FORGIVEN RIVAL

Artist Information

Biography

Anchored in the aggression of bands like Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying while channelling the pop sensibility of Story of the Year and Cartel, Australia’s Forgiven Rival are quickly gaining momentum and drawing the attention of international audiences, sharing the stage with UnderOath, Story Of The Year, Escape The Fate, Haste The Day, Blessed by a Broken Heart, The Audition, Parkway Drive, Silverstein, Project 86, Sights and Sounds, Boys Night Out, MxPx, I Killed The Prom Queen, The Getaway Plan, and more.

In 2006, Forgiven Rival independently released their debut EP ‘The Symphony of Words’ before signing to Australian label, El Shaddai Records. 2008 saw the successful Australian/Japanese release of their Debut Album ‘This is a War’ which was followed by the release of the first film-clip ‘Like The Effects of the Wind’. In the following months, the band inked a deal with Cartel Music Management and picked up endorsement deals with Zildjian, Roulette Custom Drums, Vic Firth, ESP, Hughes & Kettner and Dean Markley. Their music appeared on a number of Extreme Sports films including Extreme Velocity, Adaptions Encore, and Freesurf DVD. With constant touring, charity events, festival appearances and heavy media/radio attention, Forgiven Rival carved their mark on the Australian music scene.

In mid 2008 the band received an invitation to perform at Canadian Music Week in Toronto alongside The Holly Springs Disaster and Sights and Sounds. On return to Australia in late March, Forgiven Rival began pre-production for the next album. A sit down meeting with Australia’s foremost booking and touring agency, Premier Artists, resulted in the band teaming up with this iconic agency to continue the bands spiralling growth in Australia. In early June 2009, Forgiven Rival introduced Andrew Hennesy as their new bassist, freeing up frontman Joel Thornton, taking the live show to exciting new levels.

Shortly after, Rearranged Freestyle Productions approached Forgiven Rival with a request to appear on their forthcoming FMX DVD. The DVD - showcasing riders Bilko, Cam Sinclair, Carey Hart, Robbie Adelberg, Schuie, Robbie Maddisson, Matt McFerran, Steve Mini, and Robbie Marshall - features tracks ‘The Grey’ and ‘We are all Soldiers’.

In September, the band announced the departure of guitarist Adrian Brown, who was heading back to Canada. He rocked out in typical fashion on a national tour with Haste The Day and Shadows Chasing Ghosts to mark his goodbye.

In November, the band entered Complex Studios to record two new singles for release in the US and Australia (through El Shaddai Records) in 2010. In the same month, behind closed doors, Forgiven Rival inked a deal with US label, Indianola Records, credited for uncovering and releasing bands including Evergreen Terrace, A Day to Remember, Across Five Aprils, and Casey Jones. Forgiven Rival are proud to be the first non-US band ever to be released through Indianola.

Shortly thereafter, Forgiven Rival spotted the uncanny talents and manly moustache of Lee Omond while he played at an all ages Freeza event. After an invitation to audition, a few laughs and a live trial, it was unanimous: Lee Omond had won himself a permanent position on the stage alongside Forgiven Rival, and four became five.

With their future in their hands, Forgiven Rival, are geared up to record the new album with Roman Koester at Complex Studios and get back on the road at both home and abroad. Keep watching – it’s gonna get brutal.

Forgiven Rival are distributed world wide (Excluding US) by Stomp.

Forgiven Rival are endorsed by:

ESP Guitars
Zildjian
Dean Markley
Vic Firth
Hughes + Kettner
Roulette Custom Drums

Instrumentation

Peter Fabrizio - Guitar/Backing Vocals
Joel Thornton - Lead Vocals
Simeon Dux - Drums
Andrew Henessy - Bass
Lee Omond - Guitar/Backing Vocals

Discography

Self Titled Demo 2005 (Australia)
"The Symphony of Words" EP 2006 (Australia)
Debut Album "This Is A War" 2008 (Australia/Japan)
"This Is A War" Re-Release 2010 (USA)

All Australian booking enquiries, please contact:
Randall Nolan @ Premier Artists Records:
randall@premierartists.com.au

All Australian label enquiries, please contact:
Philip Kennedy @ El Shaddai Records:
pkennedy@elshaddairecords.net

US label enquiries, please contact:
Matt Shelton @ Indianola Records
matt@indianolarecords.com

All other enquiries, please contact:
Raelene @ Cartel Music:
cartelmusic@optusnet.com.au
Ph: +61(0)401227308

Official Website

http://www.myspace.com/forgivenrival

Links

• MySpace
• Twitter

Audio

• The Grey
  Listen  
• You Kiss You Mumma With That Mouth?
  Listen  
• The Classic Crime
  Listen  
• Life Behind The Lies
  Listen  

Lyrics

• the grey
• Life Behind The Lies

Video

Like The Effects Of The Wind

Photo Gallery

Press

• US "This Is A War" Review, June 17, 2010 [+ Show ]
  

  Forgiven Rival released their debut full-length album ‘This Is A War’ two years ago in their native ...Forgiven Rival released their debut full-length album ‘This Is A War’ two years ago in their native country of Australia. However, we here in the United States have only gotten the album earlier this month. These guys are a mix of hardcore and metalcore and, while what they play isn’t exactly original, they songs have some clever twists in them. So, let’s see how our brothers from down under fare after the jump.
  
