Hawthorne Heights
Encyclopedia
Hawthorne Heights is an American rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...

 band from Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...

, formed in 2001. Their line-up currently consists of lead-singer and rhythm guitarist JT Woodruff, lead-guitarist and vocalist Micah Carli, bassist and backing vocalist Matt Ridenour, and drummer Eron Bucciarelli. On November 24, 2007, guitarist and unclean vocalist Casey Calvert died of accidental causes, leaving the band as a four-piece. The band, who were originally named A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life (band)
A Day in the Life was an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001. The band is now Hawthorne Heights.-History:They were formed by JT Woodruff, Jesse Blair, Andy Saunders, Josh Bethel, and Andy Lazier...

, have released three studio albums on Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

 since changing their name to Hawthorne Heights.

The band found success with both of their first two albums, their 2004 release, The Silence in Black and White
The Silence in Black and White
The Silence in Black and White is the debut studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released on June 1, 2004 through Victory Records. The album was the label's highest selling debut at the time of its release...

, and their 2006 album, If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely is the second album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. The album was released on February 28, 2006 through Victory Records. It is the second and final album to feature Casey Calvert because of his death on November 24, 2007. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album...

, both achieving Gold certification
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...

. Their second album additionally peaked at #1 on the Billboards Independent Albums
Independent Albums
The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...

 chart and #3 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

 charts. They are also well known for their 2006 single "Saying Sorry", which reached Gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...

 status and peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart. The band's third album, Fragile Future
Fragile Future
Fragile Future is the third full-length studio album by Hawthorne Heights. It was their final studio album released through Victory Records and was their first album to not feature guitarist and unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, due to his death in November 2007. The album features 12 tracks...

, was released on August 5, 2008, surprisingly through Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

 again, after a lengthy legal battle between the two parties.

Hawthorne Heights released their fourth studio album with Wind-up Records
Wind-Up Records
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...

 (who also represent popular acts such as Evanescence
Evanescence
Evanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...

, Creed
Creed (band)
Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...

 and Cartel
Cartel (band)
Cartel is a American pop rock band from Conyers, Georgia that formed in 2003. The band is best known for their single "Honestly", featured on their 2005 debut album Chroma, and for their 2007 appearance on MTV's Band in a Bubble....

) on June 1, 2010. The album's title is Skeletons
Skeletons (Hawthorne Heights album)
Skeletons is the fourth full-length studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released June 1, 2010. It is their first album to be released through Wind-up Records, and is also the first release since If Only You Were Lonely to employ screamed vocals, with guitarist Micah Carli adding...

, and it peaked at #50 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...

. The band's former label, Victory, released a Hawthorne Heights "greatest hits" album, entitled Midwesterners: The Hits
Midwesterners: The Hits
Midwesterners: The Hits is the first greatest hits album of songs composed by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released on November 9, 2010 through Victory Records, without contribution from the band...

, on November 9, 2010. Shortly afterward, Hawthorne Heights left Wind-up Records to begin their own record label, Cardboard Empire. Via this new label, the band will be releasing an EP trilogy, beginning with Hate
Hate (EP)
Hate is the first EP of a trilogy to be released by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released through the band's own record label, Cardboard Empire. Hate was released for digital download on August 23, 2011...

 released August 23, 2011.

Formation, The Silence in Black and White and If Only You Were Lonely (2001–2006)

Originally known as A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life (band)
A Day in the Life was an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001. The band is now Hawthorne Heights.-History:They were formed by JT Woodruff, Jesse Blair, Andy Saunders, Josh Bethel, and Andy Lazier...

, their first record was a demo entitled Four Bullets for One Girl. After one album (Nine Reasons to Say Goodbye), an EP, Paper Chromatography: The Fade from Dark to Light (which was later re-released as part of the compilation From Ohio With Love
From Ohio with Love
From Ohio with Love is a three-way-split album featuring songs from A Day in the Life , Hit the Lights, and The Red Affair .-Track listing:...

