After a rough past followed by a new start, Wovenwar will be playing this Saturday at The Rialto Theatre. Playing for over a decade under the name As I Lay Dying, what was once a well-established band came to an abrupt halt when its lead singer was incarcerated for the attempted murder of his wife. However, the band has rebuilt itself with a strong new image and sound. Its new album, self-titled Wovenwar, features a style that contrasts with the metal style of the old band.
“[The band has a] hybrid of heavy metal and hard rock,” said Josh Gilbert, bassist and vocalist for the band, commenting on the band’s new direction. “Think modern hard rock, but not something like AC/DC. I always say we sort of add a metal riff to 30 Seconds to Mars. We add an atmospheric vibe to lot of our stuff.”
Adding a new vocalist, Shane Blay, to the new band has allowed the band to experiment with different musical styles by incorporating two lead singers rather than just one.
“[Other bands] will have vocal harmonies on the record but only one guy sings [live],” Gilbert said. “It’s cool that we pull off everything we have on the record vocally live.”
The new band has moved towards a more complex direction with its music as well.
“We try to write strong choruses, but they’re also backed up by really — hopefully — impressive guitar work.” Gilbert said. “We try to be technical without taking away from the song, which is really the most important part.”
The members of Wovenwar have been playing consistently, headlining shows in Colorado Springs, Colo. According to their press release, their tour, In Flames: Charming America, will kick off in California. Tucson will be their second stop on a tour around the U.S. and Canada.
The band is based in San Diego, with members originating everywhere from Texas to Hawaii. Now 27 years old, Gilbert has been playing and touring since he was 19. The other members of the band have also been playing since graduating high school.
“Everybody’s pretty much been on the road … their entire adult life,” Gilbert said. “Music is what we’ve always done and it’s all we know how to do,”
However, the new band has just been recently established.
“It’s been almost a year of setting up,” Gilbert said. Wovenwar was established in September 2013, recorded its first record that winter and went on its first tour in July of 2014.
Gilbert says Wovenwar arose directly from the old band.
“We needed something to take our mind off of what was happening, … something we spent a decade on coming to an end very abruptly,” Gilbert said. “That’s the best thing about this band. … It gave us an outlet for the things we were feeling and going through at the time.”
However, the new album does not dwell on the past.
“It reflects on the hopefulness of new beginnings, and changing yourself for the best — not letting the world around you affect who you are,” Gilbert said.
Tickets can be found at rialtotheatre.com for $25 to $30.
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