PureVolume

Members: Lance Jackman, Sean Bivins, Anthony Sarti, Ben Conger

EIGHTFOURSEVEN REDEFINE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC. On their latest EP Silent Raid, they blend swirling electronic textures with a distorted guitar crunch for a sonic concoction thats hypnotic, chilling and poignant. Tracks like Automaton and I Left My Chainsaw in San Francisco pull listeners in with big rock hooks, blanketed in warm synth ambience. Anthony Sartis programming and bass create a futuristic pop feel that heightens the power of Sean Bivins wall of guitars and Ben Congers masterful drums. However, Lance Jackmans voice soars above everything, delivering each chorus with a tangible urgency. Ultimately, Eightfourseven crafts epic songs that defy any barriers.

The band burst onto the Sacramento scene in 2002 with their Everlasting EP, followed up by their first full-length The Allegiance in 2004. However, Silent Raid represents a complete evolution beyond those first two offerings. Lance delves into the creative process behind the new music. We decided to just start writing what we wanted, without any outside influence whatsoever. Thats the path were taking right now. We like rock music, and we like electronic music, but our tastes run the entire gamut. We want to include touches of everything. Because of that, the songs begin with a basic melody, but they end up sounding much bigger. Cuts like Monsters of Metropolis forge memorable hooks within those ethereal soundscapes, making for an entrancing listen.

The band worked with producer Eric Stenman (Tinfed) on Silent Raid, and the results are simply transcendent. In addition to the new EP, Eightfourseven recorded Phantom Limb with producer Shaun Lopez (Deftones, Will Haven, Revolution Smile), who also produced Everlasting. Shaun Lopez taught us how to structure songs and get tones in the beginning. Eric Stenman helped out with balancing the electronic and rock elements. We learn a lot from everyone that we work with. That expertise has rubbed off on the band and shines through on their latest tracks.

Live, each element of the music comes to lifefrom the riffs to the electronics. Having played shows with everyone from Dredg and The Start to Revolution Smile and A Static Lullaby, Eightfourseven have honed their set into an all-encompassing experience. Lance continues, Its paramount to me that we can pull all of these songs off live. We spend a lot of time making sure all of the layers come through when were in front of a crowd. We want to make sure we get the point across. From the second the band hits the stage, the audience instantly grasps the music and stays transfixed for the entire ride.

Ultimately, Eightfoursevens power comes from their devotion to creating naturally. We dont give ourselves any boundaries. We write whatever we feel like. I write lyrics that people have to think about. We want to challenge listeners. From the music to the words, there is an enigmatic quality that separates these artists. However, in the end, emotion remains central. We want to bring a feeling across. Its easy to tell people how you feel or to tell a story, but its harder to make them feel something. I want people to feel some kind of connection to us. Once listeners delve into Silent Raid, theres no doubt a long lasting bond with Eightfourseven will be forged. Rick Florino