Chiodos

Chiodos
The Davison, Michigan based emo rock band Chiodos saw its breakthrough set Bone Palace Ballet debut at No. 5 on Billboard's albums chart in 2007 and continue to gain momentum. This is a great feat for the band given that they did it without the support of a major label - Chiodos records for Albany, N.Y.-based indie label, Equal Vision Records.

The band consists of six members that include front man Craig Owens (vocals), Bradley Bell (keyboards), Pat McManaman (guitar), Matt Goddard (bass), Jason Hale (guitar) and Derrick Frost (drums)The bone-crunching album is an ambitious blend of grinding metal and playful cabaret.

It is set to be re-released Oct. 28 in a special edition with six bonus tracks and a DVD featuring live performances by the band. The new version--which the group headed back into the studio with producer Casey Bates to complete--features four new songs as well as two acoustic versions of ?I Didn't Say I Was Powerful, I Said I Was A Wizard? and ?A Letter From Janelle,? that have never been released to the public.

They will release their first-ever full length DVD offering in 2009 that Doug Spangenberg (Lamb of God ?Killadelphia? & ?Walk With Me In Hell,? Every Time I Die ?Shit Happens?) is on board to direct.

Back in their early days, the band was known as The Chiodos Brothers. At the time, they played the local scene and began writing original music. In June 2002, they recorded a demo called, The Best Way To Ruin Your Life, which gathered a healthy local following.

Shortly after that, the band used guitarist Pat McManaman?s home to self-record, engineer, produce, and master their first full-length album, The Heartless Control Everything, which was soon after released on Search and Rescue Records.

It did not go unobserved ? fans from hometown state of Michigan and beyond buzzed about the album, along with praise of the band?s live performances.

Choidos has covered plenty of ground since then. After that album?s release, the group hit the road for 7 full U.S. tours selling thousands of CDs and gaining a bulging fan base.

In 2005 came their second album, All?s Well that Ends Well. The various styles found in Chiodos? past songs became more defined on this album. Their maturity is evident in the dueling guitar riffs of ?There?s No Penguins in Alaska;? and the defiant lyrics, ?take these misunderstandings/and send them back where they came from/it?s hard enough to live life? from ?All Nereids Beware.?

They continue to gain momentum, almost a year after the release of their hugely successful second album Bone Palace Ballet in 2007. Critical praise for their compelling post-hardcore music--from outlets, including New York Times, Blender, Billboard, Hollywood Reporter, Revolver, Village Voice and UK?s Kerrang!--has helped bolster sales of the set to over 157,000 copies.

Armed with a video for Lexington, directed by Josh Graham, the men in Chiodos are celebrating each milestone brought forth by the David Bendeth (Paramore, Hawthorne Heights, Breaking Benjamin)-mixed Bone Palace Ballet.

The fabulous Chiodos also performed at the 2007 Taste of Chaos. It is a rock music festival that began four years ago as a winter season test-run by Warped Tour creator, Kevin Lyman. Last year?s Rockstar Taste of Chaos made its way through 41 U.S. and Canadian cities as one of the wintertime's most successful tours.

The tour featured the Used, 30 Seconds to Mars, Saosin, Senses Fail, Evaline, and Aiden. Those who have ever seen Chiodos play a show?most notably on last year?s Warped Tour ? would have undoubtedly seen their mascot gorilla/bunny/troll/wizard take the stage and announce the group.

The individual behind these characters is a Canadian guy named Dave better known for his time as merch man for the illustrious Boys Night Out.

With international appearances spanning clubs, arenas and major rock festivals Chiodos have become one of the biggest bands in the genre today. This year they hit the road with their latest tour: a co-headlining fall U.S. trek with Motion City Soundtrack.

It kicked off September 22 in Louisville, KY, and the band plans to bookend the tour with headlining shows across the continental U.S., Alaska and Mexico.

Chiodos boys, with their eyes on the Linkin Park trek and the rest of the world in 2008, consider the support slot a great opportunity? for them to have their music heard by 10,000 potential new fans each night.