), and significant line-up changes, the band changed its name to Hawthorne Heights. On the DVD portion of The Silence in Black and White, drummer Eron Bucciarelli states that the band took their current name from the author Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne
Nathaniel Hawthorne was an American novelist and short story writer.Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in the city of Salem, Massachusetts to Nathaniel Hathorne and the former Elizabeth Clarke Manning. His ancestors include John Hathorne, a judge during the Salem Witch Trials...

. Vocalist and guitarist JT Woodruff is the only original member.

Their first album The Silence in Black and White, was recorded over a four week period, and was released in 2004. The album was slow to build sales at first; however, soon the video for the song "Ohio Is for Lovers
Ohio Is For Lovers
"Ohio Is for Lovers" is a song by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released as the debut single in 2004 from their debut full-length studio album, The Silence in Black and White. It was produced by Jay Orpin. According to lead vocalist JT Woodruff, the song is about going on tour whilst...

" began getting airplay on MTV, and the band enjoyed breakout success at radio as well as a growing nationwide fan base, and the album became Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

' highest selling debut. The Silence in Black and White peaked at number 56 on the Billboard charts. The singles "Niki FM" and "Silver Bullet" were released in 2005.

When their second album If Only You Were Lonely was released on Feb 28, 2006, it debuted at number 3 on the Billboard charts, powered by the lead single "Saying Sorry
Saying Sorry
"Saying Sorry" is a song by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released on May 22, 2006 as the debut single from their second studio album, If Only You Were Lonely. The song not only is the band's most successful track to date, but is also one of their most popular songs...

" which has received regular airplay on MTV, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...

 and Fuse. The Legion of Doom remixed a song from the album, entitled "Where Can I Stab Myself in the Ears?" and it appeared on the Underworld: Evolution Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. The remix was re-titled "Where Do I Stab Myself in the Ears".

The band performed on the 2006 Nintendo Fusion Tour
Nintendo Fusion Tour
Nintendo Fusion Tour is a touring rock music and video game festival sponsored by Nintendo, which began in 2003.Nintendo's Fusion Tour has provided early exposure for then-developing bands such as Evanescence, Story of the Year, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, Anberlin and Panic! at the Disco...

. A live CD/DVD was intended to be recorded from this tour, but was cancelled, likely due to complications with Victory.

Death of Casey Calvert (2007)

Casey Calvert, the band's lead guitarist, was found dead on the band's tour bus on November 24, 2007. The band had kicked off their U.S. tour just the day before in Detroit, Michigan. Toxicology and autopsy reports state Calvert died of combined drug intoxication
Combined drug intoxication
Combined drug intoxication , also known as multiple drug intake or lethal polydrug/polypharmacy intoxication, is an unnatural cause of human death...

. The official statement issued by the band says that Calvert died in his sleep and that his body was discovered before the band was to do a sound check prior to a show at the 9:30 Club
9:30 Club
Foo Fighters Promise to come back to D.C. and play the 9:30 ClubNightclub 9:30 is a nightclub and concert venue in Washington, D.C. Originally located at 930 F Street, NW, Washington, D.C., in the 1970s it was called the "Atlantis Club", and hosted primarily rock, New Wave, and punk bands...

 in Washington, DC. The band was devastated. They spent a few days mourning, reflecting, and writing a song about the incident. The song eventually became "Four Become One" on their album Fragile Future
Fragile Future
Fragile Future is the third full-length studio album by Hawthorne Heights. It was their final studio album released through Victory Records and was their first album to not feature guitarist and unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, due to his death in November 2007. The album features 12 tracks...

. They also dedicated another song to Calvert called "Sugar in the Engine". In the end of the song, JT Woodruff can be heard speaking of Calvert.

According to the results of an autopsy performed by the office of the chief medical examiner in Washington, D.C, and released in December 2007, Calvert's death was accidental. Dr. John Mendelson, a pharmacologist at the California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, told MTV News that "Cases like Calvert's are so rare that they're almost nonexistent. It's so rare that you can't even put a number on it," and that "It's exceedingly rare that 26-year-olds die of anything medical. This kind of death is one in several million." Both citalopram (also known by the brand name Celexa) and clonazepam (also known by the brand names Klonopin and Rivotril) are prescription drugs, the former an antidepressant and the latter used to treat seizure disorders and panic attacks.

