Called to Arms
Encyclopedia
Called to Arms is a progressive metal
band started in Raleigh, North Carolina
in 2003. They are currently signed to Tragic Hero Records
and they recently finished recording their third album with Jamie King, which was released digitally August 10, 2010. The album is based on The Screwtape Letters
written by C. S. Lewis
band. The band's second show ever was at a small independent venue that also featured Showbread
, The Showdown
, and He Is Legend
(known as Uriah Omen at the time). This specific show was notable because none of these bands were signed to major labels at the time, but all have since gone on to release critically acclaimed albums on major labels. He Is Legend would later join Called To Arms on the same record label in 2009 when they signed to Tragic Hero Records
.
In 2004, Called To Arms added Brady Sweat on lead guitar and shifted the band's sound toward more technical metal. Known for technical guitar-work and retro style metal solos, critics also have praised their more melodic side for being the quality that has made them stand out in their genre.
Not afraid to experiment, the group's The Last Lament
EP was described as "a 28-minute trip through nearly every sub genre of metal that exists."
In 2007, Grayson Sweat replaced Van Hoy in the band while he chose to focus on his indie band Dakota Darling.
The group recorded and mastered their 3rd and most recent album Peril and the Patient
with Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me
, Glass Casket
, Beloved
) at the Basement Studios in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
. This album displays a further progression in songwriting as the band attempted to disassociate themselves from the metalcore
genre "by fusing together a plethora of heavy metal sub-genres, all the while keeping a varied, original and interesting sound." The band has stated their influences on this record came from bands like Queen
, Smashing Pumpkins, The Mars Volta
, Deftones
, and System of a Down
rather than bands that people would normally associate them with.
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
band started in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
in 2003. They are currently signed to Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records is a record label founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in March 2005 to represent the growing hardcore punk and harder wave of music in North Carolina. The label was founded by Tommy Lacombe, David Varnedoe and Jason Ganthner. Alesana was the first band the label signed...
and they recently finished recording their third album with Jamie King, which was released digitally August 10, 2010. The album is based on The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters
The Screwtape Letters is a satirical Christian apologetics novel written in epistolary style by C. S. Lewis, first published in book form in February 1942...
written by C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
History
Daniel Grissom, Jamie Nickerson, Zack Van Hoy, and Josh Philips formed the group in 2003 as a melodic hardcoreMelodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
band. The band's second show ever was at a small independent venue that also featured Showbread
Showbread (band)
Showbread is an American Christian rock band originating in Guyton, Georgia. More specifically, the band lives in a small community within Guyton called Marlow. They formed in 1997. The band has gone through numerous lineup changes since its formation but maintains its two founding members, Josh...
, The Showdown
The Showdown (band)
The Showdown is a southern metal/metalcore band based in Elizabethton, Tennessee. While the members of the band are Christian and the band is signed to a Christian record label, the band does not consider itself a Christian act, according to guitarist Josh Childers...
, and He Is Legend
He Is Legend
He Is Legend is a hard rock band formed in Wilmington, North Carolina who signed to Tragic Hero Records in 2009. The band consists of vocalist front man Schuylar Croom, guitarist Adam Tanbouz, drummer Steven Bache, bassist Matt Williams....
(known as Uriah Omen at the time). This specific show was notable because none of these bands were signed to major labels at the time, but all have since gone on to release critically acclaimed albums on major labels. He Is Legend would later join Called To Arms on the same record label in 2009 when they signed to Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records
Tragic Hero Records is a record label founded in Raleigh, North Carolina in March 2005 to represent the growing hardcore punk and harder wave of music in North Carolina. The label was founded by Tommy Lacombe, David Varnedoe and Jason Ganthner. Alesana was the first band the label signed...
.
In 2004, Called To Arms added Brady Sweat on lead guitar and shifted the band's sound toward more technical metal. Known for technical guitar-work and retro style metal solos, critics also have praised their more melodic side for being the quality that has made them stand out in their genre.
