Pain After Death

Genres: hardcore, metal, fun, death metal, North Carolina

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About Pain After Death

Deep in the bowels of the city of Queen Charlotte lurks a band known as Pain After Death. Formed in early 2005, the band (comprised of Joe Payne, Dan Royer, Jeff Wilkerson, Dan Hitselberger, and Gregarious Smith) has slowly evolved from a side project into something much more serious. 2009 marks the completion of their first full length album "I Just Wanna Get My Life Straight With God". Although the band has strayed far from it's comedic intention since it has formed, with lyrics that tackle topics such as war, expansion of consciousness, being successful in a modern music industry but still being broke, love, mortality, belief and other existential issues, they still manage to throw in their own brand of tongue in cheek humor where seen fit. Songs such as "Another Blonde In Hollywood" (a song written about an average night at a bar in LA called The Rainbow), which boasts a chorus that includes "I give Ron Jeremy a high five" and also hints at the rumor of an extremely offensive body odor he may or may not have, are illustrative of their unique take on modern metal. "You Should Consider Suicide" also features a break from the constant lambasting, in the form of a jazz section complemented by vocals ranging from coughing while smoking, low gutturals, and what have been labeled as "weasel screams" by Jay Barnes from Lust of Decay. Their music is, by no stretch of the imagination, one dimensional. Songs tend to have schizophrenic identities, and tend to switch back and forth from straight metal, to southern rock, to intense syncopations, to soaring melodic sections with clean vocals, while constantly pounding hook into the listeners' heads. Every member has a very unique approach to expressing themselves in the genre. Guitarist Joe Payne has pushed his writing to the next level of creativity for this project and anybody that listens to the material will note that it is groundbreaking for the genre, a seamless integration of different styles of music, with some riffs defying classification all together. Of course he has also turned the shred knob to 10, showboating some of the most technical solos of his career thus far. Doubling on background vocal duties Joe brings a lot to the table, even going as far to pen two song's lyrics "I Just Want To Get My Life Straight With God" and "Another Blond In Hollywood". Vocalist Dan Royer's showcases his extensive range, including his most used attack - a rabid midrange scream which is alternated with bellowing lows, disgusting gutturals, shrieking highs, an unexpected, strong, grit-fed, southern vocal, free form yelled poeticisms, one power metal high, and of course a tasteful amount of "weasel screams". With lyrics full of free thought, frustration, fear and acceptance you can feel Royer constantly battling with himself in the span of a single song. Some times the lyrics sway towards ideas very uncommon for the genre and beg the listener to indulge in uninhibited free thought. Bassist Jeff Wilkerson adds the always reliable low end and a very original take on the riffs themselves, utilizing passing tones on some sections giving them an unexpected but very pleasant jazzy feel. Having graduated from North West School of the Arts, Jeff offers indispensable knowledge of music theory and choir experience, also leading him to a background singing position. Drummer Dan Hitselberger offers a very different and tasteful approach to the sound, only using the ever-so-overused blast beat when absolutely called for - usually opting for something more focused and tasteful. Nicknamed "Hits" for a reason, Hitselberger relentlessly pounds the skins like a tyrannosaurus rex on meth, through the album every side of his playing is exhibited, double bass to graceful ghost notes at some moments even displaying his background in Jazz. Put all of this together with one of the most intense and energetic live shows ever to be witnessed and you have Pain After Death. With more than just a few of the members having experience as road dogs, they can not wait to bring the sonic barrage to your town as soon as possible.

Taken from Last.fm

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