Drummer Eron Bucciarelli issued the following statement:

From the time of the incident we suspected a possible drug interaction as the cause. Casey wrestled with depression for as long as we knew him. He saw numerous doctors and took an ever-changing array of medicines to get better. He finally had his depression under control. According to the toxicology report, the cause of death was due to a fatal interaction between depression meds, anxiety meds and an opiate. Opiates being mentioned along with the term 'substance abuse', coupled with 'rockstar' stereotypes immediately conjure up images of hard drug use and addiction, which simply couldn't be further from the truth in Casey's instance. What the toxicology report doesn't show is that prior to us leaving for tour, Casey had a root canal, and was prescribed Vicodin (an opiate) for the pain. Once again, Casey was not involved in anything illegal nor was he a substance abuser.



JT Woodruff has stated that "We won't add another guitar player or add another screamer", and that "In our albums, it'll always say 'Casey Calvert: guitar/vocals.'" Bucciarelli stated in another interview that, "We don't need another screamer...If the fans want screaming, they can provide it themselves."

Fragile Future and Rhapsody Originals (2008–2009)

Hawthorne Heights released a demo for their new song "Come Back Home" on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....

 page in 2007. A reprised version of the song became one of the twelve tracks that were selected for the band's third studio album
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...

. A second song was released on their Myspace, a cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...

 of the Smashing Pumpkins song "Bullet with Butterfly Wings
Bullet with Butterfly Wings
"Bullet with Butterfly Wings" is a song by American alternative rock band The Smashing Pumpkins. It was the lead single from the band's 1995 double album Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. The song won the 1997 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance. This song was the band's first Top 40...

", which was contributed to MySpace Tribute to The Smashing Pumpkins. This cover song, however, did not become a track on the album.

Hawthorne Heights and Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

 patched up their relationship and the band's third album, Fragile Future
Fragile Future
Fragile Future is the third full-length studio album by Hawthorne Heights. It was their final studio album released through Victory Records and was their first album to not feature guitarist and unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, due to his death in November 2007. The album features 12 tracks...

, was released with the label on August 5, 2008. Jeff Schneeweis produced the album. The lead single "Rescue Me" was released on July 22, 2008. Hawthorne Heights played "Rescue Me" live as special guests on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954. It is the longest currently running regularly scheduled entertainment program in the United States, and the third longest-running show on NBC, after Meet the Press and Today.The Tonight Show has been hosted by...

 with Jay Leno
Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...

 as host after the album's full release, on September 18, 2010, as promotion for Fragile Future.

Rhapsody Originals was released exclusively for Rhapsody
Rhapsody (online music service)
Rhapsody is an online music store subscription service, launched in December 2001, and available in the United States only. On April 6, 2010, Rhapsody officially declared its independence from RealNetworks. Downloaded files come with restrictions on their use, enforced by Helix, Rhapsody's version...

 as the first EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...

 by Hawthorne Heights on August 26, 2008. It was recorded by Rhapsody, and released as promotion for the studio album Fragile Future. It contains three live acoustic songs from Fragile Future, and one from their second studio album, If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely is the second album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. The album was released on February 28, 2006 through Victory Records. It is the second and final album to feature Casey Calvert because of his death on November 24, 2007. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album...

.

Hawthorne Heights performed at Linkin Park's
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...

 Projekt Revolution 2008
Projekt Revolution
Projekt Revolution is a music festival hosted by Linkin Park, bringing artists of various genres of music together. Linkin Park started Projekt Revolution in the year 2002 with just one stage...

 tour this year on the Revolution Stage with former labelmates Atreyu
Atreyu (band)
Atreyu is an American rock band from Orange County, California, formed in 1998. The band consists of vocalist/lyricist Alex Varkatzas, guitarists Dan Jacobs and Travis Miguel, bassist Marc McKnight and drummer/vocalist Brandon Saller...

, Armor For Sleep
Armor for Sleep
Armor for Sleep was an American rock band from New Jersey, formed in 2001 and disbanded in 2009. The final lineup consisted of lead vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Ben Jorgensen, lead guitarist PJ DeCicco, bassist Anthony DiIonno and drummer Nash Breen....

