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40
Below Summer - Max Illidge (vocals), Jordan Plingos
(guitars), Joe DiAmico (guitars), Carlos Aguilar (drums) and Hector
Graziani (bass) - released their London/Sire debut, Invitation
To The Dance, with the intention of impressing fans of 21st century
modern rock. "People
start bands for so many reasons," says Joe.
"We've heard a lot of this heavy, melodic music and only
certain bands do it the way we like it, so we wanted to set a standard
and do it the way we thought it should be done.
[The album] is our take on it.
Hopefully from there we can continue to branch out and grow in
other directions and not be classified as just another heavy, melodic nü-metal
band." |
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40 Below’s fans can attest that the
New Jersey
rockers are not just another run of the mill nü-metal act.
Like their moniker, the band’s music is a study in contradictions.
The songs that make up the dynamically diverse debut not only showcase
the band’s remarkable musicianship but also highlight the incredible intricate
and dynamic sound they have cultivated. Each
track commands your attention, especially the lyrically disturbing "Jonesin',"
which, according to Joe, is a true story about a guy that Max knew in high
school. “He seemed like a normal
everyday guy and one day he just snapped and murdered a female classmate."
The spirited guitarist further explains that the band didn’t write the
tune as a means of supporting or promoting violence.
“We wrote that song to make a statement,” he emphasizes.
“If you have a lot of problems and you become that deranged, you
seriously need to go seek some help."
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The artwork that graces the cover of Invitation
To The Dance is equally intriguing.
The image was inspired by a dream that Carlos had about a year
and a half before the album was conceived.
"Some people make the mistake of assuming that we’re
trying to draw attention to the guy on the cover, but it's not about
him. If you look closely
you can see that he is in the background.
It's really all about the card he is holding.
The symbols on the card represent each one of us, and the sun in
the center is the energy we create."
Joe also points out that the symbols reflect each member’s
astrological sign and planet—possibly suggesting that fate played a
key factor in their union. |
Be it fate or luck, 40 Below Summer overcame many
obstacles to achieve their dream of signing to a major label.
Max, Jordan, Joe, Carlos, and Hector attribute their success to a
shared belief -- “Follow your dreams. Believe
in yourself, and you can accomplish anything you want in life."
Hector also adds, "It's better to regret something you did than
something you didn't do." Needless
to say, 40 Below Summer is a band with little, if any, regrets.
For more on 40 Below Summer visit www.40belowsummer.com
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