Terrible Things Interview

Is rock 'n' roll still alive? It's a question Terrible Things have been asking every night on tour to crowds across the country.

It seems fitting, too, as the "supergroup" trio comprised of Fred Mascherino (Taking Back Sunday, The Color Fred), Josh Eppard (Coheed & Cambria) and Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit) put out what's probably the scene's most honest rock 'n' roll record of the year in late August.

Backstage Press caught up with lead singer Fred Mascherino last Saturday in Hartford, Connecticut to see just what life is like in the infant stages of Terrible Things.

"This is like my dream band," said Mascherino. "And it's turned into this thing that kind of gets us away from writing about boyfriends, and girlfriends and broken hearts and more about something that means something to me, and ultimately to all of us."

Terrible Things is certainly a step toward a more mature direction for all three members. With the scene that Mascherino, Eppard and Jackson helped develop in their previous bands all but dead and moved out of their parents' house, it was time to recreate themselves musically. Terrible Things was their answer.

The self-titled, 11-track record is a call to arms of sorts. While it's main theme deals mostly with a series of fires in Mascherino's hometown of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, he explained that parts of the record also address the will to get up and make a change in the world around you.

"Jason Elgin, who produced the record, was really good at keeping us not so specific to Coatesville, but to make it something that could still be relatable to everyone," said Mascherino. "For example, 'Revolution', to me, is the anthem for Coatesville, but it's also got a message to it that anyone can jump into."

"It's about making a change when you see something you don't like about your life or the world," he continued "Don't just sit there and watch more TV, you know? Go out and make those changes you've always wanted to do."

Making a change is certainly something Mascherino and his bandmates know well. All three left behind the bands that helped them peak their musical careers for something a little more meaningful. And though the battle to win those fans over to Terrible Things might be a steep uphill, don't count these guys out.

With a powerful rock album already under their belt, a slew of tour dates set and the drive to build an empire from the ashes, it seems that rock 'n' roll is still alive and well.

A Day To Remember - What Separates Me From You Review

Haters gonna hate. If there's one band that knows this, it's A Day To Remember. They've been at the forefront of the old "sellout" debate for some time. It seems that success in the scene today can turn people against you. And, as ADTR have come to learn, melding pop-punk with hardcore can leave fans split - while most love their catchier work, diehards will almost always claim, "the new stuff isn't heavy enough."

But with this week's release of What Separates Me From You, the Ocala, Florida quintet are looking to not only give ADTR fans what they expect, but maybe even win back some of those "haters."

Separates opens with the punishing "Sticks & Bricks" where lead singer Jeremy McKinnon boldly exclaims "I am fueled by all forms of failure./I paid the price, so I'll take what's mine." The crunchy, palm-muted metal riffs of the verse lead way to one of the catchiest choruses on the record, proving yet again that ADTR reign supreme in fitting pop into the hardest of hardcore.

The mix of heavy and light on Separates goes together better than the Half & Half creamer you put in your morning coffee. With an array of solid rock songs like "Better Off This Way", "All Signs Point to Lauderdale" and "Out of Time", this record will please the masses. For those (haters) seeking something heavier, look no further than "2nd Sucks" and "You Be Tails, I'll Be Sonic". Your ears will bleed like they did during the For Those Who Have Heart days.

A Day To Remember - All I Want byKROQ

Separates, as with any ADTR record, is about staying true to yourself and your roots. And that's why McKinnon and crew went back to Andrew Wade and his Florida studio for the record's producing efforts. Lending a helping hand in the process was New Found Glory's Chad Gilbert.

What was set to be a make-or-break record for ADTR certainly seems to come across as a win. It's a natural progression from Homesick, but won't have you holding down the fast-forward button. Separates hones in on what makes ADTR who they are. The heavy, the pop, the gang vocals and the screams are all accounted for without hesitation.

Separates certainly packs the punch ADTR fans were looking for. And though the 10 tracks are loaded with enough testosterone and adrenaline to make even the most skeptical audiophile want to mosh, one fact remains - haters gonna hate.

A Hit Of D.R.U.G.S.

It's been just over a year since Craig Owens was booted from Chiodos. But, as promised, Craigery is back full-force with a new band who are ready to take the scene by storm.

D.R.U.G.S., the moniker meaning Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows, consists of Owens on lead vocals, guitarists Matt Good (From First To Last) and Nick Martin (Isles & Glaciers, Underminded), bassist Adam Russell (Story Of The Year) and drummer Aaron Stern (Matchbook Romance).

The band, whose lineup was released one by one, spent the majority of the summer recording with producer John Feldmann. According to a Tweet by Owens, recording was finished by mid-October and the band were moving on to the mixing stage. No word has been given on a release date of the record, though it will be released through Decaydance Records.

But that doesn't mean fans can't get a chance to hear the supergroup before a full CD is released. D.R.U.G.S. will be setting out on the Rise From The Ashes tour at the end of this month alongside Eyes Set To Kill and New Medicine.

They recently posted a teaser video (see below), alongside a number of studio updates, that outline the band as a whole, the recording process and offer a first chance to hear some unreleased tracks.

D.R.U.G.S. will be on tour through mid-December. Check below for tour dates and cities near you.

Rise From The Ashes Tour

Nov. 28 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room

Nov. 29 - Pontiac, MI - The Pike Room

Dec. 3 - West Hollywood, CA - The Key Club

Dec. 4 - Bakersfield, CA - Jerry's Pizza

Dec. 5 - San Luis Obispo, CA - Downtown Brew

Dec. 8 - Lawrence, KS - Bottleneck

Dec. 9 - Des Moines, IA - Vaudeview Mews

Dec. 10 - Indianapolis, IN - Emerson Theater

Dec. 11 - West Dundee, Il - Clearwater Theatre

Dec. 12 - Lansing, MI - Mac's Bar

Dec. 14 - New York, NY - Studio at Webster Hall

Dec. 15 - Providence, RI - The Met Cafe

Dec. 16 - Burlington, VT - Higher Ground

Dec. 17 - Albany, NY - Valentine's

Dec. 18 - Lancaster, PA - The Chameleon Club

Dec. 19 - Altoona, PA - Archway Center