Alesana

Alesana is an American post-hardcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina. The group was formed in the autumn of 2004 by Shawn Milke, Dennis Lee, Patrick Thompson, Steven Tomany and Daniel Magnuson. It is currently signed to Revival Recordings and Artery Recordings. The band has released five full-length studio albums and three EPs. The band first gained underground attention following the release of its debut EP, "Try This With Your Eyes Closed", and early demos that circulated on the compilation "All the Tragedy Money Can Buy". Read more on Last.fm …read full bio

Alesana is an American post-hardcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina. The group was formed in the autumn of 2004 by Shawn Milke, Dennis Lee, Patrick Thompson, Steven Tomany and Daniel Magnuson. It is currently signed to Revival Recordings and Artery Recordings. The band has released five full-length studio albums and three EPs. The band first gained underground attention following the release of its debut EP, "Try This With Your Eyes Closed", and early demos that circulated on the compilation "All the Tragedy Money Can Buy". Its early sound combined elements of pop, punk, metal and classic rock influences. The name Alesana is derived from Aliceanna Street in Baltimore, where Milke and Thompson previously lived. Milke and Thompson initially worked together in Baltimore in separate bands before relocating to Raleigh to continue developing the project. Dennis Lee joined after being invited by Milke, and the early lineup was completed with the addition of Steven Tomany and Daniel Magnuson. The group's first rehearsal took place in a car wash. Magnuson was later replaced by Will Anderson, who was subsequently replaced by Jeremy Bryan. The band signed to Tragic Hero Records in 2005 and later to Fearless Records. Alesana's debut full-length album, "On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax", was recorded in 2006 and released in 2007 following a reissue through Fearless Records. The album is a concept work influenced by Greek mythology and includes contributions from Milke's sister, Melissa Milke, on female vocals. It was supported by touring in the United States and appearances at festivals including Warped Tour. The album reached number 44 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. The band's second album, "Where Myth Fades to Legend", was released in 2008 and supported by extensive touring. It later reached number 96 on the Billboard 200. During this period, lineup changes occurred, including the departure of Steven Tomany and guitarist Adam Ferguson, and the introduction of Shane Crump and Jake Campbell in various roles. The band also released a cover of Justin Timberlake's "What Goes Around... Comes Around" for "Punk Goes Pop 2". Recording for the third album, "The Emptiness", began in 2009 with producer Kris Crummett. The album was released in 2010 and became the band's highest-charting release at the time, reaching number 68 on the Billboard 200. The album was supported by singles including "To Be Scared By an Owl" and "The Thespian", along with international touring. Shortly before its release cycle concluded, guitarist Jake Campbell left and was replaced by Alex Torres. The band later moved from Fearless Records to Epitaph Records. In 2011, Alesana released its fourth studio album, "A Place Where the Sun Is Silent", which was recorded with Kris Crummett and drew thematic inspiration from Dante Alighieri's "Inferno". The album was promoted through pre-release streaming of selected tracks, including "A Gilded Masquerade" and "A Forbidden Dance". The song "Circle VII: Sins of the Lion" was voted best song of 2011 in a reader poll conducted by Revolver. During 2012, members engaged in side projects, including Child of the Jackyl and Tempting Paris. Alex Torres left the band later that year and Jake Campbell returned. The band subsequently left Epitaph Records and later self-released material. In 2014, Alesana signed with Artery Recordings and released the EP "The Decade". A planned live album was recorded but ultimately not released due to technical issues with the recording. The fifth studio album, "Confessions", was released in 2015 and supported by touring in North America and Europe. In 2016, the band released additional material connected to a planned narrative project, including the short film series "Comedy of Errors". The novel "Annabel", based on the thematic trilogy of earlier concept albums, was also released the same year, alongside a deluxe edition of "Confessions" featuring additional tracks. The band also performed a tour marking the tenth anniversary of "On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax" and appeared at Knotfest in Mexico. From 2017 onwards, Alesana continued touring intermittently and announced projects including the compilation "Origins" and the EP "The Lost Chapters", which included the single "Fits and Starts". The band also performed at various festival events and international shows. As of the mid-2020s, Alesana continues to tour and perform, with ongoing social media activity and merchandising operations. A new studio album has been reported to be in early stages of development. In 2020, Dennis Lee's daughter was born prematurely and required an extended hospital stay, which affected touring and writing schedules. In 2024, drummer Jeremy Bryan was dismissed following allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2025, Dennis Lee appeared as a guest DJ at a music event in Texas. Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alesana Studio albums On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax (2006) Where Myth Fades to Legend (2008) The Emptiness (2010) A Place Where the Sun Is Silent (2011) Confessions (2015) Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

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…shrink me down again