LIONS LIONS

For decades, "hardcore" and "post-hardcore" have become synonymous with dogma. For a scene that prides itself on protesting society's perceived ills (e.g. racism, vice, commercialism), it ironically embodies another of humanities least desirable traits: exclusivity. So it's quite refreshing when a band emerges from such a scene singing the tune of open-mindedness and inclusivity and living a life that embraces both. "It's important to us, as artists not to limit ourselves or our audience” states guitarist and founding member Brandon Davis. “Inspiration can be found where you'd least expect it.” LIONS LIONS has lived this mission statement from Day One and have spread their message through relentless touring, winning over fans one by one via their incendiary and acrobatic live show. Formed in 2008, when Davis left his band Vanna, the lineup that would become LIONS LIONS began to take shape. Fueled by a desire to create music of a different style, Davis reached out to a number of like-minded friends and artists and found that within this intimate circle – Jon Kay on bass, Isaac Vigil on guitar and Danny Poulin on vocals – he had found his band. A month into practicing, the band name was born. “Lions live together, hunt together, eat together – pretty much do everything together. Needless to say, that’s pretty much the way we are as friends, so when the word ‘lions’ was brought up, it just stuck.” LIONS LIONS had the good fortune of playing a sold-out bill for their first show and have rarely looked back, self- releasing their “Direction” EP and hitting the road for a slate of local and regional shows. Catching the eye of indie Panic Records, LIONS LIONS released From What We Believe in 2010 and took to the road the following year, touring the East Coast and then embarking on a full US tour. While in Reno, they met a guy named Joshua Herzer who would prove invaluable; when the band’s original singer Danny Poulin departed, Herzer tried out for the position and became a part of the pride. For LIONS LIONS’ debut release on Hollywood Waste Records To Carve Our Names, Shep Goodman and Aaron Accetta (Bayside, Forever The Sickest Kids, Get Scared) approached the band to produce. While To Carve Our Names retains the relentless pace of their previous releases (which includes 2011’s The Path We Take), it also takes time to breathe. "Shep and Aaron helped us become better songwriters,” states Davis adding. "They helped us focus on the songs and really zone in on what aspects make a great song.” Although the Goodman and Accetta polish is apparent with songs like “The Rights Steps,” “Grounded,” and “Our Colors,” longtime fans need not worry about the band losing its edge: “Stable As Stone” and “Carry On” feature some of the band’s heaviest riffs to date. “Our record has a little bit of everything. We've always been open to taking chances and exploring different genres so this album is no different,” states Davis. With To Carve Our Names in the can and the band out of the studio, LIONS LIONS goes back to what they do best: hit the road. The band has toured North America with fellow road warriors For Today and We Came As Romans and in 2011, they played Bamboozle and the Warped Tour. 2012 is already shaping up to be a banner year for the band on the road, with full US runs with both Sleeping With Sirens and Comeback Kid on the books, LIONS LIONS are prepared to work tirelessly to promote their new album and “carve their name” into the scene. "The title of the record is about making your mark. Whether you're an artist, grocery store clerk, lawyer, or gardener, it's important to leave an impression. Touring and recording music is our way of doing that.”