Eye Empire

Eye Empire
Origin Florida/Georgia/Ohio, U.S.
Genres Alternative metal, hard rock, post-grunge
Years active 2009 (2009)–present
Associated acts Dark New Day, Submersed, Switched, Violent Plan
Website www.eyeempire.com
Members
Corey Lowery
B.C. Kochmit
Donald Carpenter
Ryan Bennett
Past members
Dixie Duncan
Garrett Whitlock
Will Hunt

Eye Empire is an American rock supergroup, formed in 2009, consisting of former Dark New Day members Corey Lowery and B.C. Kochmit as well as Donald Carpenter formerly of Submersed. Garrett Whitlock, formerly of Submersed, and Dixie Duncan were Eye Empire's drummer and guitarist respectively from their formation until 2010. Drummer Will Hunt, Lowery and Kochmit's band mate in Dark New Day, joined the band in 2010 before departing in 2011, replaced by Ryan Bennett formerly of the Texas Hippie Coalition.

The band recorded their debut album entitled Moment of Impact in 2010 featuring contributions from Sevendust members Lajon Witherspoon and Morgan Rose. The album was given a limited release the same year, with a full release planned for 2011.

Contents

History

Formation (2008–2010)

Corey Lowery and B.C. Kochmit were members of the hard rock band Dark New Day.[1][2] Lowery formed the band with Brett Hestla, Troy McLawhorn, Will Hunt and his brother Clint Lowery, in 2005,[1] with Kochmit joining in 2008, replacing McLawhorn.[2] By 2009, Dark New Day were on hiatus with Lowery and Kochmit forming Violent Plan with singer Donnie Hamby and drummer Dan Richardson.[3] Despite recording a nine-song demo with Violent Plan,[3] Lowery and Kochmit worked on separate project, recruiting guitarist Dixie Duncan after writing new material.[4] After auditioning a number of singers, they added former Submersed singer Donald Carpenter to the band as well as former Submersed drummer Garrett Whitlock.[4]

The formation of Eye Empire, as well as the breakup of Violent Plan, was announced in November 2009[5][6][7] They posted their first demos, "Victim" and "More than Fate", on Myspace and played a number of shows supporting Sevendust in December and January 2010.[8][9][10]

Moment of Impact and Lineup changes (2010–present)

"With this record you will hear a variety of sounds and influences that contrast the talented members of this band. Prepare to open your mind and look deep into every track; there is something for everyone to discover."[11]

—Eye Empire on their new album.

Eye Empire uploaded a further two demos to their Myspace, "I Pray" in January and "Ignite" in February[12] before playing shows supporting Speed-X and Chevelle in March.[11] They began recording their album in May[13] and by June, had begun to edit and mix the album entitled Moment of Impact, hoping to release it by the end of the same month.[14][15][16][17]

Recording of the album continued, however, with Sevendust singer Lajon Witherspoon recording additional vocals on "Victim (of the System)"[18] while Sevendust drummer Morgan Rose recorded drums on the album following the departure of Whitlock, as well as Duncan.[4] By December, recording of the album was complete, with former Dark New Day drummer Will Hunt announced as Whitlock's replacement.[19][20] A limited number of 1000 copies, signed by the band, were made available the same month, with a full release planned for 2011.[19] In August, drummer Ryan Bennett, formerly of Texas Hippie Coalition, joined the band in place of Hunt[21] and it was announced that the band would be supporting Static-X vocalist/guitarist Wayne Static on his tour in support of Pighammer, taking place September 27-October 10, 2011.[22]

Band members

Former members

Discography

References

  1. ^ a b Loftus, Johnny. "Dard New Day Biography". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p703753/biography. Retrieved January 6, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b "DARK NEW DAY Announces New Guitarist". Blabbermouth.net. May 29, 2008. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=97987. 
  3. ^ a b "DARK NEW DAY, DOUBLE DRIVE, CRUMBSUCKERS Members Join Forces In VIOLENT PLAN". Blabbermouth.net. June 1, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=121101. 
  4. ^ a b c "SEVENDUST's MORGAN ROSE To Lay Down Drums On EYE EMPIRE Debut". Blabbermouth.net. September 15, 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=146129. 
  5. ^ "Former Submersed Vocalist Joins Dark New Day Members To Form Eye Empire". TuneLab. November 16, 2009. http://tunelab.com/2009/11/16/former-submersed-vocalist-joins-dark-new-day-members-to-form-eye-empire/. 
  6. ^ "VIOLENT PLAN Calls It Quits; New Band Launched". Blabbermouth.net. November 17, 2009. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=130560. 
  7. ^ Wippsson, Johan (November 18, 2009). "Submersed & Dark New Day Members To Form Eye Empire". Melodic.net. http://www.melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=14784. 
  8. ^ "Eye Empire Stream First Demo; Add Tour Dates". TuneLab. December 4, 2009. http://tunelab.com/2009/12/04/eye-empire-stream-first-demo-add-tour-dates/. 
  9. ^ Wippsson, Johan (December 5, 2009). "New Demo Up With Eye Empire". Melodic.net. http://www.melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=14908/. 
  10. ^ "Eye Empire Stream New Song "More Than Fate"". Rawk Pit. December 27, 2009. http://rawkpit.com/2009/12/27/eye-empire-stream-new-song-more-than-fate/. 
  11. ^ a b "EYE EMPIRE Schedules Georgia Dates". Blabbermouth.net. March 17, 2010. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.Net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=136918. 
  12. ^ "New Demo Posted!". Myspace. February 5, 2010. http://www.myspace.com/eyeempire/blog/528410378. 
  13. ^ Kochmit, B.C. (April 24, 2010). "Eye Empire To Record Full-Length Debut In May/June". Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/eyeempire/blog/533292561. 
  14. ^ Carpenter, Donald (June 1, 2010). "Eye Empire Recording Process Update". Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/eyeempire/blog/535217366. 
  15. ^ Carpenter, Donald (June 8, 2010). "Album Title Announcement". Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/eyeempire/blog/535531084. 
  16. ^ "Eye Empire Title Debut Album". TuneLab. June 8, 2010. http://tunelab.com/2010/06/08/eye-empire-title-debut-album/. 
  17. ^ Wippsson, Johan (June 9, 2010). "Eye Empire (Submersed, Dark New Day) Announce Title For New Album". Melodic.net. http://www.melodic.net/newsOne.asp?newsId=16224. 
  18. ^ (2010) Album notes for Moment of Impact by Eye Empire [liner notes].
  19. ^ a b Fisher, Jason (December 9, 2010). "EYE EMPIRE announce formation". The Gauntlet. http://www.thegauntlet.com/article/1225/20638/EYE-EMPIRE-announce-formation.html. 
  20. ^ Chamberlain, Rich (January 6, 2011). "Will Hunt on BLS, Evanescence and Eye Empire". Rhythm. MusicRadar. http://www.musicradar.com/rhythm/will-hunt-on-bls-evanescence-and-eye-empire-338891. 
  21. ^ Ramirez, Carlos (August 22, 2011). "Eye Empire Frontman Says His Major Label Days Prepared Him for Life as an Indie Artist". Noisecreep. AOL. http://www.noisecreep.com/2011/08/22/eye-empire-interview/. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 
  22. ^ Ramirez, Carlos (August 18, 2011). "Wayne Static To Embark On Fall Tour In Support Of New Solo Album". Icon vs. Icon. http://www.iconvsicon.com/2011/08/18/wayne-static-to-embark-on-fall-tour-in-support-of-new-solo-album/. Retrieved 2011-08-29. 

External links