Issues

Though Issues coincides with the existence and contains several members of Woe Is Me it is not necessarily a side project. Carter formed Issues after leaving Woe Is Me and thereafter dedicated his time and attention solely on Issues. Apart from Carter, the band consists of another ex-Woe Is Me member Michael Bohn and newcomers AJ Rebollo, Tyler Acord, Skyler Acord, and Josh Manuel. Other members of Woe Is Me were in the initial conception of Issues such as brothers Ben and Cory Ferris; however, they were unable to attend recording sessions and subsequently left the band.

The band released their first EP “Black Diamonds” on 13 November 2012 to generally favorable reviews as well as success on the charts. “Black Diamonds” peaked to 96 on the US charts and all the way to number 8 on the US Hard Rock charts. The band already showed a stylistic difference from Woe Is Me. Instead of writing material with a straightforward approach to metalcore the band implemented use of synthesizers, turntables, and rap verses into their hardcore sound. Around the time of this release the band toured extensively with bands such as Attila, Make Me Famous, and Ice Nine Kills.

The group reinforced their reputation as multi-varied artists by releasing a seemingly ironic, but nevertheless sincere cover of Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend”. This track was released on the compilation Punk Goes Pop 5. The band continued this trend by reworking the ‘N SYNC song “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays” for the Punk Goes Christmas compilation.

Apart from the occasional single the band’s next big release was their 2014 self-titled debut. After this release the band’s profile seemed to explode. They were supporting mainstay metalcore acts like Bring Me the Horizon and Of Mice & Men throughout their American tour and they were also scheduled to play the entirety of the 2014 Vans Warped Tour. The band has also played huge events outside the United States such as Reading and Leeds Festival. Issues have established themselves as a prominent group within the hardcore and experimental pop music scene and embarked on a headlining tour in 2014 supported by the likes of I Killed the Prom Queen, Ghost Town, Marmozets, and Nightmares.