Founded back in August 2005 by twin lead guitarist James Cruz and Ruben Cruz. They used to play their favorite songs on guitar with backing drum tracks. Passionate about real metal, they wanted to write their own songs that were inspired by their influences. The goal of their songs were to honor their heroes, and to pay homage to them, as well get a important message across. They wrote a couple songs and played them just with guitar and bass. Ruben played lead guitar and James at the time played bass. The project was titled Bread Knights. "Bread Knights was our name because it means so much more if you say 'bread night' in Spanish." However, desperate and in need of a drummer, Ruben bought his younger brother Lorenzo Cruz a drum set and some Zildjian A-Customs symbols. Ruben pleaded with Lorenzo to learn, since Lorenzo always showed interest in playing drums. In a few months time Lorenzo picked up the drums with lightening fast speed. He mastered thunderous and complex drum fills in a couple of months time. He was quite the prodigy. They played a few songs and called the band Sangre, a play on the band being full of brothers. Not happy with the sound of the band, James got back on guitar and started playing twin lead along with Ruben. It was a must to have two guitarist trading off solos and coming together for face melting harmonies. But now they lacked in the low end department and need to find a bass player. One day while the new three piece was jamming they invited long time friend and musician Armando Jimenez over to check them out for a practice session. Armando being a guitarist as well, saw promise with the band and vowed to learn bass since he was heavily inspired by Steve Harris of Iron Maiden. James gave Armando his bass, that Armando converted to a left handed bass and learned the instrument pretty quickly. Weeks and blisters later Armando Jimenez was officially in the band. This was the first line up. They soon decided that they could no longer use their name Sangre since fifty other bands had it, so they changed their name to Red Castle Army and it stuck ever since.
The new line up of Red Castle Army played a very short amount of shows, most of them after hours at the Chinese restaurant, Joy Luck. Where they met other bands and musicians. Lorenzo Cruz at the time was only 15 and too young for the whole alcohol, drug and touring scene so he wanted to take a break and chill out with another band, that had more members of the same age. Dissapointed and saddened with resignation of Lorenzo Cruz, the band came to a halt. A Drummer-less Red Castle Army was done, and never played again. The remaining members of Red Castle Army continued to go to Joy Luck after hours to support the other bands. Joy Luck had a few bands playing every weekend after hours. The employees would drink and have bands play in the back patio of the restaurant to unwind and relax. A couple of the bands featured the same drummer, Carlos Rodriguez. He played with Ephedra and Via Zen at the time. Carlos Rodriguez would always tell us how they missed our music and how unique we were to the local scene. Which depressed Armando, Ruben and James even more. So Carlos offered to improvise Red Castle Army's songs at Joy Luck so they could at least some what perform.
Tired of having a very part time drummer, the Drummer-less Red Castle Army pretty much threw in the towel. A couple of years later, Carlos Rodriguez quit his others bands and called to arms of the Red Castle. He devoted him self to the band and became the drummer for Red Castle Army. The RED CASTLE was back and it was time for work. They made if official in the Fall of 2007. They polished and cleaned up their old songs, as well as writing some new ones. Carlos was never in a type of band like Red Castle Army, so they had to merge their styles all together. The beginning of Red Castle was heavily influenced by NWOBHM, and sounded much like dark blues and classic Heavy Metal. Carlos came from a Nu-Metal, thrash, and hard rock background. So we had to meet in the middle and grow as a band. Red Castle Army grew in to a NWOBHM/ progressive/ thrash metal. The goal being to create a perfect balance and blend of intricate guitar work, heavy riffing and head banging beats.
They Practiced at the One Source Studio and even had DJ R.J. in the Mix record one of their songs "Castle". They wrote new material and decided to hit the stage for the first time in Spring of 2008. It went off with out a hitch, the crowds reaction was enough for us to feel that our hard work and dedication payed off. Still considered a new band, barely being together for a little over a year, they have accomplished some major feats! And are still searching for the perfect singer to do their style justice. As of now they remain a instrumental metal power house. So sit down and call to the arms of the Red Castle Army!
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