LOVE EQUALS DEATH

   After forming on Halloween night in 2003, Love Equals Death made quick work of things and rose to the top of the SF Bay Area’s punk rock heap. Things were happening for the band and they were happening fast: shows with TSOL, Avenged Sevenfold, The Distillers, and more. It was at one of these local gigs that Fat Mike first witnessed the spectacle of their live show and knew right away that he wanted to work with them. And thus began the alliance between Fat and Love Equals Death; months later they emerged from the studio with their debut, Nightmerica. The band’s name is inspired by the members’ long and sordid history in various punk acts throughout the years. Dominic was the founding member of Tsunami Bomb, Chon made a name for himself fronting local heroes Loose Change and Envain, while the other dudes did time in bands like Eye Defy and 26 M.P.H. But you know the story, shit happens and bands break up. The difference with Love Equals Death is that this band was forged out of their frustration and disappointment with their past projects; and the glue that binds these four seasoned rockers is their drive to prove themselves and a desire to push their limits of creativity. The band describes their music as “a raw sound that twists all the bestelements of both classic and modern sounds into something entirely new”, but we think it sounds like a punk rock hybrid of Billy Idol and AFI. No need to argue, because Nightmerica is a diverse debut that draws as much from Duran Duran as it does “Horror Punk” bands like the Misfits and the Damned. They’re great tunes and producer Bill Stevenson (Rise Against, NOFX, Good Riddance) did some of hisfinest work to capture the dark tones and punchy punk rock that is Nightmerica. One of this band’s hallmarks is their hunger for playing shows, and Love Equals Death didn’t waste any time in hitting the road as they were doing full U.S. Tours before they had any recorded material. Such is the plan for the future, and these ambitious punks just wrapped up a big tour with Pennywise, No Use For A Name, and Suicide Machines;  as well as tours with Tiger Army and AFI. Ryan Sinn formally of “The Distillers” and “Angels and Airwaves” has recently replaced Dominic on Bass duties. The band has just finished the first five songs for their next full length with Darrian Rundall (Pennywise, Yellowcard, Strung Out) and are excited for it’s release early next year. Expect big things from these guys in 2008.

RELEASES

NIGHTMERICA (2006)
1. Bombs Over Brooklyn
2. When We Fall
3. Lottery
4. Sonora
5. Black Rain
6. V.O.C.
7. The Broadcast
8. Numb
9. Pray For Me
10. Caught In A Trap
11. Plastico Americana (LP only)
12. Truth Has Failed

4 NOTES ON A DYING SCALE (2005)
1. Caught In A Trap
2. The Outsiders
3. The Ballad Of Johnny Loveless
4. Contradiction Overload