After my band played a show with Pittsburgh based metal band In The Wake, I was floored. With blistering guitars a thunderous rhythm section and vocals that make you turn your head and pay attention. Combining sounds of old school style thrash along with new (not nu) metal elements similar to bands like Killswitch Engage, this band is one to be reckoned with amongst the slew of bands that are out today. In between him working overtime as an EMT and being tired as hell, I got to sit down and have a chat with their lead vocalist Mark Craven.

1. Tell a little about yourself and what you guys sound like?

Well, we're In The Wake. We're all madly in love with one another and have all been friends no shorter then 10 years. I'm Mark [lead vocals] and am currently speaking on behalf of my brothers.

2. How did you guys get together, and decide on the name In The Wake?

We have all been playing music together for a long time. Dan[lead guitars], Leon{lead guitars/vocals] and myself have been playing together for around 10 years. I originally played guitar and Leon held it down on the drums. We finally brought in Argel to do the drums; because he was the sickest we've heard, ever! Ha-ha and Leon moved to guitars and I figured out how to scream. So in the summer of 2006 Dan, Leon, Argel and myself began writing together. We had written our first song, 'In Light", and our second, 'To be Heard'. Things were moving along but without a bass player. Our friend Andy was playing for another band but he wasn't really into the style they were playing. So we all got together and immediately it was right. We all just smiled when that chunk was added in there. And the name ultimately comes out of the fact that we were 'in the wake' of doing everything we've always wanted to do...always wanted to have a full band...and play songs and then of course play shows. It just felt right and fit what was going on.

3. How do you guys write your music? Where do you get inspiration for your lyrics from?

Well it usually starts with a 'cool' riff that goes through Dan and Leon. Argel lays some crazy beats down and Andy adds his 'chunk'. Once the song goes through everyone and we're all happy with the music, I figure out the rhythm for how I'll be singing certain parts. Once I know where high screams are needed and mids and lows then clean. That’s when the lyrics come. The inspiration for our lyrics comes out of the hope that there is hope. Always positive with a true outlook on life. Leon also helps with some of the lyrical aspect as he does with the actual singing.

4. You'll soon be releasing a digital EP on iTunes. How did that come about?

Yes, the iTunes thing. We're all pretty excited to see how it goes. The way it came about is a bit of a long story, but I'll spare all the details. A friend of ours does house restoration. The client's house he was working on owned the online digital distribution service that’s releasing our E.P, AMP Digital Media. While our friend was listening to some 'Hard Attack" on satellite radio, the man was interested to find out that he was into metal. They began talking and some of the first words from my friends mouth were "You gotta check out my friends, In The Wake." So Chris[Amp Digital Media], checked out our demo and came to a show. He was into it and decided to help us put out the digital E.P.

     

5. Where did you go to record it? And how was it?

We recorded at Studio 635 and with Marc Giuliani. It's located in Bridgeville, PA. But it will be changing locations so keep checking back. We recorded our first demo there and then the recordings for our E.P. And as always it was a great experience. We all really enjoy being in the studio and take it very seriously, while still acting like the crazy assholes that we are! Ha-ha

6. Looks like you’ve got a decent tour going on around the Pittsburgh area, tell us about your shows and what one can expect to see at an In The Wake show.

We didn't really plan on making a tour; a bunch of shows just kinda started popping up. And we're show whores so we always jump on anything we can. When you come to an In The Wake show you can expect, energy. We love writing music and we love working in the studio, but when we're on stage that’s where you see the explosion of it all. That’s where we truly love to be. You can always expect a good time at the shows and we're always hanging out with everyone, so never feel intimidated to approach any one of us. But as i said you can always expect to have yourself a good time at the shows. Especially with the bands we play with, from New Shores Burn to Hollowpoint to The Dream Intended. All great local bands that should be on some type of label that we're lucky enough to be friends with. Come and see for yourself!

7. What do you think has been your biggest accomplishment thus far?

Our biggest accomplishment has probably been some of the compilations we've made it on. From the "Support Our Troops" comp. distributed through Studio 635 to the "Project Independent" compilation that’s sold nationwide. But when we find out one or some of our songs have helped people through some things and we make new friends thats always what we care about most. We really just wanna hang out with everyone! ha-ha

8. What do you see in the future for In The Wake?

Ha-ha, just a future period. We hope to be able to do this for a long time, and we're confident that we will, just do to the immense support we receive from our friends and our families and our fans(who are also our family). In The Wake isn’t just 5 guys writing some songs...its a bunch of people having a bunch of fun ha-ha I don’t even care how cheesy that sounds! But we definitely hope and pray to be around for a long time!

9. Finally, Plug some local and underground bands you think deserve some recognition. Oh and don’t say New Shores Burn, they suck....ha-ha

ha-ha I already beat you to this question!! Anyway...The Dream Intended, Victims of Contagion, The Failsafe, Crown The Lost, Hollowpoint....and I think that’s it...yep...OH WAIT!!!!NEW SHORES BURN IS THE SHIT!!!!!

10. Thanks for your time, got any parting comments?

Go to local music shows!!! Pay attention to the local scene there are good bands out there, we're not one of them but we usually play with ones that are. Take care guys and I gotta go do lead singer stuff PEACE!!

In The Wake can be found online at http://www.myspace.com/inthewake819