Not afraid to experiment, the group's The Last Lament
The Last Lament
The Last Lament is the second album by the progressive metal group Called To Arms released through Tragic Hero Records on November 17, 2007. Originally intended to be a full length in 2005, the band went on hiatus and never finished writing the rest of the record...
EP was described as "a 28-minute trip through nearly every sub genre of metal that exists."
In 2007, Grayson Sweat replaced Van Hoy in the band while he chose to focus on his indie band Dakota Darling.
The group recorded and mastered their 3rd and most recent album Peril and the Patient
Peril and the Patient
Peril and the Patient is the third album by the progressive metal group Called To Arms and was released digitally through Tragic Hero Records on August 10, 2010. The 9th track off the album, entitled "Ashamed, Awake" was streamed at for the week of May 23 as well as a 5 minute teaser clip from...
with Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me
Between the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD...
, Glass Casket
Glass Casket
Glass Casket is a deathcore band from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They were originally called Gadrel when they released their first demo To Cherish A Falsity. The band formed after several members previous band Narayan broke up. Dustie Waring and Blake Richardson are also currently members of...
, Beloved
Beloved (band)
Beloved was an American post-hardcore band from Greensboro and Winston-Salem, North Carolina.-Band history:Beloved formed in the fall of 1999. The original members all attended East Forsyth High School in Kernersville, NC from 1996-2000. They played local shows in the surrounding areas of...
) at the Basement Studios in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Winston-Salem is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina, with a 2010 population of 229,617. Winston-Salem is the county seat and largest city of Forsyth County and the fourth-largest city in the state. Winston-Salem is the second largest municipality in the Piedmont Triad region and is home to...
. This album displays a further progression in songwriting as the band attempted to disassociate themselves from the metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
genre "by fusing together a plethora of heavy metal sub-genres, all the while keeping a varied, original and interesting sound." The band has stated their influences on this record came from bands like Queen
Queen (band)
Queen are a British rock band formed in London in 1971, originally consisting of Freddie Mercury , Brian May , John Deacon , and Roger Taylor...
, Smashing Pumpkins, The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta
The Mars Volta is a Grammy award winning American progressive rock band from El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Omar Rodríguez-López and vocalist Cedric Bixler-Zavala, the band incorporates various influences including progressive rock, krautrock, jazz fusion, Latin American music, and...
, Deftones
Deftones
Deftones are an American alternative metal band from Sacramento, California, founded in 1988. The band consists of Chino Moreno , Stephen Carpenter , Chi Cheng , Frank Delgado , and Abe Cunningham . Currently Sergio Vega is standing in on bass while Cheng recovers from a car accident...
, and System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
rather than bands that people would normally associate them with.
Facts
- Brady has been involved musically in several other projects - most notably he toured and wrote with Facedown RecordsFacedown RecordsFacedown Records is a Christian record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to hardcore punk and metalcore bands . Founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn, the label started off small with a number of 7" record releases by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born...
/Dreamt Music act My Epic when previous guitarist Travis Brooks left. Travis Brooks later filled in for Called To Arms guitarist Jamie Nickerson for 2 shows in 2007. - Harvard and The Bear Romantic vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Jesse Clasen recorded and produced the band's early material as well as providing guest vocals on several tracks
Members
- Daniel Grissom - Vocals, Keys
- Brady Sweat - Guitar
- Jamie Nickerson - Guitar
- Josh Philips - Bass
- Grayson Sweat - Drums
Albums
- A New Life Given (2004)
- The Last LamentThe Last LamentThe Last Lament is the second album by the progressive metal group Called To Arms released through Tragic Hero Records on November 17, 2007. Originally intended to be a full length in 2005, the band went on hiatus and never finished writing the rest of the record...
(2007) - Peril and the PatientPeril and the PatientPeril and the Patient is the third album by the progressive metal group Called To Arms and was released digitally through Tragic Hero Records on August 10, 2010. The 9th track off the album, entitled "Ashamed, Awake" was streamed at for the week of May 23 as well as a 5 minute teaser clip from...
(2010)