Alesana's Where Myth Fades to Legend has also charted on the Billboard 200 at #96 and on the Billboard Hard Rock Album at #13.[citation needed]
The Emptiness (2009–2010)
Former Greeley Estates guitarist Alex Torres joined Alesana in 2010, temporarily replacing Jake Cambell for 2 years until Campbell's eventual return in 2012.
In late February, Shawn Milke announced Alesana had started writing new material for their upcoming album. They began recording their third studio album, in July 2009, in Portland, Oregon, with producer Kris Crummett. The album, according to Shawn Milke on The Rave TV, would be entitled The Emptiness.[6] The band had made their progress in the studio viewable to fans through a Twitter account and an official website run by the band themselves. Concluding the band's recording session, which began on July 10, Alesana then set out for North Carolina to rest before they began their Vs. tour, which they headlined and included the bands The Bled, Enter Shikari, Broadway, Madina Lake, and Asking Alexandria. On the Vs. tour, Alesana's set included two new songs titled "To Be Scared By An Owl" and "The Thespian". Soon after concluding their month-long Vs. tour, Alesana headlined the "You'd Be Way Cuter in a Coffin" Tour with From First to Last, Asking Alexandria, The Word Alive and Memphis May Fire.[citation needed]
On October 15, Milke and Lee held a second interview with The Rave, where they revealed that they were shooting a music video in the fall for one song from The Emptiness. Milke also revealed that the album, The Emptiness, was to be released on January 26, 2010.[7] On November 23, Alesana released their first recorded work off of The Emptiness, "To Be Scared By An Owl" and began to promote it as a single.[8] The same week, they entered the studio to begin filming their third video which according to their website, is "The Thespian", the song was released on December 8, 2009. In 2009, Alesana won the Best Hardcore/Screamo Band at the Rock on Request Awards.[9] The band were also invited to play "To Be Scared by an Owl" live on The Daily Habit.[10]
After the release of their music video for "The Thespian" the group returned home to NC to prepare for the 2010 Warped Tour.[11] Right before their first venue on the Warped Tour, guitarist Jake Campbell left the band to be with his family, and Alex Torres of Greeley Estates took his place.[12] Upon the release of The Emptiness, it debuted at #68 on the Billboard 200, which made it the best selling release by the band during this period.[citation needed]
On July 22, 2010, Milke made a statement on the official Revolver website, regarding his constant desire to write scripts, stories and music; considering The Emptiness his 'first printed story'. Milke went on to say that he is constantly writing, and that new material for an Alesana album—as well as material for Wake Me Up, Juliet and Tempting Paris—was already being created.[13] After The Emptiness's recording, the group announced a headlining tour entitled: Two Frail Weeks of Vanity and Wax, in which they performed On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax in its entirety on each date of the tour, along with confirming that some songs would never be played live again after these concerts. In November 2010, Alesana departed from Fearless and signed to Epitaph Records.[14]
A Place Where the Sun Is Silent (2011)
During the beginning of 2011, the band confirmed that plans for a new record were already in the works. Alesana stated that chosen VIP's were involved within the testing of new tracks that were prepared to be included on their fourth studio album. These trackings were recorded during March 2011 with producer Kris Crummett.[15] By the beginning of that summer, Alesana completely finished the record's recording sessions. Alex Torres, Shane Crump, and Dennis Lee shortly thereafter confirmed that the mixing was finished as well and that they had the first master copies published. The name of the album was then announced to be titled, A Place Where the Sun Is Silent, and was released on October 18.[16]
Before its release, promotion for the record was supported by many magazines, websites and other publications. August 24, 2011 had Alternative Press premiere the first leaked song from the album, entitled "A Gilded Masquerade".[17] September 20 had Buzznet streaming "A Forbidden Dance" on their website as part of a contest for a lyric video.[18]
The album thematizes Dante Alighieri's 14th-century epic poem, Inferno.[19] On December 20, 2011, the song "Circle VII: Sins of the Lion" was voted the best song of 2011 by readers of Revolver.[20]
Side projects, Decade EP, tour and Confessions (2012–2015)
Vocalist Dennis Lee photographed in 2012.
