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New Jersey has a reputation of being a breeding ground for rock stars. Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi paved the way in the 80s, as they played stadium shows with big name acts and scored singles on the radio. But they had deals with major labels. Sonicult boasts the same accomplishments on their musical resume, but they are making it the old fashioned way: blood, sweat, and cheers.
Natives of Jersey City, the members of Sonicult (David Terrana-vocals, Lars Alverson-bass, Rich Andruska-guitar, Scott Anderson-drums) are working class guys living an abridged version of Cinderella. When they're not touring along the Northeast, they lock themselves up in a studio and rehearse until they reach the point of exhaustion. All the hard work has really paid off, as they have played several shows with some well-known national acts.
Things started heating up for Sonicult in March, when they came in first place at the WDHA Homegrown Spotlight Battle of the Bands. Over 400 bands entered the contest, but it was Sonicult who stood out in all four categories (originality, live performance, crowd response, and judges’ opinion). Ironically, the band submitted their material on the last day entries were being accepted.
Sonicult recorded their self-titled debut with Steve Thompson (Korn, Metallica). The result is dark, introspective, hard rock. Influenced by bands like Tool, Staind, and the Deftones, Sonicult produce driven melodies that smoothly transcend from heavy to mellow. For the track “No Pain,” the Boston Symphony Orchestra was brought in to set a sorrowful tone to accompany lyrics like “When you’re gone, all the pain won’t linger on and the fear won’t seem so strong in my life.”
As soon as the album was released to radio, two songs immediately took over the airwaves of WCCY (Maine), WGIR (New Hampshire), and WAAF (Massachusetts). They showcase two aspects of the band. “You” is a moody, aggravated song on which Terrana blatantly sings “Your fear in your God is your hate realized.” On “Done,” the band makes an impact by respecting the quieter parts and letting the lyrics (“Doesn’t bother me that you would throw it all away without a care. You beat me there.”) take center stage.
Sonicult’s music may be heavy, but the vocals are melodic enough so that even the most unlikely audiences will be pulled in. They've even caught the attention of pop group Hanson, who during their filming of VH1's Spotlight caught a Sonicult show at CBGB in New York City.
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