Jump to content

The Dead Lay Waiting

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 96.232.126.27 (talk) at 18:53, 19 January 2013 (Undid revision 533876970 by 90.202.18.206 (talk)unexplained removal of red link; see WP:REDLINKS). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Dead Lay Waiting
OriginSwindon, Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
GenresMetalcore, melodic metalcore, progressive metal
Years activeSince 2008; 16 years ago (2008)
MembersLuke Lucas (vocals)
Ben Connett (lead guita)
Steve Franklin (rhythm guitar)
Sam Sara (bass guitar)
Tom Shrimpton (drums)
Past membersJames Mackellar-Still
Justin Wilkinson
Azz Willoughby
Websitethedeadlaywaiting.co.uk

The Dead Lay Waiting are a English metalcore band from Swindon, Wiltshire, formed in 2008 by the means of a local rock school. The group includes Luke Lucas (vocals), Ben Connett (lead guitar), Steve Franklin (rhythm guitar), Sam Sara (bass guitar) and Tom Shrimpton (drums).

The band's music is a diverse mix of extreme metal genres, such as hardcore metal, melodic metalcore and even elements of heavy metal. To achieve a chaotic and cacophonic sound, the band uses complex time signatures, polyrhythmic composition, blast beats, sampling, keyboard effects and intricate layered production.

History

The early days 2008–2009

At age 16, Lucas and Shrimpton attended Swindon's Rock School, teaming up with three other musicians to form the band. During their apprenticeship days the band were mentored by Jamie Hunt pf the progressive- groove-metal band Biomechanical. After a few months of writing material and playing a handful of shows, the band entered a regional Battle of the Bands competition, which they won, collecting sufficient funds to allow them to go into a studio and record a four-track demo.

Produced by Stu Mckay of the now-defunct deathcore band Eternal Lord and a past member of the hardcore-punk band Your Demise, the demo created much interest, including a demo review in Powerplay Magazine,[1] as well as securing a slot at their first major festival, the Bloodstock Open Air,[2] held at Catton Hall in Walton-upon-Trent, Derbyshire.

Following this success, the band signed a recording contract with the British independent label Rising Records. Having returned from a short set of shows, the band entered the studio in April 2009 to record their debut album.

Just after the recording stint, Justin Wilkinson replaced Connett.[3] Connett – previously a member of the band Scarlet Hourglass, who had just supported the thrash-metal band Slayer – made his debut performance with the band at the inaugural Hammerfest held at Pontins Holiday Village in Prestatyn.

Since 2010

The band released their debut album We Rise during January 2010, receiving encouraging reviews from magazines including Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and Big Cheese, as well as a number of British and other European online websites. The opening track from the album, "Anxiety of an Obsession",[4] was lifted from the album and released as the band first official music video; the video was directed by David Kenny of Genertik Productions.

To promote the album the band embarked on an intensive touring schedule throughout the UK and Europe with label mates, the band Bleed from Within and the death-metal band Trigger the Bloodshed on the Degenerate tour, culminating with the band's debut appearance[5] at the 2010 Download Festival, held in Donington Park, Leicestershire.

Later in 2010, the band returned to the studio to commence recording their follow-up album, Almost Heaven, an album consisting of 14 tracks and nearly 60 minutes of music. It was during the recording of the title track, a ten-minute epic track already consisting of both a female and male voice choirs, string quartets and church organs that the idea of having a narrator came to mind and in particular Barry Clayton. Barry being the voice behind the renowned intro to Iron Maiden's Number of the Beast. After much searching the band managed to track down the now late Barry Clayton who thankfully agreed to appear on the track. The project was completed when various band members joined forces with John Mitchell (Outhouse Studio) to apply the final touches to the album. Shortly after the recording session James Mackellar-Still decided to move away from the area and leave the band, to be replaced by Sam Sara on bass whilst Azz Willoughby switched to guitar.

In 2011, the band was nominated for the Best British Newcomer award[6] by the readers of Kerrang!. Shortly after this the band announced a tour with label mates Confined Within as well as being nominated for the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Award for the Best Underground Band.[7]

In conjunction with the awards and for the second consecutive year, the band were invited back to perform[8][9][10] at the Download Festival, meaning the band had 24 hours to return from a one-off show in Copenhagen, Denmark, supporting[11] Black Veil Brides. The festival weekend ultimately concluded with the band performing on the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Boat[12] as it made its way along the River Thames on route to the award ceremony at The O2 Arena in London.

June also saw the release of the Almost Heaven album,[13] which subsequently received much praise within the music industry. This prompted the final change to the current line-up when Steve Franklin replaced Azz Willoughby on[14] guitar. Despite the timing of his departure the band decided to go-ahead and release two music videos from the album, firstly "The Days I'm Gone" [15] and secondly "Burnt to Ashes",[16] "The Days I'm Gone"[17] reaching number six in the Scuzz television playlist.

On the back of this success the band were given their own one-hour Take-Over[18] programme to choose and play their favourite music videos. The album artwork was also voted number 18 by Kerrang Radio as best album cover.[19]

During the summer months the band received an invitation to attend the Paul Harries Photographic Slipknot Exhibition at the Strand Gallery in London, whereby the band met Corey Taylor as well as other band members of Slipknot. Over the following months, the band continued to be featured in nearly every mainstream UK music magazines, including Metal Hammer, Big Cheese, Terrorizer and Kerrang! and before embarking for a two-month tour with the Irish band Death of a Salesman,[20] the band were invited to record a live session at Capital Radio XFM,[21] the second-largest radio station in the UK.

