May 10, 2011 -- "Sometimes you've got to burn the past to rise up from the ashes," sings BURN HALO frontman James Hart. What started out as Hart's solo project has been laid to rest and reborn in BURN HALO's sophomore album UP FROM THE ASHES. Due out June 28 on Rawkhead Records (through Warner Music Group’s Independent Label Group) and produced by Colby Wedgeworth, this new collection confirms BURN HALO’s evolution from being essentially a solo project by former 18 Visions singer/songwriter James Hart to a full-blown, collaborative band. The music has grown too, and now marries the anthemic, radio-ready hard rock of their 2009 self-titled debut to metalcore flourishes reminiscent of 18 Visions.
The band—James Hart (vocals), Joey Roxx (guitar), Brandon Lynn (guitar), Aaron Boehler (bass), Dillon Ray (drums)—is already receiving early radio support for the first single, “Tear It Down,” from stations such as SiriusXM’s “Octane,” WIIL (Chicago), KHTQ (Spokane), WCCC (Hartford) and WJJO (Madison). A video for the song will be hitting the TV and Internet airwaves before the end of the month. A behind-the-scenes teaser clip was recently posted on the band’s YouTube page here: http://bit.ly/iOriSG.
"We wanted our own identity," says singer James Hart. To achieve that, BURN HALO would collaborate in the studio for the first time. "This album is us. This is BURN HALO," states guitarist Brandon Lynn. Bassist Aaron Boehler was the first to initiate the writing process with drummer Dillon Ray. Brandon and lead guitarist Joey Roxx quickly followed suit and began compositions of their own. It was Brandon who was the real architect in the musical direction of the new album. "Most of the songs we were writing early on were very standard rock songs," says James. "I had written an old song called ‘Dakota’ that was much more aggressive and a lot heavier," says Brandon. "To me, ‘Dakota’ is the most important track on the album,” explains James. “Without that track, we don't have the album we have.” The path was clear and what they would pave out from there would be 11 bone-crushing rock songs that touch on every edge of the rock/metal spectrum.
The future wasn't always so clear for BURN HALO. It took quite a while for their current lineup to come together. "There were just a couple of things that never felt right," said James of touring prior to the recent band additions. It was bassist Aaron Boehler who brought friend and fellow Tulsa, OK resident Brandon Lynn to the band in 2009 when the band needed a fill-in on rhythm guitar. "It just felt right after one rehearsal," James said of Brandon joining BURN HALO. In early 2010, it was Aaron again who had targeted his best friend and previous band mate Dillon Ray to take over on the drums. "The three of us living in Tulsa just gave us a great opportunity to work on the songs for tour," Aaron states. "I had been lobbying for Dillon to join the band since day one."
Songs from the band’s debut album, which went on to sell over 25,000 copies, were heard frequently on WWE and ESPN, as well as the season finale of “Friday Night Lights.” It also spawned the hit single, “Dirty Little Girl,” which features a guest appearance by Avenged Sevenfold’s Synyster Gates. Alternative Press had described the album as “…a raucous collection of arena-ready rock songs…” While Outburn had praised: “…this self-titled debut doesn’t just rock a little, this disc is loaded with sing-along anthems that will get stuck in your head for days…this is a must have record that will spend more time spinning in your player than sitting on the shelf. 9 out of 10.”
On the touring front, the band has already racked up a slew of dates with bands such as Avenged Sevenfold, Korn, Buckcherry & Papa Roach. They’ll be hitting the U.S. concert trail this summer, with dates currently being confirmed.
Here’s the complete track listing for UP FROM THE ASHES:
1. Tear It Down
2. Up From The Ashes
3. Stranded
4. Threw It All Away
5. Alone
6. Stuck In A Rut
7. Give Me A Sign
8. Dakota
9. Rest My Soul
10. I Won't Back Down
11. Shine
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