GOOD PRESS//

LOCAL WATCH: A DECADE TO DIE FOR
RICH SHIVENER :: CIN WEEKLY :: 11/14/2007

For months, A Decade to Die For struggled to find a fourth member. It had a tight rock sound, but the lack of a second guitarist didn't give it the beef some members sought. The band's recent addition of guitarist/keyboardist Aaron May and a new record - titled The Process - has bolstered its spirits lately.

I spoke with May a few weeks before the band's CD release show.

Q: The Process is a simple title. What's the backstory?

A: Well, there's a process to everything. Each of our songs deal with the process of growing up, day-to-day life, and the hope for something more than a 9-to-5 grind. The more we thought about it, the less simple the title became. It's become a common thread in everything that we do.

Q: How long did you take to record it? Are you content with the end result?

A: When I joined the band, we dropped all but three original songs. We started over with a clean slate and a fresh look on things. It didn't take long. It's like something clicked, I guess. Four months of writing and recording at Sleep Out Studios with Lewis Avramovich, and we ended with six solid songs. We are quite content with the end result. It's amazing to see something that we've worked on and put all of our time and energy into come out exactly the way we had imagined it.

Q: You're the last person to join the band. What attracted you to its sound?

A: They actually came to me. Dustin was the drummer for A Decade To Die For and the drummer for my last band (This City is ...) at the same time. When that band finally ended, they asked me if I'd like to try playing guitar and synth for them. Best decision I ever made. These guys are my best friends. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to work with.

Q: What decade of music is to die for?

A: Actually, the decade of music that we feel is to die for has a drop date ... and it's Nov. 16, 2007.

Don't miss: A Decade to Die For's CD release show with The Upset Victory, Legal In Vegas, Savior Say I and One Small Step For Landmines. 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at Mad Hatter, 620 Scott St., Covington. $8. www.madhatterclub.com.


"THE PROCESS" OF ACCELERATION
MIKE BREEN :: CITY BEAT :: 11/14/2007

Impressive Newport-based rockers A Decade to Die For unleash their tight new EP, The Process, Friday at The Mad Hatter in Covington. The Upset Victory, Legal In Vegas, Savior Say I and One Small Step For Landmines also perform.

A Decade to Die For (heretofore known as ADTDF) has been at it for just a couple of years, and their bio says they formed with the goal of "writing catchy songs we love to play." I'm assuming they love to play the songs on The Process, and they definitely succeeded in making songs as catchy as Monkey Pox. Fans of so-called Emo acts like Thursday and Taking Back Sunday (the best of that bunch, in my humble opinion) will really dig ADTDF.

But there's much less of a "paint-by-numbers" quality to the band's music than others attempting this mix of urgent melody and big, angular Rock. The songwriting and arrangements are less predictable and the "whine" and "scream" aspects are blissfully non-existent. Songs are intertwined with interesting little tangents, like light, synth décor, a little acoustic guitar here, a little drum machine interlude there.

But mostly the quartet brings the Rock with power and grace. The vocals aren't particularly distinctive, but they are incredibly commanding and confident and perfect for the band's soaring sound, which is loaded with high-ceilinged choruses that beg to be sung along with. To say The Process is "anthemic" is like saying Prince's early music was "sexy" -- the "anthem" quality is inherent and imprinted deep into each tracks' DNA.

Then there's the entangled guitar work, as the band's two guitarists add to the already full sound with interesting interplay. Their riffing is so precisely in tune with each other, it often sounds like one big, glorious monster riff. Behind them, the rhythm section works a forceful but dynamic backdrop that is less "anchor" and more "motor."

A Decade to Die For has made an album that wouldn't be out of place on Fueled by Ramen or The Militia Group or even a major (though I'd say it's too good for those fools). For such an early-in-its-career release, The Process sounds as pro, well-put-together and accomplished as bands that have been together for (ahem) a decade. (adecadetodiefor.com)

NEW SONGS

THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO HEAR THE "THE PROCESS" IN IT'S ENTIRITY.

IT STARTED MONDAY NIGHT EXACTLY 11:59PM. WE POSTED A NEW SONG FROM OUR DEBUT EP "THE PROCESS."

AND WE WILL BE POSTING A NEW SONG EACH DAY. BUT EACH SONG WILL ONLY BE UP FOR ONLY ONE DAY BEFORE A NEW SONG IS POSTED ALL LEADING UP TO OUR CD RELEASE SHOW ON FRIDAY NOVEMBER 16TH!!!

WE WILL BE LEAVING TWO NEW SONGS ON OUR PROFILE AFTERWARDS SO IF THERE ARE CERTAIN SONGS THAT YOU LIKE LET US KNOW AND WE'LL KEEP THEM UP.

S.W.A.K.
AARON

POWER HOUSE FACTORIES (NEW POSTER)

Some good advise

Besides our new EP "the process".... You should most deff grab "Saves the Day" Under the Boards. I just got it yesterday and it's amazing. It's a great mix of old "Stay What You Are" and new "Sound the Alarm. Our new CD or i guess really our only right now is pretty much bad ass, ask anyone. ha ha ha. xoxo aaron

this place is for badasses!!!

Who likes teagames.com? If you don't there is something wrong with you. The skateboarding games are my favorite. If you have some time to kill i suggest you crawl your little fingers on over there. Time for some tylenol, my head is killing me from looking at this computer screen all day. Come to the cd release show, it's going to be badass!!!

-derek

HOLY (S) WORD

THE NEW CD, POSTERS, AND SHIRTS ARE IN... Everything looks and sounds amazing. I can't wait for everyone to own one or three of each. ha. Speaking of wich Who is coming out to the CD relase? let us know. And for those of you who don't know yet... It's November 16th at the Mad Hatter in Covington KY. So now that you know we expect to see you there.

-aaron