SURROUNDED BY MONSTERS | uk

Участники:
Chris, Joe, John, Lee, Mike, Traci
Родной город
Denton, TX
“That’s my favorite part of it. We don’t really have a genre. We don’t have hooks and we don’t have choruses. The mood is just constantly changing and everyone puts in a piece of what they like that just makes craziness.” Traci Pason, keyboardist and backingvocalist of Denton, TX based Surrounded By Monsters, speaks of the band’s unclassified sound. This can be heard in full glory on their upcoming EP “Novella”.

The outfit’s upcoming six song EP Novella,meaning short stories, gives listeners complex metal shredding (including six string bass) rifts over a melodic base. These compositions are fleshed out with each member’s own influences, ranging from The Dillinger Escape Plan to Radiohead to Bjork. “I try to bring the pretty and girly side to it,” says self-proclaimed Tori Amos fan, Pason. The aggressive and complex side is in full swing on the band’s lead off track Dr Phuck which has a music video directed by Justin Beasley (IWrestledABearOnce, The Demonstration), the video is a modern metal take on the 1989 film, “The Little Monsters”.

Having been a part of different bands throughout New York, Michigan and Texas, the members came together in Denton in 2007 to form Surrounded By Monsters who derived their moniker from a comic book. Since those early days, there have been a few switch-ups, but for the past two years, Surrounded By Monsters has stuck with their lineup. “I’ve always been the type of girl that does things only boys can do. It’s always been my kind of thing, but they are my family and I love it”, says Pason, who brings the female perspective to the male dominated metal group, which includes Mike Batson (lead vocals), John McCoy (guitar), Lee Dudley (guitar), Joe Demerrit (bass) and Chris Hoedebeck (drums).

Dropping their second EP “Planet Horror” independently in 2009, the six-piece band is excited about their pairing with the BlkHeart Group, who they connected with through IWrestledABearOnce’s guitarist Steven Bradley. The band’s relationship with Bradley is seven years strong. “I just can’t imagine a better fit”, say Pason of the band’s management. Along with the afore-mentioned IWrestledABearOnce, Surrounded By Monsters has also toured with The Chariot, The Color Of Violence and Chelsea Grin.

Much like their horror and comic book influence the EP ends on a cliffhanger with the last two tracks respectively Chapter 1 and Chapter 2,acting as a mini novella. While Chapter 1 tells the story of an indiscretion in a relationship, Chapter 2 focuses on the resolution of the problem. The band hints that future chapters will appear on their future releases as well. .