Metal band expands vision but doesn't compromise on sound

The band was a featured side stage act on the Ozzfest 2005 bill.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
There's a metallic battle of Apocalyptic proportions currently being fought by three summer tours, all of which are competing for your concert ticket dollar.
Whereas Ozzfest 2006 -- which doesn't have a Northeast Ohio date this summer -- remains the most ubiquitous and mainstream event, there are two additional outings this year. This includes the Unholy Alliance Tour featuring Slayer, as well as the Sounds of the Underground Tour with headliner As I Lay Dying. Both are unabashedly slanted more toward the diehard metal fan than that of Ozzfest.
"The original idea for the Sounds of the Underground Tour is for people who really enjoyed the Ozzfest side stage," said As I Lay Dying front man Tim Lambesis, calling from his home outside of San Diego.
"I think the overall goal is something different than Ozzfest, where it's definitely more about the headliners than it is about supporting the up-and-coming bands."
Considering As I Lay Dying was a featured side stage act on the Ozzfest 2005 bill, Lambesis speaks from experience. He added, "To me, the Sounds of the Underground Tour is more bang for your buck. You're probably going to pay less than the Unholy Alliance Tour, and at the same time, you get more bands."
Cleveland show
Among the acts touring on the Sounds of the Underground bill, which begins Saturday in Cleveland at the Plain Dealer Pavilion, are Swedish metal leaders In Flames, death metal bellwethers Cannibal Corpse, thrash legends GWAR and more. A thinking man's hardcore act, As I Lay Dying has quickly risen through the ranks from obscure West Coast based band to prominent headliner among the ever-growing metal scene.
Over the course of four albums, including its latest, 2005's "Shadows are Security," the quintet has continually expanded its vision without compromising its sound.
The recent compilation release of its "A Long March: The First Recordings" -- which includes debut "Beneath the Encasing of Ashes" and a self-titled EP -- allowed Lambesis to reflect on the group's maturation.
"The newer material is a lot more technical guitar playing and a stronger sense of melody," Lambesis said. "And on the drumming side, everything is faster, but it definitely has the same basic feel." The notion of speed is worth examining for not only As I Lay Dying but also the genre in particular. When asked whether it's possible for a song to be too fast, Lambesis' response may be surprising.
"I think something is too fast when it's not aggressive anymore," Lambesis said. "Because then it's more about how many notes and beats per minute than actual riffs and the quality of the songwriting. I think being as fast as you could possibly be while maintaining good songwriting is the winner."
In examining today's metal scene, Lambesis believes many of the legends are benefiting from the renewed interest in the genre created by New Millennium-era bands. So no matter what tour you attend this summer, overall it's great news for the future of metal.
"Nu metal really scared away a lot of fans of what I think is a very genuine genre of music," Lambesis said. "And right now, metal and hardcore are reaching many fans out there but I don't know how much bigger it can reach beyond that."
He laughed and said, "But it's never going to reach soccer moms."