| Eleventh He Reaches London | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Perth, Western Australia, Australia |
| Genres | Progressive rock, Post hardcore |
| Years active | 2002 – Present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Website | Official website |
| Members | |
| Ian Lenton Jayden Worts Jeremy Martin Mark Donaldson Luke Pollard |
|
| Past members | |
| Alex Lucas Brad Rowland Craig McElhinney |
|
Eleventh He Reaches London is a five-piece Post hardcore band formed in late 2002 in Perth, Western Australia.
The band's name comes from the story of Don Juan from Lord Byron. In the eleventh chapter, the protagonist reaches London.
"Collectively, we listen to a very diverse range of music, and I think our music reflects this. We all like many of the same artists, but each of us have quite different tastes. All of us enjoy listening to and creating music that is dramatic, and that creates a strong sense of mood," says guitarist Jeremy in an interview with X-Press Magazine. Of course, being eclectic music listeners and creators does push Eleventh outside of the more constrictive music scenes, but with great results for the band. "We don't fit neatly into any one scene within Perth, and we are more than happy about this. While some may see it as a disadvantage, for us it means we have the pleasure of performing alongside artists playing a diverse range of styles. Playing with the same bands and to the same crowd week in, week out tends to get tedious, and removes any element of surprise a gig may have. It removes the challenge of attempting to win over punters that haven't seen or heard you before."[1]
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Initially, the band started out in December 1999 as a quartet, with Ian Lenton (vocals/guitar), Jayden Worts (guitar), Mark Donaldson (drums) and Alex Lucas (bass), who were all seventeen at the time. In 2001 their song, "You Left Me At The Crossroads Like Val Kilmer In Willow" was released on the Left Of Centre 2 compilation under the moniker, Our Lasting Loss. The song was recorded with Allen Smith at Bergerk! Studios, and mixed and mastered by Rob Swire of Pendulum.
Shortly after this recording, Alex Lucas left the band and was replaced by Brad Rowland. In spring 2003, the band released their debut mini-EP, "Diving For Treacher" under the band's new name Eleventh He Reaches London. Allen Smith recorded, mixed and mastered the EP, which was received well across Australia, selling out within months and being widely praised for its raw honesty and aggression.
In late 2003, the line-up changed again with Craig McElhinney replacing Brad Rowland and the addition of Jeremy Martin, which introduced a third guitar to the group, adding a new dimension to their sound.
The band, then returned to the rehearsal room, perfecting songs for the recording of their debut album. While concentrating on their forthcoming release, Eleventh He Reaches London played alongside acts such as Against Me!, Shai Hulud and The Nation Blue. In October 2004, they completed a four show Melbourne tour.
In early 2005, the band returned to Bergerk! Studios with Allen Smith to record their debut full-length album.[2] During this period Eleventh He Reaches London performed at the WAMi Festival and RTRFM's 'In The Pines', as well as being the only main stage support act on the Perth leg of Taste Of Chaos, where they performed to a sold-out Robinson Pavilion with The Used, Killswitch Engage, Funeral for a Friend, Story of the Year and Rise Against.[3][4] After spending six months in the recording studio, with the album being mastered by Shaun O'Callaghan at Studio Couch. The album, The Good Fight For Harmony, was released on 14 December 2005. The Good Fight For Harmony reached the top of the local charts, almost selling out of its first pressing within a month and a half.[5] "Say You See Why So" receiving airplay on Triple J[6] and local radio.[7]
In 2006 Eleventh He Reaches London started writing for their next album, with the band have performing as part of the WAMi Festival.[8] 2006 also saw the band win their first WAMi Award (for 'Favourite Newcomer'), complete a short WA tour with Gyroscope , support Les Savy Fav, return to Melbourne to promote The Good Fight For Harmony, and also support Coheed and Cambria on their first Australian tour.[9][10] In 2007 they played support for Converge,[11] ISIS[12][13] and also Funeral for a Friend on the Perth leg of their respective Australian tours and won the second WAMi Award ('Best Hardcore/Punk Act').[14][15] The band were also recipients of a grant from the Department of Culure and Arts (WA) to assist in the production of their second album.[16]
In 2008, Eleventh He Reaches London released their first song (on-line), "For the Commonwealth and the Queen", from their yet to be released second album, Hollow be my Name.[17] In June that year bassist, Craig McElhinney, left the band to pursue a solo project and explore other musical interests. They then signed with Good Cop Bad Cop Records in July 2008, who re-released The Good Fight for Harmony on 16 August 2008.[18] As a result of delay in the band's second album due to line-up changes (with a February 2009 release date) their new record label released a 7" single, "Girt by Piss" on 25 October 2008. Also in October the band introduced its replacement for McElhinney, Luke Pollard, and undertook a national tour in support of the new single. The B side of the single "Hill of Grace" was also nominated for the 2008 WAM Song of the Year competition.[19]
The band's second album Hollow be my Name was released on 28 March 2009 on Good Cop Bad Cop Records. Thematically the album is dark and introspective.
It's about blaming anybody else other than yourself for your own misery. Themes like God, government and father, blaming them for your own problems. There's a definite story in the album. It's not all in order, it's a bit jumbled. It's not necessarily the same protagonist throughout the whole album, but the stories are definitely linked.—Jeremy Martin[20]