In preparation of the Almost Heaven January 2012 United States release date, the band teamed up with Adrenaline PR,[22] who had previously worked with bands incluing As I Lay Dying, Dimmu Borgir, Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage and Machine Head. This partnership saw the band feature as a "Band to Watch" in the 100th edition of the Revolver magazine,[23] as well as a feature in the "100 Bands You Need to Know" within a New Year's edition of Alternative Press.

In 2012, the band went to Barbados with the intention of recording a mini-CD at the Juma Recording studios, as well as shooting two brand new videos for a late spring release. However, despite recording the material and shooting the videos as planned and to schedule, due to circumstances out of the band's control, the material never got to see the light of day. As such in an attempt to rejuvenate momentum the band returned to the road for a massive trek across the UK and Europe with Denmark's Scarred By Beauty.

On the band's return, they focused upon writing new material for their forthcoming album, before touring once again. This time in conjunction with LPO and Live Nation The Dead Lay Waiting confirmed dates for their co-headline 'The Killing Is Dead Tour' [24][25][26][27] with fellow-nominated Best British Newcomer band the Fearless Vampire Killers. Just prior to the tour, Shrimpton's [28] "Riser Drummer" interview featured in the July edition of the Drummer Magazine.

Band members

  • Luke Lucas – vocals (since 2008)
  • Ben Connett – lead guitar (since 2009)
  • Steve Franklin – rhythm guitar (since 2011)
  • Sam Sara – bass (since 2010)
  • Tom Shrimpton – drums (since 2008)

Past members

  • James Mackellar-Still – lead guitar (2008–2010)
  • Justin Wilkinson – rhythm guitar (2008–2009)
  • Azz Willoughby – bass (2008–2011)

Discography

Albums

  • We Rise (2010)
  • Almost Heaven (2011)

Music videos

  • 2010 Anxiety of an Obsession
  • 2011 The Days I'm Gone
  • 2011 Burnt to Ashes

References

  1. ^ Staff (undated). "Issue 101". Powerplay Magazine. Retrieved 19 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ Staff (undated). "Band Line-Up 2008 – The Dead Lay Waiting". Retrieved 19 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |pubisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Castro, Stephani (14 November 2011). "Interview: Guitarist Ben Connett of The Dead Lay Waiting Discusses Gear and 'Almost Heaven'". Guitar World. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  4. ^ Video (15 August 2009). "Official Anxiety of an Obsession Music Video by The Dead Lay Waiting". The Dead Lay Waiting (via YouTube). Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  5. ^ Dan (21 April 2010). "14 New Bands Added to Download Line-Up". Kerrang!. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  6. ^ Dan. "And the Nominees Are..." Kerrang!. Retrieved 19 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Text "4 May 2011" ignored (help)
  7. ^ Gill, James (15 April 2011). "New Album, Tour Dates, Download & Golden Gods Nominations". Metal Hammer.
  8. ^ Dan (8 April 2011). "Download 2011 More Bands Announced". Kerrang!.
  9. ^ Ghana, Pooneh (June 2011). "Download 2011 Official Photos". Download Festival.
  10. ^ "TDLW Download 2011 Metal Hammer Interview". SkinnyWristFilms (via YouTube). 30 June 2011.
  11. ^ "TDLW Live Review Copenhagen Supporting Black Veil Brides". PP RockFreaks.net. 7 June 2011.
  12. ^ Gill, James (5 May 2011). "Golden Gods HMS Hammer". Metal Hammer.
  13. ^ Robinson, Iann (14 November 2011). "'Almost Heaven' US Review". CraveOnline.
  14. ^ Yardley, Miranda (26 April 2011). "Bassist Azz Willoughby Leaves The Dead Lay Waiting". Terrorizer.
  15. ^ "'The Days I'm Gone' Music Video". Rising Records (via YouTube). 30 March 2011.
  16. ^ "'Burnt To Ashes' Music Video". Rising Records (via YouTube). 10 January 2012.
  17. ^ "Check Out 'The Days I'm Gone' Video". Metal Hammer. Bezer, Terry. 4 April 2011.
  18. ^ "TDLW Take Over The Scuzz Couch". Scuzz (via Tumblr). 21 July 2011.
  19. ^ "'Almost Heaven' Best Album Cover". Kerrang Radio. 30 November 2011.
  20. ^ Gill, James (6 July 2011). "The Dead Lay Waiting Announce Tour Dates". Metal Hammer.
  21. ^ Camfield, Ian (13 August 2011). "XFM Radio Rock Show Blog". IanCamfield.com.
  22. ^ Administrator (2 January 2012). "TDLW Unveil Two More US Exclusive Tracks". ScorpioPromotions.com.
  23. ^ Le Miere, Jason (10 January 2012). "'Almost Heaven' Album Interview". Revolver.
  24. ^ xFiruath (18 July 2012). "The Dead Lay Waiting Announce New UK Tour Dates". MetalUnderground.com.
  25. ^ Bianca (20 October 2012). "The Killing Is Dead Tour Review #1". GigJunkies.com.
  26. ^ Wardle, Sue (17 October 2012). "The Killing Is Dead Tour Review #2". Music224.com.
  27. ^ Todner, Helen (12 October 012). "The Killing Is Dead Tour Review #3". WithGuitars.com. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  28. ^ "TDLW Artist Page". Natal Drums.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=The_Dead_Lay_Waiting&oldid=533883067"