For a genre almost built on that fabled “last gang in town” mentality and image, it is kind of strange how often heavy metal bands are formed around one specific member who acts as the band leader. From time to time it’s two people, but more often than not long running heavy metal acts have that one mastermind. The kind who might not always write the songs themselves, but they still steer the band in the direction they want it to go while chopping and changing the line up until they have a bunch of people they feel comfortable collaborating with.
Memphis May Fire are a perfect example of how well this can go, as under sole constant member Kellen McGregor, they’ve become one of the most acclaimed acts in American metal and if their recent efforts are anything to go by, they might also be going to become one of the biggest. McGregor formed the original incarnation of the band in 2004 as Oh Captain, My Captain, and after three years of local touring they changed their name to Memphis May Fire, it was then that the band started to pick up some real momentum.
Their local following increased exponentially and, in order to capitalise, the band funded the recording their first self-titled E.P, and then self-released at their shows and on their website. Their E.P caught the attention of Josh Grabelle, president of Trustkill Records, who was so taken with them that he had them signed to his label by September 2007, and their E.P was reissued in December of the same year. With that much momentum on their side, the band wanted to turn their attention to recording their debut album, but it was at that point that their first wave of line up troubles reared up, leading to the bands original bassist, drummer and lead singer all leaving the band.
After searching, the rhythm section was eventually rebuilt with full time members Cory Elder on bass and Jake Garland on drums. Then, after putting out an open audition on their MySpace page, the band found their new lead singer in the form of Matty Mullens, then a mere 19 years old. The new incarnation of the band came together and recorded their debut effort, 2009’s “Sleepwalker”, and almost instantly the band were taken seriously as the hot, new contenders on the metal scene. By 2011, the band had signed to legendary metalcore label Rise Records, and began their rise to the very top of the American metal scene.
Since then, they become one of the most consistently great bands in American metal, with all their albums gaining critical acclaim and their astonishing live show has seen them sell out venues all over the world. Over a decade into their career, they’re right in their prime and will be for a very long time. Highly recommended.
The band’s early origins can be traced back to an Arizona high school in 2002 when guitarist and drummer friends Mike Frisby and Matt Traynor started practice sessions in the school’s music rooms. Guitarists Eric Lambert and Miles Bergsma and Craig Mabbitt on lead vocals soon joined them.
After playing gigs in their hometown the group generated some local press buzz with the clear religious leanings in their lyrics. The band was subsequently picked up by Science Records, who put them on tour with similar bands such as Alesana and Norma Jean. blessthefall went on to release their debut studio album “His Last Walk” in 2007.
The album was well received by alt-rock magazines and reviewers and saw sales of over 65,000 on its initial release, which was deemed as very successful for such a niche market. The band embarked on their first European tour, which saw lead singer Mabbitt leave the band for personal family problems. Current vocalist Beau Bokan, whose signature “scream” style has become a trademark of the band, replaced him in 2008.
In 2009, blessthefall signed with Fearless Records to release their second album “Witness.” A track titled “To Hell On Back” which featured on the album was used in the trailer for the video game “Splinter Cell: Conviction”
During the writing process of their third album “Awakening” in 2011, the band announced that founding member Mike Frisby was leaving and had been replaced by former “Legacy” guitarist, Elliot Gruenberg.
Following on from “Awakening” blessthefall confirmed that their latest album “Hollow Bodies” would be released in 2013. Hollow Bodies was a commercial success for the band, charting at number 15 on the US Billboard Charts. Blessthefall have successfully toured around the US and globally, as well as bringing their renowned live shows to alt-rock circuit shows such as the Vans Warped Tour.
As of this year, Memphis May Fire will have been a band for a whole decade. To put things in perspective Mumford and Sons are three years younger than them, while Imagine Dragons are younger by four and Bastille six. While numerous other bands may have had quicker rises to the top of the charts and into the welcoming arms of arenas the world over the Metalcore five piece from Dallas, Texas have something that the others don’t. Something utterly vital, that can’t be bought by a record label or crowd-funded by a dedicated fan base and that something, is experience. Memphis May Fire have had ten years to perfect what they do and make it truly their own, and it shows in every one of the multitude of lives shows they do. The band doesn’t put much truck in staying in one place, they’re constantly touring and if they’re not they’re making a record, so like most bands that make their name touring like their lives depend on it the true Memphis May Fire experience comes in their live show. Their identity is in every part of it, from frontman Matty Mullins’ ability to command any audience he finds himself in front of with wit and warmth through to sole founding member Kellen McGregor’s totemic stage presence and note perfect guitar playing. For all this talk of the bands tenth anniversary I don’ feel it matters all that much to the band. They keep doing what they do to the best of their ability and every concert they play is more important to them than any statistic or milestone one can mention, and we are privileged to have bands like that as rock and roll fans the world over. Ones to see as soon as possible.
william-howard-2
Blessthefall... The concert was held in a small venue in a small part of Brisbane, Australia and let me say, they rocked the place! The supporting acts could never have brought the place together in the way Blessthefall did! The concert was explosive and was the best night of my life so far.
They started off with their global hit "You Wear a Crown But You're No King" and let me say, that was the real beginning of the night for me. The song brought life into the small but excited crowd. All members of the band were exceptional and you could tell just by their faces, how much they loved the music they were playing.
Beau Bokan, lead singer of Blessthefall, was extremely interactive with the crowd, highfiving and smiling at many of the adoring fans pushing against the stage. He even went as far as inviting the entire crowd up on stage. As the fans left the stage after they had gotten on it, he highfived and hugged many of them.
They finished the concert off with a powerful encore of "The Sound Of Starting Over" and a parting message of telling the fans to listen to their newest album. This last part brought the night to an end but it wasnt the end for everyone. After the show, all members of the band helped to clean up the venue and then go talk to fans who were still hanging around. Having conversations and taking pictures. Elliott Gruenberg, one of the guitarists even went as far to invite me to the side of the stage and give me a pick of his (inscribed with his name and a totoro) and then have a conversation with me about Doctor Who.
This conversation honestly made my night. After the exceptional music and awesome concert, I was thoroughly enjoying myself. This was of course my first concert. And it certainly was the best first concert I could ever have attended.
jasie-amghar
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