, Street Drum Corps
Street Drum Corps
Street Drum Corps is a punk rock percussion band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2004 by Bobby Alt, of S.T.U.N. and Faculty X, Adam Alt, of Circus Minor, and Frank Zummo, of TheStart. To date the group have released two albums and have been part of tours such as Van's Warped Tour, Taste of...

, and 10 Years
10 Years
10 Years is an American alternative metal band, formed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1999.-Early Years, Into the Half Moon :10 Years was initially formed in Knoxville, Tennessee in 1999 with singer Mike Underdown, drummer Brian Vodinh, bassist Lewis Cosby, and guitarists Ryan "Tater" Johnson and Matt...

. Joining Linkin Park on the Main Stage was Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell
Chris Cornell is an American rock musician best known as the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Soundgarden and as the former lead vocalist for Audioslave. He is also known for his numerous solo works and soundtrack contributions since 1998...

, The Bravery
The Bravery
The Bravery is an American rock band from New York City that consists of Sam Endicott , Michael Zakarin , John Conway , Mike Hindert , and Anthony Burulcich...

, Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...

, and Ashes Divide
Ashes Divide
Ashes Divide is an American rock band formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel, who had also formed A Perfect Circle. Howerdel is the primary songwriter, musician, producer, and vocalist for the band....

.

Skeletons and Midwesterners: The Hits (2009–2011)

Hawthorne Heights posted a blog through their MySpace profile stating that they had officially been signed to Wind-up Records
Wind-Up Records
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...

, and had been writing and recording for a new record. The band revealed that while there is not a new member of the band and no replacement was made for Hawthorne Heights former unclean vocalist, Casey Calvert, the new album would feature a new "screamer". While on tour, Hawthorne Heights announced that Micah Carli would now be providing unclean vocals for the band.

As the album was being recorded, lead singer JT Woodruff and drummer Eron Bucciarelli named two songs from the record on several occasions, leading many to believe that they would be released as singles. Acoustic versions of the two songs were also said to have been recorded. The songs are entitled "Here I Am" and "Nervous Breakdown". "Nervous Breakdown" did become the first single from the album on March 23, 2010. On October 2, 2009, both Woodruff and Buicarelli posted updates on their Twitter pages saying that they had just finished gang vocals for the record. Woodruff stated "Just finished up doing gang vocals on a few songs. Return to hardcore!"

On October 14, an e-mail was sent out to the official mailing list telling fans that the new album would be titled Skeletons
Skeletons (Hawthorne Heights album)
Skeletons is the fourth full-length studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released June 1, 2010. It is their first album to be released through Wind-up Records, and is also the first release since If Only You Were Lonely to employ screamed vocals, with guitarist Micah Carli adding...

 and would be released in early 2010. The e-mail stated:


"Lots of big HH news for you today folks!

For starters, we will release our new album, titled Skeletons, in early 2010! Secondly, as you should know already, we're kicking off Never Sleep Again '09 with Just Surrender
Just Surrender
Just Surrender was a rock band from Dover Plains, New York, formerly known as A Second Chance. Just Surrender was formed by three high school friends Jason Maffucci, Andrew Meunier, and Steve Miller. Vocalist/guitarist Dan Simons, formerly of "The Record Collection," joined the original three...

, Monty Are I
Monty Are I
Monty Are I is an American rock band from Cranston, Rhode Island. Monty Are I is titled after the band instructor, Arthur Montanaro. The "Are I" portion of the name is a pun on "RI", Rhode Island's postal abbreviation.-History and Achievements:Monty Are I won Takeover Records' "Sign My Band"...

, Punchline
Punchline (band)
Punchline is an American rock band from Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, that formed in 1998. The band released released their sixth full-length album Delightfully Pleased on August 10, 2010 on their own label, Modern Short Stories, and TDR Records....

, Anarbor
Anarbor
Anarbor is an American alternative rock band from Phoenix, Arizona that was formed in 2003. The band is composed of lead vocalist and bassist Slade Echeverria, guitarists Adam Juwig and Mike Kitlas, and drummer Greg Garrity. Initially known as "Troop 101", the band later changed their name to...

, and Nightbeast on November 2! Get your tickets here and get them today because we will be giving away a limited amount of collectible download cards at each show which include one of our new songs, "Unforgivable" along with some other goodies.

