Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of Grade, Zyon, and New Day Rising, the Black Maria present their new album, Lead Us To Reason. While each member of the band has a long history of success in music, the Black Maria has nothing to do with those stories. Rather, it is a group vision, evolving in the process of invention, and it is a story all its own. With evocative lyrics and a gorgeous, layered musical framework, their music defies category, walking the razor edge of genre toward their own precise statement.
Forming in 2002, the band began writing and playing, polishing early demos and letting inspiration take its course. They named the band after the notorious police vans of the early 20th Century. Their first show was in Toronto in 2003, with Piebald and Cave In and the band has played constantly since then, sharing stages with Queens Of The Stone Age, MxPx, The Distillers, and Ted Leo & the Pharmacists.
The songwriting process has been a steady evolution since the band began. "To me, a song is never finished, it always takes a new direction every time it is performed," says guitarist Kyle Bishop. "Recording the songs captured what we were feeling at that moment."
Lyrically, the album exudes passionate emotions, with anger and disillusionment at center stage. "I have always been an emotional writer," explains vocalist Chris Gray, "I have never been scared to wear my heart on my sleeve. But I also love incorporating visual imagery into our songs."
Bishop invited Victory Records owner Tony Brummel to see the band in 2004. Shortly afterward, the Black Maria – also featuring Mike De Eyre (bass, keyboards), Alan Nacinovic (guitar), and Derek Petrella (drums) -- signed with the label and started plans for recording. "Finding the correct producer for any project is always difficult," Bishop recalled. "Our manager threw Mike Green on the table. He was young, had great focus, good clarity in his mixing and sound. He really convinced me of the value of pre-production." Green is best known for his work with Yellowcard and the Matches.
The Black Maria prove their versatility on the album, with delicate piano and harmonized vocals framing some of the harshest narrative on "The Lines We Cross." "Betrayal" comes up swinging with anthemic choruses and tough guitar hooks offset by a dark, foreboding rhythm section and a tremolo-packed layer of guitar noise. "The Memento" enters on an eerie note with a wavering organ that drops abruptly into space, supplanted by aggressive guitars, a wicked bass line, and truly bitter lyrics.
With complex, unique music, incredible packaging becomes essential. Bishop called in Matt Mahurin, a fine artist and video maker who has worked with Tom Waits, Metallica, REM, U2, and Lou Reed, to create the artwork. "I discovered him when I was in art school and he inspired me beyond the realms of imagination," Kyle says. "I asked our manager if he could track him down and he called me during one of our photo shoots. I almost sh-t a brick. He loved the music, and liked my ideas, so Matt did the artwork in between showing his new film."
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