In May 2012, Lee began a four-piece side band named Child of the Jackyl with members of the thrash metal band Vanisher while Milke released "Polaroids In July" with his side project Tempting Paris (consisting of Shawn Milke, Paul Co, Patrick Thompson, Melissa Milke and Joey Mitchell (Swampcandy)).[21]
Later, it was announced the band was parting ways with Alex Torres, shortly after Jake Campbell returned to the band. On May 8 Milke announced that the band had left Epitaph Records and the follow-up to A Place Where the Sun Is Silent would be self-released.[22]
In 2015, the band embarked on a nationwide tour with Capture The Crown, The Browning, Conquer Divide, and Revival Recordings labelmates The Funeral Portrait.[23]
The band's fifth album Confessions was released on April 21, 2015.[24]
On December 30, 2015, via Revival Recordings YouTube channel, the band released the trailer for the first part of "Comedy of Errors" which premiered on January 7, 2016.[25] On February 7, 2016, the second part was released.[citation needed]
Live album problems (2015–2016)
The band had intended to release a live album, but the files from the performance were corrupted and the plans were scrapped.[citation needed]
On July 26, 2016, the page www.theannabeltrilogy.com[26] was officially released along with the announcement of a new tour and that the band would be releasing a new novel entitled "Annabel," which is based on the group's three concept albums. The book was released on August 31, 2016, along with a new Deluxe Edition of Confessions with two extra songs, "Fatima Rusalka" and "Ciao Bella"[27] Also, the band embarked on a 10-year tour for their debut album, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, during the fall. This tour was entitled "10 Frail Years of Vanity and Wax", and supporting acts included Oh, Sleeper, Famous Last Words, and Artwork [28]
On July 27, 2016, the band made official their participation on the second edition of Slipknot's Knotfest in Mexico with bands such; Avenged Sevenfold, Slipknot, Slayer, Animals as Leaders, Enter Shikari, Disturbed, Deftones and many more.[29]
Origins, The Lost Chapters EP and future plans (2017–present)
On April 11, 2017, the band made official their participation on the first edition of the Vans Warped Tour MX with bands including Good Charlotte, Mayday Parade, Suicide Silence, Hatebreed, Never Shout Never and more. The Vans Warped Tour MX would have taken place in the Foro Pegaso in Toluca, Mexico, on May 27, 2017, although this date was pushed back for an intended show on October 22 of the same year before eventually being canceled by the promoters.[30][31] They eventually did play in Mexico City at the Teatro Ramiro Jiménez on September 16, 2017, along with national groups Allison, Cerberus, Kamikaze Ninja, Say Ocean and Kaizan opening the show.[32]
On October 31, 2017, the band announced a new project titled "Origins". Origins is a compilation of the band's history, scheduled for release on Black Friday, 2017. On November 22, 2017, the band released the first single off of the upcoming The Lost Chapters EP, titled "Fits and Starts", along with a music video which was a compilation of fan made videos sent to the band.[citation needed]
As of 2024 the band is touring regularly and playing festivals, and have confirmed there is no plans to stop doing so. They appear to be more active on social media and have also launched a new online merch store, with all apparel being printed by Lee himself. They have confirmed that a new album is in its early stages. Dennis Lee and his wife Cayce had a daughter in late 2020, with Lee later revealing that she had been born 4 months early and spent 9 months in the hospital, contributing to touring and writing delays.[33][34] In November 2024, longtime drummer Jeremy Bryan was fired amid sexual misconduct allegations.[35]
Musical style and influences
Alesana's musical style has been described as "eschewing traditional labels" with its impenitent fusion of influences spanning numerous genres.[36][37] Alesana's traditional sound combines various elements of post-hardcore, heavy metal and pop by utilizing harmonized guitar riffs, loud-soft dynamics, "uplifting" choruses, and "crushing" breakdowns".[38][39][40]
Shawn Milke – clean vocals, rhythm guitar, piano (2004–present)
Dennis Lee – unclean vocals (2004–present)
Patrick Thompson – lead guitar, backing vocals (2004–present)
Shane Crump – bass, backing vocals (2007–present)
Jake Campbell – rhythm and lead guitar, backing vocals (2008–2010, 2012–present)
Alesana features a three-guitarist lineup.
Former
Daniel Magnuson – drums (2004–2005)
Steven Tomany – bass (2004–2007)
Will Anderson – drums (2005–2006)
Jeremy Bryan – drums (2006–2024)
Adam Ferguson – lead guitar, backing vocals (2006–2008)
Alex Torres – lead guitar, backing vocals (2010–2012)
Session musicians
Melissa Milke – vocals (2006–present)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Released in 2006, On Frail Wings Of Vanity And Wax was the bands first album released via Tragic Hero Records and produced by Kit Walters and Jamie King whom also mixed and mastered the record.
Released in 2005, Try This With Your Eyes Closed was the bands first EP released via Tragic Hero Records and self produced by the band.
A remastered version of the record was released in 2008, also containing two of the bands recordings from a label sampler. The re-release was mixed and mastered by Jamie King.[53][54]
