For better or for worse, Hawthorne Heights has always been identified as a screaming band. The truth is, the band members never intended for that to be the case.
"We sort of ran out of time and the producer sort of lost interest in the project, so we would throw [screaming] parts out there with the hope that the producer would say, ‘alright, cool, that works,'" said Eron Bucciarelli, drummer for the band.
It wasn't until a legal battle with Victory Records, the death of a band member, and a new contract with Wind-Up Records that the band was able start playing the music it loved.
"We were riding high for a while to the point that we got a little arrogant with ourselves and wanted to sue our label and pursue other greener pastures," Bucciarelli said. "Then, obviously, the passing of our guitar player was another huge blow."
After a two year hiatus, Hawthorne Heights inevitably pressed on. Then, in 2009, the band announced Wind-Up Records as its new label.
"I think [Wind-Up] is one of the only labels out there that gets it ... if the songs aren't good, nobody's going to buy it, nobody's going to care."
Bucciarelli said Wind-Up was very accommodating for the band's needs. The guys spent a weekend in a cabin in Southern Ohio to reflect and write songs. After, Wind-Up flew them into New York to record until everyone could agree that the album sounded right. Thus, Skeletons was created.
| Hawthorne Heights wsg The Audition and Rotation The Intersection, Grand Rapids July 1, 6:30 p.m. $11 (Each ticket comes with a copy of Skeletons at the door) sectionlive.com, (616) 451-8232 |
"Lyrically, it definitely touches close to home and deals directly with all the issues we've gone through as a band over the last three or four years."
The band's issues are clear in songs such as "Boy" and "Bring You Back," as both songs explore very sensitive subjects of pasts as a band and as individuals.
Fans will also notice more diversity in Hawthorne Height's style with Skeletons. Bucciarelli said that they wanted to show they're not just a rock band.
"We don't just listen to punk and hardcore and metal, we also listen to The Beatles and The Beach Boys."
Skeletons is in stores now and with its release comes the hopes of a steady and humble future at Wind-Up Records for both the band and its fans.
