When frontman Craig Owens was let go from Chiodos, the Michigan based post-hardcore band he’d fronted since 2001, he was faced with an uncertain situation. Instead of dwelling on it, he turned that energy into the motivation to create a new project that would eclipse anything he’s done in the past. “Over the last twelve months I’ve done a lot of growing as a human being, as far as figuring out who I am,” he explains. “The idea for this band stemmed from the fact that I wanted to do this right; I wanted to make the biggest band I possibly could, and that’s exactly what I’ve done here.”
His new musical project D.R.U.G.S is an exciting new project alongside other musicians who have undergone similar experiences. “I wanted to put together all of my closest friends and the best musicians I possibly could, and begin a new project where we all could start fresh,” states Owens. To round out the band, he selected Underminded guitarist Nick Martin, From First To Last guitarist Matt Good, Matchbook Romance drummer Aaron Stern and Story Of The Year bassist Adam Russell. “You’re only as good as your weakest link, so I wanted to make sure everyone was just as driven as I was.”
Recorded with producer, friend and mentor John Feldmann, D.R.U.G.S’ debut is the most aggressive album Owens has made in his career, yet it still retains the keen sense of melody that has helped him become one of today’s most compelling frontmen. “It was so cathartic making this record because music is my form of therapy,” he emphasises. “I can’t wait to get out there and play these songs live because it’ll get all those feelings out”.
From the electro-tinged anthem ‘If You Think This Song Is About You, It Probably Is’ which alternates between melodic choruses and double-bass fuelled breakdowns to the metallically charged rockers like ‘Thermacare’, the album is teeming with creative sonic adventures that will undoubtedly satisfy Owens’ dedicated fanbase.
“These songs are so heavy that it’s disgusting. Vocally it’s melodic because as I grow older, I know I don’t want to be a thirty year old screaming… that’s just not who I am,” says Owens, adding that despite its electronic flourishes, D.R.U.G.S is more of a band than any project he’s ever previously played in. He’s also quick to clarify that despite the success of his various side-projects, such as Cinematic Sunrise and Isles & Glaciers, D.R.U.G.S is a full-time project for everyone involved. “This is the only band I’m in and I’ve quit everything else that I’ve worked on. Everyone’s wrapping up their past with their old bands and we’re going to move forward with this and not look back.”
Lyrically, D.R.U.G.S sees Owens at his most vulnerable. Instead of concentrating on wordplay as he’s done in the past, he tried to be as open and direct as possible. “I stripped away all the metaphors and fanciness here so there was more substance,” he states. “With this album and this band, I am being absolutely 100 percent honest; I’m not trying to outsmart or outwit anyone. It’s just a chronicle of what I’ve been through.” Owens stresses that the band’s title is also part of that same underlying theme. “People stereotype the name and react a certain way when they first hear it, but the actual name for me is more about the acronym; it’s about how your entire life can change in one day and you can destroy everything but you can also rebuild it.”
Ultimately Owens can’t wait to hit the road with D.R.U.G.S to bring the glory of his redemptive new creation to the masses. “One of the most important things that I’ve learned and taken to heart is that you have two choices in life when things happen, and that’s either sit and pout about it or get up and do something positive,” he concludes. “This band is proof that you can accomplish anything if you set your mind to it.”
Craig Owens' new band D.R.U.G.S (Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows) are
set to make their British live debut in March 2011. Dates are as follows:
March 2011
04 Manchester, Roadhouse
05 Leeds, Cockpit
06 Glasgow, Cathouse
07 Newcastle, Academy 2
08 Birmingham, Institute
09 Nottingham, Rock City
10 London, The Underworld
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