Laruso

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BIOG
Formed in Late 2003 by Darren Smith and original vocalist Jason Abel, Laruso have always had something different about them. Whether it’s the fact that Carl Bown is the nephew of chart-topping crooner legend Tony Christie, or (former Alec Empire) drummer Max Williams’ father played guitar with Manfred Mann, or whether its simply that their brand of hook infused rock is the best slice of British Metal this side of Funeral for a Friend’s debut. Laruso have that indefinable something about them.
Their self financed, self produced debut album “Bring It On” (Casket) ”a hit album in waiting” [Metal Hammer] blasted its way into the rock scene consciousness in May 2005, with stand-out artwork from The Designers Republic (Bjork, Supergrass, yourcodenameis:Milo), and an accompanying video for Falling Apart produced by Fightstar’s Dan Haigh. The album showed a clear intent – they dealt in grooves and riffs, showing a nod to Helmet, a wink at Faith No More, and a hint of Alice in Chains’ dirt for good measure, always catchy as hell.
“the sound is huge, the production razor sharp... the songs are so well designed and delivered - guitar-fuelled aggression replaced by soaring melodies just where you might expect... By christ they do it well" [Kerrang]
Quickly building a reputation for incendiary live performances up and down the country, with Carl even breaking his leg on stage, they really showed their potential on the larger stages “which they were made for” (Kerrang!), touring with such bands as Fightstar, Reuben, Armor for Sleep, and opening for Life of Agony. They even caught the attention of All American Rejects who asked them to open at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and so impressed was Fightstar’s Charlie Simpson that he released “Nothing Left” as part of his “Suffolk Explosion” compilation, further widening Laruso’s audience. Within a year they had topped 20,000 plays on their myspace site – no mean feat for an unsigned band with word of mouth publicity only.
Carl was simultaneously honing his production skills, with notable recordings including Fightstar album demos, b-sides (including a FFAF cover), and their cover of Deftones “My Own Summer” which appeared on Kerrang’s 25th Anniversary cover cd.
March 2006: Liv Puente enters the fold. After being thrust into a tour after just 2 weeks, vocalist Liv became a permanent member and instantly added an extra dimension to the band’s sound with his soulful vocals and different writing approach. The band, without any pressures or time limits, simply began to write songs they liked and Carl recorded them – the results taking them in unexpected directions and sounding a whole other level from their earlier work. Their water-tight sound is evolving and maturing into an organic monster – with the monolithic riffs and incredible drumming showcasing a rawer, scuzzier sound capped off with those raspy, soulful vocals where Liv sounds for all the world like a man whose life experiences you would not want to share.
This is a band which has progressed in the way only truly great bands can and the results are the best the band has ever recorded. “Over-rated” is the balls-out party scuzz-fest, riding a QOTSA groove as Liv heralds a warning to plastic celebrities and “1998” is simply a cast-iron classic song. In contrast, “…Cause and Effect” is their longest song to date spanning a cascade of rolling off-kilter grooves, emotional choruses and an Oceansize meets Meshuggah mid-section before eventually revealing a staggering, uplifting finale. In this moment you know Laruso are destined for greatness. That something about them which elevates them above their peers has never been more obvious than now.
The debut album 'Bring It On' out now on Casket Records. (CSK045). Distribution by PHD. Buy online at www.plastichead.com
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