From Ashes to New arose from the blue collar work ethic of Lancaster, Pennsylvania with a new hybrid sound and delivery conjoining rock and rap, laced with infectious energy and melodious hooks. There have been many stories of bands using their bleak, desolate atmospheres and surrounding skylines as inspiration for impassioned, enraged epic tunes. Bands turning lyrics and song ideas from lonely walks down cracked streets, thinking of future dreams into templates for creating music that will set them free and be heard by millions. From Ashes to New are at the beginning forefront of a new success story brought by members ready and willing to play the paved road ahead.
They have earned their stripes playing a mind-melding sound built by an old school work ethic in the face of click screen social media. They ‘are’ in their terrible two’s, but the screaming and yelling is done on stage. Vocalist, rhythm guitarists, programmer Matt Brandyberry birthed the project, bringing it forward, attracting fellow serious minds. As the extra excess of former bands fell away, the fat was cut leaving the dually inclined minority. Sharing a familiarity with each other through old bands helped to. So when FATN came to be, they knew they had brought together a group vision.
For Brandyberry, FATN represents a creative blood-letting of his younger years listening to Tupac and Biggie in the Philadelphia hip hop scene. The metal bug finally bit years later with Sevendust, inspiring healthy guitar playing and piano pounding.
FATN molded their sound, composing emotional anthems letting the frustration and anger out. After all, there’s nothing wrong with some therapeutic loud venting. When speeding rap, joins metalcore breaching through topics of real life, crappy relationships, dead end jobs, professional misery and uncertain futures, shit’s gonna hit the wall anyway.
FATN is music by normal guys from normal places telling life stories without the LA shine or the badass New York street cred. Not to mention a just completed US tour running through 25 dates all over the states opening for In This Moment, Papa Roach and Five Finger Death Punch. With two EP’s of material and the early 2016 release of debut record Day One to play from, it’s enough to give any new band a healthy, hard, trial by fire bitch slap to draw blood demanding their best every night.
The new video “Through It All” has a rap, hip hop influence along with rock and metal. Where did the different influences come from?
Vocalist Chris Musser: “Matt brought in the rap and hip hop. I’m more into Alice in Chains, Pantera and Glassjaw.”
The video for “Through It All” has some social media commentary on relationships.
“That was the director’s idea for the videos. It’s saying you’re not alone and we’re always here for our fans.”
Is the band name a metaphor for previous work done in other bands and dues paid?
“The name came from a previous band of me and Matt’s that never went anywhere. All the other bands fell apart and this one came together.”
How many bands have you been in?
“Four bands, five started. The first band was Jacobs Ladder, we played around Pennsylvania. The bands lasted a year or two then fell apart. I was almost done with music then Matt came up to me with this band and I’m glad he did.”
What do you attribute the band’s early success to?
“We were just local and tried to make money, than the fans got a hold of it.”
Were Papa Roach, Linkin Park big influences growing up?
“We grew up on them. I listened to Motograter in a band before this one.”
You’re touring with In This Moment, Papa Roach and Five Finger Death Punch. How do you jell with that package?
“So far, so good. It’s great to hang out with everybody and have a good time. Crowds have been amazing, being the opening band sometimes is tough but we couldn’t have asked for a better time.”
What would you say to people that don’t like the rap/rock sound. How would you win them over?
“Win them over with the live show, have them come out. Listen to the lyrical content. There’s always something to take away that. There’s something for everyone in the songs.”
Any crazy road stories of survival yet?
“We’ve been pretty calm. We’ve had football throwing contests into trashcans and tire throwing contests. It’s been pretty low key.”
No major rock star debauchery yet?
“No, I mean we’ve been so busy with interviews and trying to find places to shower, doing the bottled water over head thing. Luckily we can go to gyms to get showers. It’s do what you can do.”
Any great fan stories about your music?
“We have a lot of amazing fans with amazing stories about getting them through hard times. A couple times the crowd got pretty intense and someone tried to rip the shirt off me.”
Are there plans to tour internationally?
“Just coast to coast so far, some sold out dates, but great energy for all shows. There are lots of things in the works for 2016 and the future.
Is the road to success easier for younger bands now with social media being huge?
“Social media is huge, talking to people, spreading the word as much as you can. I like to get my face out of my phone, sometimes but I gotta do what I gotta do.”
From Ashes to New just finished their US run with Five Finger Death Punch. To Pre-order their upcoming debut Day One out February 2016 and for the latest news and tour dates go to www.fromashestonew.com.
Ryan Hensel
FATN for life!!!!!!! Love you guys