  The album starts off with ‘The Grey’, a track that showcases how the band use harmonized vocals as well as guitar harmonies very typical to this genre. It’s a very rhythmic track, complete with low-string chugging matched with pounding double bass drums. ‘The Grey’ is a good example of what is to come, though not the best choice. Perhaps another song from later on in the album would’ve been able to demonstrate the mixture of metalcore and the influence of ‘radio-prog’.
  
  The production on this album is very solid. The drums have a solid thump, especially the kick drum (wow!) and the cymbals have a nice presence to them. The guitars are very crunchy yet articulate and the bass is a great low end presence. The vocals are mixed very well considering that there are three singers AND there has to be a balance between clean and growled vocals. When present, acoustic instruments have rich, full tones that do not sound emulated or faked. The album also makes good use of panning and extra effects to spice up the tracks.
  
  
  The songs have a great flow to them and make sense when transitioning. Listening to the music, I hear the influences Killswitch Engage but I also hear a bit of 10 Years in the vocal styles and in some of the guitar chord changes. If either of these bands is to your liking, I highly recommend checking this album out. It truly wouldn’t surprise me if, very soon, Forgiven Rival gets the same recognition and respect as Killswitch Engage.
  
  4 out of 5 skulls

• Blistering.com Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  Over the last three years, Melbourne based melodic/metallic post-hardcore Forgiven Rival have been c...Over the last three years, Melbourne based melodic/metallic post-hardcore Forgiven Rival have been creating their own buzz in the underground through their two independently released E.P.’s (2005’s self titled effort and 2006’s The Symphony Of Words) and their performances onstage alongside bigger names such as Parkway Drive, Silverstein, Carpathian, Boys Night Out and Behind Crimson Eyes.
  
  Now backed by up-and-coming local label El Shaddia Records (Whose only other signing is House Vs Hurricane) and returning with their debut full-length effort This Is A War, Forgiven Rival are ready to show the rest of the world what their made of.The band (Who comprises of vocalist/bassist Joel Thornton, guitarists/backing vocalists Adrian Brown and Peter Fabrizio and drummer Simeon Dux) certainly put their best foot forward with the opening track “Life Behind The Lies.” The big heavy hardcore breakdowns and metallic edge to their sound ensures that the band have plenty of power behind them, while the melodic choruses showcase the commercial appeal within the band’s song writing.
  
  The single “The Request” is easily one of the catchiest songs on the album with flourishes of catchy hard rock heard in amongst the odd line of screaming and heavy guitar work, with tracks such as “In Case Of Ignorance,” “Like The Effects Of The Wind” and “Time Is Taking Over” seemingly all cut from the same cloth in terms of direction.
  
  Altering the flow of the album a little more towards the emo-rock side of things are some of the slower tracks, with “Through My Eyes,” “Is Anybody Listening” and “This Is Your Song” the definite stand-outs, while on the short instrumental “Reflections” the band expose their given musical talents.
  
  This Is A War is a well-rounded and likeable release, and one that’s sure to attract more than a few listeners in the band’s direction.

• Blunt Magazine Album Review
  

  “This Is A War is a blueprint for modern Australian, accessible music.” - Blunt Magazine

• Adelaide Advertiser Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  “Heavy with melody and aggression, the debut by Melbourne four-piece Forgiven Rival is nothing sh...“Heavy with melody and aggression, the debut by Melbourne four-piece Forgiven Rival
  
  is nothing short of first class.”
  
  - The Adelaide Advertiser
  

• This is Killer Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  “… nothing short of a pleasant surprise. The lead single ‘The Request’ reels you in with a famili...“… nothing short of a pleasant surprise. The lead single ‘The Request’ reels you in with
  
  a familiar and solid rock sound and quickly makes you sit up and take notice”
  
  - This Is Killer
  

• Kill Your Stereo Album Review [+ Show ]
  

  “As far as modern pop punk goes “The Request” holds up pretty well. The guitar leads are catchy a...“As far as modern pop punk goes “The Request” holds up pretty well. The guitar leads
  
  are catchy and the harmonies throughout the chorus make it one of the most
  
  memorable tracks on the album”
  
  - Kill Your Stereo
  

Setlist

Classic Crime
Life behind the lies
In case of ignorance
Dreamers Believers
The Request
You Kiss Your Mumma With That Mouth
Like the effects of the wind
The grey

50 minute set

Basic Requirements

Calendar