Forged from the collective desire of four young men to leave their mark on the face of American Metal, Ash & Elm first laid its roots in the Winter of 2003. Blending influences from Melodic Death Metal, Thrash, and Hardcore into a single organic whole, Ash & Elm is in a hybrid genre all by itself.
Operating out of Central New Jersey, Ash & Elm was originally composed of the creative talents of Aki Shishido (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Ian Jacyszyn (Drums), Justin Corbalis (Bass), and Ben Carlucci (Rhythm Guitarist). Their first foray into the Metal scene was with their Self-titled EP “Ash & Elm,†in which the band laid the foundations for their own unique brand of Melodic Thrash Metal. The notoriety of the EP led to a tremendously popular series of gigs along the East Coast. Unfortunately, this period of Ash & Elm's maturation also marked the departure of guitarist Ben Carlucci, who was replaced by Justin Greczyn, a long-time supporter of the band from its incipiency, who accompanied the band on a line of gigs in Tokyo, Japan. With Justin's addition, the Band's final roster was complete. Not a group to rest on their laurels, the band channeled the overwhelming success of their debut EP and tour into a dynamic new direction.
The reborn Ash & Elm unleashed “The Death of Compassion,†an album that marked the next stage in the band's development. In “The Death of Compassion,†Ash & Elm's commitment to composition that synthesized complexity and aggression, allowed them to reach new creative depths. Along with five new songs, the album also marked a return to the band's origins, rerecording and remixing tracks from the previous EP. The popular and critical success of “The Death of Compassion†led to an even more extensive line of gigs than the first, and as the band grew in renown it approached the forefront of American Metal. From this vantage, Ash & Elm understood that though it had come considerable distance from its humble beginnings, there were still heights to scale to complete their definitive style.
Ash & Elm today is on the crux of its newest project, scheduled for release in Summer of '05, which is sure to usher in a new era of American Metal. Describing their new work as “Intensely melodic, brutal, and honest,†the band is set to revolutionize the entire metal community.
