Album Notes

Wither is a struggle against the dark realizations that seemed to come more and more the further we move away from our childhoods. It was the way in which it's members delt with the typical tendency to become obsessed with life's negativity. They found a certain pride in their sorrow and the will to create something musical that came with it, and when it was okay to be sad, happiness was possible. Wither is a band, a brotherhood, a shared desire to create something extra-ordinary through music. Years of evolution, experimentation and soul searching has led these 5 musicians to a sound that takes progressive rock and metal power and combines it with striking melodies and a gothic edge. It draws inspiration from such varied bands as A Perfect Circle, Evanescence, Type O Negative, Dead Can Dance, My Dying Bride, The Cure, Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden, but burns with a passion all its own.

Wither sticks out, refreshingly different in the modern world of heavy music. While many bands in this genre put the focus on intensity or aggression, Wither focuses on delivering strong melodic vocals and profound lyrics framed by music that has hook, power, elegance and beauty. While it may not seem such a revolutionary idea, in the testosterone driven world of metal, elegance, to say nothing of beauty are rarely pursued so actively. Can metal be something more than its tendency, and often self proclaimed goal of pounding the listener into submission or out the door? Can a metal band possess a certain classiness? From a willingness to leave their distortion behind when the moment calls for it, to their tasteful and sparing use of guitar solos, and lyrics nearly devoid of profanity and degradation, Wither is proving it, show by show, and on their newest release, "Breakthrough".

"Breakthrough" is the realization of a vastly different approach that gave birth to this band and its unmistakable sound. Many of Withers songs possess a purposed simplicity which allow the dual vocals of brothers Keith and Jeff Edelman to take center stage. This willingness to keep things simple (or sensitive) for the sake of the music has made them accessible to many who normally avoid metal or hard rock. At the same time, their habit for experimentation, progressive song structures, and the gothic imagery the band brings to stage have attracted the interest of those with a taste for something left of the norm.