Diecast Bio

Like a beast lying dormant, the Boston-based quintet DIECAST have finally emerged from the darkness and are out to prove that they still are one of the genre's best. The group made the best of their three-year hiatus by adding a new vocalist to the fold while having the time to work their new material to perfection. They were always a dominant live force and the only problem they faced was properly translating that live energy onto disc, until now. DIECAST have created a new album that was well worth the wait while shattering the boundaries of conventional songwriting.

DIECAST was originally formed by Jeremy Wooden (bass), Colin Schleifer (vocals) and Jason Costa (drums) in 1997 and spent years honing their craft in the underground hardcore scene. The group issued their debut album, Undo The Wicked , in 1998 on Samson Records and it soon created a huge buzz in the Northeast hardcore scene. The band would play anywhere that would have them, whether it be a backyard party or club and would play each show with the same intensity. It was this determination that soon earned them a spot on tour with hardcore legends One King Down, which ultimately exposed them to an embracing new audience.

DIECAST soon added lead guitarist Jon Kita and began writing material for their first official full-length album. The buzz surrounding them soon caught the attention of Now or Never Records, who immediately offered the band a deal. Their first offering on the new label was the dynamic Day of Reckoning, released in February of 2001. The album was well-received by fans and press alike and DIECAST was quickly creating a name for themselves. The disc also took off at college radio as it held the coveted #1 spot on the CMJ Loud Rock Chart for four weeks in a row. The album's standout track "Singled Out" showed the band's diversity and songwriting ability as it featured a captivating chorus matched with stunning melodies. The group were also one of the first bands of the metalcore genre to incorporate clean vocals into their songwriting.

The disc also featured an array of scorching guitars and pummeling breakdowns that translated into a devastating output of aggression greatly embraced by hardcore and metal fans. DIECAST soon embarked on a multitude of tours across the U.S. with All Out War, Dying Fetus, God Forbid, Isis and Napalm Death and managed to convert a new legion of fans at every show. The group soon added guitarist Kirk Kolaitis in the fall 2001 after going through a succession of 17 guitar players. Now with a rejuvenated lineup, the band got the opportunity to open for the legendary Alice Cooper in the U.S. and proved that they can play in front of any audience and win them over. Hot off the heels of this tour and the album's success the band would continue their touring domination with Chimaria and Unearth that would eventually lead up to their biggest touring opportunity.

In the spring of 2002, DIECAST landed the opening slot on the Slayer/Hatebreed tour. The band stepped up and delivered the performances of their career, proving that they belonged on the same stage as these genre titans. This would also prove to be the end of the Day of Reckoning campaign as the band decided it was now time to focus on writing new material. Unfortunately, due to label problems and other complications, the recording of the album was delayed indefinitely. DIECAST also underwent a few changes in their downtime as longtime vocalist Schleifer left the band to pursue other ventures. New vocalist Paul Stoddard joined the fold in the spring of 2003 and immediately pumped new life into the songwriting process. The group also signed a new deal in 2004 with Century Media Records and commenced the recording process shortly thereafter.

DIECAST now triumphantly return with their much-anticipated new album, Tearing Down Your Blue Skies. Produced once again by Paul Trust (Endo, Sunday Driver) it is easily the band's most diverse offering to date. This new disc shows the group's progression as musicians and songwriters, while the addition of Stoddard adds a whole new feel to the band's dynamic sound. From thrash riffs mixed with old-school hardcore breakdowns to scorching melodies and massive hooks, DIECAST have broken the mold once again, creating an album that will set the mark for all other bands in the genre to try and surpass.

Wooden further describes the band's evolution; "I guess the first thing to say is that we're back and better than ever. We have spent almost two years on this material, making sure that every song was as strong and interesting as the next. Our new singer has allowed us to try things that we never could have imagined in the past. We tried to make each song have a different feel, and have written some of our heaviest material and also some of our most melodic."

What sets DIECAST apart from the pack is their unabashed intensity and unique songwriting ability that has since set the standard for unrelenting metalcore. Their latest effort is a true metal album that hardcore fans will also not be able to resist.