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In a music industry engulfed in replication and mediocrity, SCALE THE SUMMIT has cemented their position as young mavericks (the quartet boasts an average age of 22) with their blend of organic and melodic instrumental music. Already on a number of "most anticipated releases of 2009" lists, Carving Desert Canyons builds upon the band's self-released debut, Monument, with crisper production and songwriting that has grown exponentially over the past three years.


In 2004, guitarists Chris Letchford and Travis LeVrier moved to Los Angeles to attend the Musicians Institute where they met drummer Pat Skeffington. Several months later, the band was completed with the addition of Jordan Eberhardt, While attending M.I. Chris and Travis also attended a luthier course, where the duo learned to build their own custom guitars.


With an unparalleled chemistry, the band easily progressed into a serious affair. At the end of 2006, SCALE THE SUMMIT moved to the Letchford’s home state of Texas (Houston to be specific), where they recorded their self-released debut album, Monument. The result of a great deal of hard work and commitment, the album stood as a testament to the dedication and perseverance of the young quartet and garnered the group international recognition. Magazines such as Kerrang, Rock Sound and Amp heaped praise upon the band while early radio play also helped to bolster their reputation and fan base.


SCALE THE SUMMIT’s influences aren’t the obvious names you’d expect – the band reveres the technicality of Dream Theater and Cynic – but at the same time, Letchford feels the band has taken strides toward developing its own identity. "Our music is very organic-sounding. Since we started writing music, we've had people talking about how our music takes them on a journey, so we decided to call it ‘adventure metal.’ It felt better than just calling it ‘progressive metal.’"


Soon after signing with Prosthetic Records in 2008, the band began recording its second album, Carving Desert Canyons, New Jersey’s Nuthouse Recording with producer Tom Beaujour. The album taps into the many different musical textures that SCALE THE SUMMIT has mastered. One example is” Glacial Planet,” which submerses itself into everything, from great chord voicings to heavy riffs and melodic structures. Highlighting the overall dynamic scene of the album is “The Great Plains,” while a particular standout for the Letchford is “Dunes,” which he says is “a little different from what we’d normally write, in that it’s slower, heavier and darker.”


“The new album has way more dynamics than Monument,” adds Letchford. “The production alone was our biggest concern for this album. On the last CD, we didn’t quite get the production we wanted or enough time in the studio. We were able to spend a lot more time writing Carving Desert Canyons, and I think it shows, with the song writing having matured”.


SCALE THE SUMMIT is preparing for their most active year yet. Entering into the next stage of their careers, the band is hoping to tour throughout the entire year to promote their newest release. SCALE THE SUMMIT’s determination to grow can only be rivaled by the love they have for creating music that they are proud of, regardless of fickle trends or genre classifications. “As far as fitting in with modern music,” Letchford says, “I don’t think that we fit in with anybody-- at all.”



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