There is something to be said about how life can inspire you in so many different ways.  In the culture I live in, we are inspired by the improbable and the underdog and that come from behind victory.  We are inspired by movies like Rocky and sports history such as the Miracle On Ice hockey story.  Such is the case with the band From Ashes To New as they are keeping their eyes on the windshield with their latest offering entitled “The Future”, which is being released via Better Noise Records.

From Ashes To New is composed of Matt Brandyberry on vocals/keyboards/programming, Danny Case on vocals, Lance Dowdle on guitar, and Mat Madiro on drums.  Matt Brandyberry, the mastermind behind From Ashes To New, tells a quite interesting story, he lost his band members after signing to Better Noise Records, and he picked up Lance Dowdle from Emphatic to add some dynamics to the guitars.  After successfully recruiting Mat Madiro on drums and Danny Case on vocals, From Ashes To New pushed forward with Grant McFarland(August Burns Red) and Grant Slovak helped out along  with Josh Wilbur(Korn, Lamb Of God) doing the mixing.  This is what happens when the phoenix rises from the ashes and what happens when you get up for the eighth time after falling down seven times.

“The Future” will grow on you with each listen.  Honestly, I have never listened to From Ashes To New until I was invited to review this album so I’m looking at this band from a completely fresh lens.  After examining this album, I am FEELING what they are writing about.  The music is empowering to those that choose to rise up from the challenges and obstacles of life instead of wallowing in their own self-pity, as it is in the song “On My Own”.  In this song, I appreciate the vocal tradeoffs between Case and Brandyberry, and the programming is done nicely.  In this genre, the programming should offer a nice blend or backdrop into the music instead of sounding obnoxious in which some bands fall into that trap, instead From Ashes To New makes it work!

The song “Enemy” is definitely the repeated listener of the album.  In this, the ambiance of the programming of the keyboards and the guitars of Dowdle sound especially profound as he is the driving force behind this song.  The chorus soars and it’s one of those songs where you tug at your chest while singing along to the words because you’re FEELING what From Ashes To New is singing about.  The beat and rhythm in the second verse builds like a snowball evolving into an avalanche.  From Ashes To New, if you’re reading to this, release this as a single! Pronto!

Overall, the diversity of this album in the song structures, the emotions behind the lyrics, and just that feelgood comeback story that From Ashes To New provides will make them a resounding success in the rock game!  Just a resounding wonderful effort from the boys in From Ashes To New as Madness To Creation rates this a 9 out of 10 stars.

Check out the track listing below.

  1.  Wake Up
  2.  Crazy
  3.  My Name
  4.  Gone Forever
  5.  Broken
  6.  Forgotten
  7.  Enemy
  8.  Nowhere To Run
  9.  Let Go
  10.  On My Own
  11.  The Future

From Ashes To New will be touring with Bad Wolves and Diamante on the upcoming summer tour!  Check out tour dates below.  In May, they are touring with Shaman’s Harvest.

Friday, May 4th- Capone’s in Johnson City, Tennessee

Saturday, May 5th- Carolina Rebellion in Concord, North Carolina

Sunday, May 6th- Ricochet in Jackson, Tennessee

Tuesday, May 8th- The Firmanent GVL in Greenville, South Carolina

Wednesday, May 9th- The Warehouse in Clarksville, Tennessee

Saturday, May 12th- Northern Invasion in Somerset, Wisconsin

Tuesday, May 15th- The Forge in Joliet, Illinois

Friday, May 18th- Mainstage in Morgantown, West Virginia

Saturday, May 19th- Rock On The Range in Columbus, Ohio

Sunday, May 20th- The Stage at Karma in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Monday, June 4th- The Annex in Madison, Wisconsin

Wednesday, June 6th- Varsity Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Thursday, June 7th- Bottom Lounge in Chicago, Illinois

Friday, June 8th- The Machine Shop in Flint, Michigan

Saturday, June 9th- Piere’s in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Monday, June 11th- The Basement in Columbus, Ohio

Tuesday, June 12th- The Westcott Theatre in Syracuse, New York

Wednesday, June 13th- Aura in Portland, Maine

Saturday, June 16th- Baltimore Soundstage in Baltimore, Maryland

Monday, June 18th- Chameleon Club in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Tuesday, June 19th- Gramercy Theatre in New York, New York

Friday, June 22nd- The NorVa in Norfolk, Virginia

Saturday, June 23rd- The Tarheel in Jacksonville, North Carolina

Tuesday, June 26th- Soul Kitchen in Mobile, Alabama

Wednesday, June 27th- Sidetracks Music Hall in Huntsville, Alabama

Thursday, June 28th- The Metroplex in Little Rock, Arkansas

Friday, June 29th- Diamond Ballroom in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Sunday, July 1st- XR Downtown in Amarillo, Texas

Monday, July 2nd- Jake’s Sports Cafe in Lubbock, Texas

Thursday, July 5th- Gothic Theatre in Englewood, Colorado

Friday, July 6th- Sunshine Studios Live in Colorado Springs, Colorado

For tickets and further information on any of the shows listed above, click here!

Fans can find From Ashes To New at the following locations:

www.facebook.com/FromAshesToNew

 

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