March 2009
ECHOES OF RUIN existed in several incarnations until 2006 when the current cast was brought together under this new moniker. Over the past three years, the band has scraped its way along in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago, existing as a rare breed of melodically brutal and authentic heavy metal in the vain of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE. Live performances have served as successful exposure as well as a release for the band's continuing frustration in their search for a permanent vocalist spot. But through many auditions, this prospect has proved utterly disastrous. The irony of this situation has been that the perfect singer for the band seemed to be sitting behind the drum kit all along. But only in demos and home recordings can the true music of the band be heard, with the songwriter putting down his sticks and lending his vocals to the tracks.
With influences ranging from PANTERA and METALLICA, to MESHUGGAH and UNEARTH, the band is clearly coming from a modern metal background but with firm roots in traditional heavy music. The emphasis on percussive technicality and adept guitar work have been merged with the epic and emotional melodies in a combination not quite present in today's modern metal scene. KILLSWITCH ENGAGE with solos, perhaps. Melodic metal with the spirit of brutality. But how can this band even be properly described when technically, they've never even been a full band ... ?
The time to try new things has come for the band and perhaps 2009 will be the deciding year. With over an album's worth of completed music, the sense of excitement felt during live shows is permeated by a feeling of stagnation. The search for a singer has become a moot point with all but the music itself falling on deaf ears. After almost three years, the fire has died down ... so perhaps it's time to just set more things ablaze.
And so the band marches forward in an attempt to finally give this music the igniting flame it needs. An inevitable shuffling of the lineup is already in play; an experiment in the possibility. An experiment in chance. A new drummer has entered the fold and things have only just begun to get interesting.