This is your first chance to hear some of our new music, so make sure you get your tickets early and get to the shows early, because once they're gone, you'll have to wait until the album comes out! We'll see you this Fall!"

Not all of the bands mentioned, however, ended up joining Hawthorne Heights for the 2009 Never Sleep Again tour.
As promised, download cards for the song "Unforgivable" were distributed while on tour. In addition, a song entitled "End of the Underground" has been performed live.

After the Never Sleep Again 2009 tour, frontman JT began performing several solo acoustic shows with songs he had written outside of Hawthorne Heights.

The track listing for the album was announced on February 5, 2010. Skeletons was released on June 1, 2010. According to JT Woodruff's February SayNow voice message (also uploaded on the band's Twitter), Micah Carli plays ukulele
Ukulele
The ukulele, ; from ; it is a subset of the guitar family of instruments, generally with four nylon or gut strings or four courses of strings....

, mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...

, and various other "weird instruments" in the lute
Lute
Lute can refer generally to any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back, or more specifically to an instrument from the family of European lutes....

 family for many of the bonus tracks on Skeletons.

Victory Records announced the release date for their "best of
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...

" compilation of Hawthorne Heights songs, entitled Midwesterners: The Hits
Midwesterners: The Hits
Midwesterners: The Hits is the first greatest hits album of songs composed by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released on November 9, 2010 through Victory Records, without contribution from the band...

. The album was released on November 9, 2010, and contains 16 songs taken from the band's first three Victory Records' studio albums.

Cardboard Empire and EP trilogy (2011–present)

In July 2011, Hawthorne Heights parted ways with Wind-up Records
Wind-Up Records
Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...

 and created their own record label, Cardboard Empire. The band will be self-releasing a trilogy of EPs, beginning with Hate
Hate (EP)
Hate is the first EP of a trilogy to be released by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released through the band's own record label, Cardboard Empire. Hate was released for digital download on August 23, 2011...

, released August 23, 2011. Each EP will be released within four or five months of the prior release. Between releases the band will embark on various North American tours.

On August 11, 2011, the album art and track listing for Hate was revealed. The next day the band premiered one of the EP's tracks, "Four White Walls". The EP leaked onto the internet on August 21, 2011. Hawthorne Heights plans to release a music video for each track from Hate, the first for the song "Is This What You Wanted?".

Musical style and classification

The band has been referred to as hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...

 and screamo
Screamo
Screamo, though used loosely to generally describe music that features screamed vocals, is actually a musical subgenre of hardcore punk which predominantly evolved from emo, among other genres, in the early 1990s...

 due to their harder guitar riffs and occasional use of unclean vocals. Additionally, the band has been called emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...

 and pop punk
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...

 because of calm melodies and pop-like rhythm present in their music. The band is often described as post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...

 because this genre encompasses a wide range of musical styles, making it a general enough term to be applied to Hawthorne Heights' diverse style. Likewise, Hawthorne Heights' albums have been tagged as alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...

 by retailers (such as iTunes).

Eron Bucciarelli, the band's drummer, noted that the band's sound has "always been pigeon holed as emo or screamo". In the same interview he stated, however, that the band prefers to be referred to simply as "a rock band". Regardless, ever since being known as A Day in the Life
A Day in the Life (band)
A Day in the Life was an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001. The band is now Hawthorne Heights.-History:They were formed by JT Woodruff, Jesse Blair, Andy Saunders, Josh Bethel, and Andy Lazier...

, the band has been categorized as emo. This is primarily due to the emotional topics found in the lyrics of prominent Hawthorne Heights songs (such as "Ohio Is for Lovers
Ohio Is For Lovers
"Ohio Is for Lovers" is a song by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released as the debut single in 2004 from their debut full-length studio album, The Silence in Black and White. It was produced by Jay Orpin. According to lead vocalist JT Woodruff, the song is about going on tour whilst...

", and "The Transition"). In addition, their songs fit the stylistic definitions of emo music.

While commenting on the band's first album, The Silence in Black and White
The Silence in Black and White
The Silence in Black and White is the debut studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released on June 1, 2004 through Victory Records. The album was the label's highest selling debut at the time of its release...

