Album Notes

Brink of Something Beautiful hails from Miami, Florida, where they formed in November of 2005. The five member metalcore/post hardcore group incorporates different elements into their music, ranging from hardcore and metal to contemporary jazz and classical influences. They currently play various venues and are booking a summer tour. Brink of Something Beautiful is just getting started to make their mark on the hardcore music scene.

Tony Martinez, Dana Salminen, Tim Stimpson, Karl Fagerstrom, and Brandon Mayer are the musicians behind Brink of Something Beautiful. An interesting mix of backgrounds, ranging from Florida and the Northeast to Seattle and Indonesia, the band was formed when Tim met Tony and Karl. From there Dana and finally Brandon were recruited after their original vocalist Benjamin Vipler left the band in October of 2006.

The name “Brink of Something Beautiful” was originally conceived by Benjamin and holds strong ties to many of the band’s lyrics. It centers on a theme of self-discovery and growth and relates to many of the outside influences the band relies on when writing their music.

The members of Brink of Something Beautiful all have strong musical backgrounds. They all played in bands prior to forming Brink and with the exception of one member, have all been formally trained in their instruments and in music theory. Dana has also had the honor of playing at Carnegie Hall multiple times. To add to the prestige of the group, Karl has won a plethora of awards for both drums and the trumpet, such as All-Northwest Jazz Band Drummer 2005 and the Berklee College of Music Scholarship in 2004. Their training is apparent in their performance, with their energy and precision being unmatched.

Their talent is also evident in their writing. “In Memory of Dana” continues with their theme of self discovery. The song revolves around a character that is constantly collapsing under pressure by what is around him, while emphasizing how important it is not to surrender who you are and to fight for your identity. “Where’s James Bond When You Need Him” is a social commentary on the complacency of this generation. The song uses heavy symbolism, such as fire, suggesting it can only take one person to serve as an example for others. Both of these songs are examples of how Brink of Something Beautiful is not just another hardcore band, but a passionate combination of musicians who are doing what they love.

Their first album “The Doctrine of Ethos” was released in March 2008. Their debut showcases a mixture of influences, from hardcore and mathcore bands. Influences for this album include The Dillinger, Escape Plan, The Black Dahlia Murder and others Brink of Something Beautiful utilizes mathematics in their instrumentation, which stems from their engineering backgrounds. Many of their lyrics have been inspired by vocalist Tony Martinez’s personal experiences and surroundings.

Tony has been quoted saying, “Our only goal is to make music that everybody can listen to and find honesty in – maybe too much honesty – something that can speak to them.” Brink of Something Beautiful has a passion that is clear in their music and lyrics. Whether on stage or in the studio the band never misses a beat and unmistakably reaches their fans while staying true to their music. Brink of Something Beautiful has only just begun on the road to success.