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AUDIO
KARATE (l-r):
Gabe Camacho - Drums
Jason Camacho - Guitar
Art Barrios - Vocals, Guitar
Justo Gonzalez - Bass, Vocals
If
one word could describe the last two years of Audio
Karate, that word would likely be "evolution."
Since the release of their debut album Space
Camp in May 2001, they've become a full-fledged touring
act, with two trips around the world on their collective passport,
not to mention their many US ventures. They've encountered
the struggles that come from juggling personal relationships
with life on the road. Despite dealing with the many exhaustive
elements that most touring bands face, this band has managed
to remain a step ahead of the game and churn out quality music
without losing ground with their fans and peers.
After
all their experiences over the last two years, the result
is a snapshot of this moment in time in the form of Lady
Melody, their second album, to be released June 1st
on Kung Fu Records. Produced by Descendents/All drummer (and
production mastermind) Bill Stevenson, "Lady Melody"
is a bold step out of the land of typical 4/4 pop-punk into
the challenging and rarely treaded territory of daring rhythms
and new-style guitar riffs. This group of accomplished musicians
has raised the bar, avoiding the standard repetition of three
or four chords, and replacing them with aggressive, complex
and relentless melodies and tones, whisking you away into
what should be the chorus, but is likely something else. Think
of a catchy version of Radiohead's hit single "Paranoid
Android," and you'll be on the right track.
This new
form of punk rock is a far cry from the overplayed, generic
so-called "punk" polluting the airwaves today. Fans
are getting younger and smarter by the day, and they're desperately
seeking something new. While Audio
Karate might not top the TRL charts anytime soon,
they will fill a void left open by their influences many years
ago. Any jaded fan of music will find it easy to get behind
this band and their no-B.S. attitude. They may not sport the
mohawks and studded jackets, but the mentality and pure punk/DIY
ethos is there.
Formed
by four childhood friends from Rosemead, CA with a fond passion
of 80's skate-punk and 70's medieval metal (guitarist Jason
Camacho cites Randy Rhoads as his ONLY influence), Audio
Karate serve their music much like their favorite
local Mexican food joint: properly prepared over time (in
this case, two years), and mixed with all the right ingredients
(faith, women, life on the road, et.al.), you get the perfect
meal in the end, leaving you full, yet somehow still wanting
more.
Audio
Karate will grace the 2004 Warped Tour with their
presence, just in time for some serious touring in the following
year. They've been on the road with heavy-hitters such as
The Ataris, Social Distortion, The Vandals, Tsunami Bomb and
many others. They also are pioneers in Warped Tour's initial
trek to Japan, pulling in one of the largest crowds during
their set, showing some of the major-label acts how satisfying
a die-hard international audience can be.
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