17 bands you probably didn't realize started in 2008
[Photo by: Set It Off/YouTube, Asking Alexandria/YouTube, The Downtown Fiction/YouTube]
It’s hard to think that 2008 was already an entire decade ago. It was the year that brought us Twilight, the Fred YouTube channel and a slew of rising musical talent in the alternative scene. So we’re taking a trip down memory lane to recall some of the beginnings of our favorite bands’ groundbreaking careers.
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ASKING ALEXANDRIA
Originally started in 2006 by guitarist Ben Bruce in Dubai, Bruce realized he would not gain international success and moved back home to Nottingham, England, to reassemble the band two years later. Now, after a long, tough period of not speaking with the other members, original vocalist Danny Worsnop is back, and the band have just released their self-titled sixth album.
Latest video: “Into The Fire”
FUN.
After the split of his former band the Format, vocalist Nate Ruess went on to form Fun. with his fellow touring buddies. Years down the line, the New York indie-rock act announced they were going on hiatus in 2015. Ruess debuted his solo album, Grand Romantic, that same year, and he is best known for his collaboration with pop singer P!nk on her song “Just Give Me A Reason.”
Latest video: “Why Am I The One”
GET SCARED
Assembled by members of four different bands the previous year, Get Scared released their first-ever EP, Cheap Tricks And Theatrics, in 2009. They opened for I See Stars on their Light In The Cave tour in 2016 and performed in Mexico and Japan. Nowadays, they’ve been in the studio writing and recording for their upcoming fourth studio album.
Latest video: “R.I.P.”
THE WORD ALIVE
Beginning as the side project of Escape The Fate’s Craig Mabbitt, the band later recruited Tyler “Telle” Smith as their new vocalist and began recording shortly after. In August, bassist Daniel Shapiro announced his departure, and he was replaced with Ryan Daminson. They supported I Prevail on their Rage On The Stage tour along with We Came As Romans and Escape The Fate.
Latest video: “Trapped”
TONIGHT ALIVE
Frontwoman Jenna McDougall officially joined Tonight Alive the day before her 16th birthday, making us feel really old when we look at how far they’ve come since. Earlier this year, they signed with Hopeless Records and UNFD and recorded their upcoming album Underworld in Thailand, despite parting ways with guitarist Whakaio Taahi.
Latest video: “Crack My Heart”
AMARANTHE
The power metal act, originally named Avalanche but changed due to legal issues, formed in 2008 in Gothenburg, Sweden after a photo shoot for their Leave Everything Behind demo. Earlier this year, founding vocalist Jake E left to form a new project, and the band has recruited Nils Molin of Dynazty as his replacement. They just announced a European tour for fall 2018.
Latest video: “Maximize”
HANDS LIKE HOUSES
Hands Like Houses were formed from members of two bands, So Long Safety and Eternal Debut. Soon after their formation, the Aussie act traveled to Chango Studios to record their debut album, Ground Dweller, with producer Cameron Mizell. This year, the band signed to Hopeless Records, while continuing their partnership with Australian label UNFD.
Latest video: “Drift”
BAND OF SKULLS
Initially, this British rock act met in college and started out playing nightclubs in the Greater London area under the moniker Fleeing New York before changing their name in 2008. Earlier this year, founding member Matt Hayward announced his departure. Since then, the band was featured on a compilation album put out by record label Sotones in January 2017.
Latest video: “Black Magic”
THE DOWNTOWN FICTION
With a name inspired by cult-classic Pulp Fiction, the band started out posting their demos on mid-2000s social media polestar, Myspace. The band’s biggest hit, “I Just Wanna Run,” has since reached Gold RIAA status. Their latest video stars actress Matilda Lutz, and guitarist and lead singer Cameron Leahy has recently been putting out his own solo material.
Latest video: “Hepburn Shades”
SET IT OFF
Founding members Cody Carson and Dan Clermont met in their high school marching band, and soon after Carson’s dream of starting a rock band was realized after joining All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth in singing “Coffee Shop Soundtrack” at a Cleveland show. The band released their third album, Upside Down, last year, doubling their first week sales from their previous album, Duality.
Latest video: “Hypnotized”
Read more: Asking Alexandria self-titled track-by-track: The stories behind each song
FIT FOR RIVALS
When vocalist Renee Phoenix was looking for a guitarist for her former band the Explicits, she decided to just start an entirely new project. The band released their sophomore album, Freak Machine, in 2016 and their latest music video for “Novocain” reached more than three million views on YouTube.
Latest video: “Novocain”
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY
The New Jersey deathcore band did not waste any time recording more music after the release of their first demo in 2008, putting out a follow-up EP and full-length in a span of three years. Their fourth studio album, The Great Collapse, dropped earlier this year in March, and the band have just wrapped up a North American tour with fellow metal acts Arch Enemy, Trivium and While She Sleeps.
Latest video: “Black Mammoth”
The South Carolina shoegaze act initially formed as a melodic hardcore band in 2008, as heard on their debut album When Will We Surrender. This year, they released their fourth studio album, RARE, and are currently finishing up their headlining tour with opening acts Spotlights, Tennis System and Gleemer.
Latest video: “Shy Vein”
DON BROCO
Beginning as Don Loco until guitarist Simon Delaney broke his wrist (hence “Broco”), the members met in high school before deciding to become a band while attending University of Nottingham in 2008. Now, the pop-rock act are gearing up for the release of their third album, Technology, in February 2018, and recently played their biggest show to date to a sold-out crowd at London’s Alexandra Palace.
Latest video: “Technology”
The fact that the band’s name began as a joke referencing the state’s once-highest death rate is equal parts amusing and iconic. The Texas metalcore act scored a record deal with InVogue Records in late 2015, releasing d their fourth album the following year. They expect to head out on a brief southern U.S. tour with opening acts Light The Fire and the Leader The Legend in January 2018.
Latest video: “Dying Light”
JOYCE MANOR
Joyce Manor initially formed after vocalist Barry Johnson and guitarist Chase Knobbe spent some time drinking in the Disneyland parking lot. Copping their name from an apartment building by Johnson’s house, they signed with Epitaph Records in 2014 and received a lot of attention for their stance on stage diving. Their latest album, Cody, was released two years later.
Latest video: “Eighteen”
IT LIES WITHIN
Since the band’s formation in 2008, It Lies Within have toured relentlessly, developing d a solid fan base over the years. Last year, their sophomore album Paramount ranked at No. 7 on the Billboard Heatseekers and No. 11 on the Hard Rock Album Charts. They are currently headlining the Fear No Evil Tour Pt. 2 with their friends in My Heart To Fear.
Latest video: “Trust In Yourself”
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