, Eron said that the "triple guitar attack" allows them to "add a lot of layering effects and intricacies to our music along with legitimately pulling in different musical styles." The album also includes feminine backing vocals provided by band member Micah Carli's sister, Graci Carli. This gave many of the songs a broader emotional spectrum not limited by gender.

Hawthorne Heights began to be recognized as melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...

 due to the release of If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely is the second album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. The album was released on February 28, 2006 through Victory Records. It is the second and final album to feature Casey Calvert because of his death on November 24, 2007. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album...

. After "softening their lyrical stance, incorporating melancholy keyboards and adding upbeat melodies that were a perfect counterbalance to their screaming backup chants" their unique sound became more recognized.

Even after the death of one of the guitarists, the band continued to allow its sound to evolve. With the release of Fragile Future
Fragile Future
Fragile Future is the third full-length studio album by Hawthorne Heights. It was their final studio album released through Victory Records and was their first album to not feature guitarist and unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, due to his death in November 2007. The album features 12 tracks...

, the band continued to elaborate on the pop style they were already recognized for. Although no unclean vocals are used, the album "carries on their tradition of simple hooks and big pop-punk choruses." The songs from the album tread on "familiar power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...

 territory" also.

Their fourth album, Skeletons
Skeletons (Hawthorne Heights album)
Skeletons is the fourth full-length studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released June 1, 2010. It is their first album to be released through Wind-up Records, and is also the first release since If Only You Were Lonely to employ screamed vocals, with guitarist Micah Carli adding...

, stylistically reverts to "music similar to their first two albums", yet contains less unclean vocals and is much softer. The album, however, "refuses to stomp over old ground" by incorporating "electro" and "pop punk" elements into a few of the tracks. The album also "broke new ground by adding a unique electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...

 sound." In addition, various other musical styles are incorporated into Skeletons. The acclaimed blues rock track, "Gravestones," opens with "uncharacteristic western acoustics, and then delves into a more fascinating chorus, leaving the wild wild west sound and replacing it with pianos and ethereal presence."

After forming their own record label, Hawthorne Heights made plans to release a trilogy of EPs. The first of the trilogy, Hate
Hate (EP)
Hate is the first EP of a trilogy to be released by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released through the band's own record label, Cardboard Empire. Hate was released for digital download on August 23, 2011...

, lyrically deals with feelings of hate, anger, and solitude. According to Woodruff, Hate features more "aggressive songs" that are "a lot heavier than anything we've ever done." The EP has been compared to other screamo albums, such as releases by Senses Fail
Senses Fail
Senses Fail is an American post-hardcore band from Ridgewood, New Jersey. Formed in 2002, the line up initially consisted of vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki and being completed by bassist Mike Glita. The band quickly issued their debut EP, From...

. Screamed vocals and breakdowns are prominent features throughout the album, reflecting the musical style of the band's first two albums. One review states "this aggressive side, dormant for the past few years, has finally boiled over all at once."

Incident with Ne-Yo

In February 2006, as the band was readying the release of If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely
If Only You Were Lonely is the second album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. The album was released on February 28, 2006 through Victory Records. It is the second and final album to feature Casey Calvert because of his death on November 24, 2007. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album...

, Victory Records issued two statements to fans through the band's mailing lists as well as their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....

 profile, stating that "ROCK music needs your support" and that "the #1 slot that belongs to us." They also pleaded with fans to go into chain stores and make sure Hawthorne Heights CDs are in stock and to sabotage the sales count of Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...

's record In My Own Words
In My Own Words
- Chart positions :- External links :* at Discogs* at Metacritic* at The Washington Post...

, which was being released the same day. The statement said:
They ended their rallying cry by quoting Winston Churchill: "Victory at all costs, Victory in spite of all terror, Victory however long and hard the road may be; for without Victory, there is no survival."
Later, group members claimed that the statements were issued by their record label, Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

, without their consent.
On August 7, 2006, the band announced they would be leaving Victory Records
Victory Records
Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

, and sued the label for breach of contract
Breach of contract
Breach of contract is a legal cause of action in which a binding agreement or bargained-for exchange is not honored by one or more of the parties to the contract by non-performance or interference with the other party's performance....

, copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...

 and trademark infringement
Trademark infringement
Trademark infringement is a violation of the exclusive rights attaching to a trademark without the authorization of the trademark owner or any licensees...

, fraud
Fraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...

 and abuse
Legal abuse
Legal abuse refers to abuses associated with both civil and criminal legal action. Abuse can originate from nearly any part of the legal system, including frivolous and vexatious litigants, abuses by law enforcement, incompetent, careless or corrupt attorneys and misconduct from the judiciary...

.
Victory Records then countersued for breach of contract and libel in September 2006.
In October 2006, a Chicago judge dismissed two of the three main claims in the band's suit, ruling that the trademark and copyright violation allegations were unsound.
On March 5, 2007 a federal judge in Chicago ruled that Victory Records does not hold exclusive rights for the band's recording services and that the band can record for any label. Specifically, the Judge stated: "The agreement contains no exclusivity provision, nor does any of its language appear to prevent [the band] from recording elsewhere during the life of the agreement".
The judge later reaffirmed this ruling on May 17, 2007, stating that Hawthorne Heights is still contractually bound to deliver two albums to Victory, but may record albums which are released elsewhere.

Wild Justice Records lawsuit

On October 16, 2007, Wild Justice Records sued Hawthorne Heights for breach of a verbal contract, stemming from a dispute over the management company's share of the band's revenues.

Members

For line-up changes that occurred before the band became known as Hawthorne Heights, see A Day in the Life (band)
A Day in the Life (band)
A Day in the Life was an American rock band formed in Dayton, Ohio, in 2001. The band is now Hawthorne Heights.-History:They were formed by JT Woodruff, Jesse Blair, Andy Saunders, Josh Bethel, and Andy Lazier...

.

Current
  • Eron Bucciarelli – drums (since 2001)
  • Micah Carli – lead guitar (since 2001), unclean vocals (since 2009)
  • JT Woodruff – lead vocals, rhythm guitar (since 2001)
  • Matt Ridenour – bass guitar, backing vocals (since 2003)


Former
  • Casey Calvert – guitars, unclean vocals (2002–2007)


Contributors
  • Mark McMillon (of The Story Changes) – rhythm guitar (During the 2009 Never Sleep Again tour and European Co-Headline tour with The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus)
  • Grace Carli – backing vocals (During the recording of The Silence in Black and White)

Discography

Studio albums
  • The Silence in Black and White
    The Silence in Black and White
    The Silence in Black and White is the debut studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. It was released on June 1, 2004 through Victory Records. The album was the label's highest selling debut at the time of its release...

     - June 1, 2004 (Victory Records
    Victory Records
    Victory Records is a Chicago-based record label founded by Tony Brummel. It is a privately held corporation. It also operates a music publishing company called "Another Victory, Inc." and is the distributor of several smaller independent record labels....

    )
  • If Only You Were Lonely
    If Only You Were Lonely
    If Only You Were Lonely is the second album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights. The album was released on February 28, 2006 through Victory Records. It is the second and final album to feature Casey Calvert because of his death on November 24, 2007. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album...

     - February 28, 2006 (Victory Records)
  • Fragile Future
    Fragile Future
    Fragile Future is the third full-length studio album by Hawthorne Heights. It was their final studio album released through Victory Records and was their first album to not feature guitarist and unclean vocalist Casey Calvert, due to his death in November 2007. The album features 12 tracks...

     - August 5, 2008 (Victory Records)
  • Skeletons
    Skeletons (Hawthorne Heights album)
    Skeletons is the fourth full-length studio album by American rock band Hawthorne Heights, released June 1, 2010. It is their first album to be released through Wind-up Records, and is also the first release since If Only You Were Lonely to employ screamed vocals, with guitarist Micah Carli adding...

     - June 1, 2010 (Wind-up Records
    Wind-Up Records
    Wind-up Entertainment, Inc. is a record label based in New York City. It was formed in 1997 by Alan Meltzer, former owner of CD One Stop, following his 1996 purchase of Grass Records. Wind-up is currently the largest independently-owned record label in the world...

    )

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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