Anodize

There are at least two bands with the name Anodize: 1) A Rock/Post-Thrash/Groove Metal band from Hong Kong. Formed in 1989, disbanded in 2000. 2) An Electronica/Progressive Rock band from Miami, FL, United States: Any given moment is immersed in possibilities, the majority of which we never see, or even consider. Anodize intends to change all that. “Perception is divine,” says 26-year-old Vito Lastayo, frontman for the group. “Our message is a plea, a foreshadowing; a sense of urgency and follow through. We believe there are infinite ways of looking at a situation, and thus infinite notions of reality.” The reality is that their first release, Signs of You (available in the U.S. November 25th), is a fusion of the primitive, liquid guts of rock and the mechanical elements of electronica, drum & bass, and breakbeat. Eloquently co-existing with this musicscape, Vito's dulcet tones manage to consistently maintain their jurisdiction, while embarking the listener on a journey into the present. With all four members hailing from different parts of the Western Hemisphere, their amalgam of influences comes as no surprise. Guitarist Chris Arriagada explains, “The details of how we came together are not extraordinary, but something simple like that is always especially interesting under the surface. The fact that we came together at all is amazing in itself. We all share a common belief that we control our own destiny. This is the glue that keeps us together.” Nowhere is Anodize's cohesion more apparent than during their live show. The band ignites and moves as one, a powerful tidal wave of emotion. However, achieving a unified sound is not easy when you consider the intricacy of their music. Layers of keyboards and guitars are cemented by a seamless mix of electronic rhythms and loud, in-your-face acoustic drums. Keyboardist Mike Arellini's pitch-perfect harmonies punctuate Vito's already engaging vocal melodies. It would seem that replicating such a thick sound would require vast amounts of equipment and support from a manned crew. But Anodize pulls it off with no assistance, human or electronic. They refuse to use sequencers. “I used to have to play to a click live while a backing sequence did its thing, but that's so stale. It makes it easy to keep time, but I like having the freedom to stretch parts, or drive the guys where I think the song should go,” says drummer Deryl Leon. “It allows us to transmit an enormous amount of our own energy to the audience.” Always aiming to open minds, the band chose to bring in Omar Cuellar, who fronts the shoegaze band Francis7, as co-producer of Signs Of You. The result: intense and epic music with a definite nod to mainstream sensibilities. Mike comments, “Our songs tend to be multidimensional and august because they don't deal with simple themes. They're about experiencing the infinite fullness of a moment.” From the blistering and dramatic expansion which opens “Get it Right” to the fading waves of “Martyr,” Signs of You grabs on and doesn't let up. “Tuesday,” the first single off the album, is also the featured music video on the enhanced CD. “Shooting this video was probably the most tiring thing we've had to do so far,” says Chris, “It was definitely the longest weekend of my life, but well worth it.” “All Alarms” carries through on the theme of the album, one of impending changes, but visible signs of freewill: “I'm going eastbound, right to the dark. I won't chase the sun down, I'll head for dawn.” The music for “Get It Right” was written by Deryl and Mike over two years prior to Signs of You. Writing the lyrics and vocal melodies for this song was Vito's audition. As Mike recalls, “He nailed it right from the start. I could see the smiles on the other guy's faces when we heard it, saying to me 'He's the one.' To this day, that song is a perfect show opener. It's high-energy definitely motivates us and the crowd.” The album closer, “Martyr,” is the first part of a narrative which will be brought to fruition on their next album. It is also the first song Anodize worked on together from scratch. Vito describes the process: “It's like seeing an idea in your mind develop unto perfection. It was the first time we truly combined our collective musical ideas.” Your chance to experience the rush is coming soon, whether by the album's creative craftsmanship or the band's intense live performances. Anodize will be breaking borders and flooding a mind near you on their upcoming multi-national tour. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.