Inverse

Everyone experiences setbacks. Not everybody roughs them out. In the case of music, it's the device in the universe which provides balance, weeding out anyone not completely committed to what lays before them. In the case of INVERSE, they've powered through the worst of it, only to come out it with their strongest, most inspired set of songs to date.

Born out of the ashes of a high school punk band in California's inland suburban sprawl of the Temecula Valley in the summer of 02', Inverse came together as guitar player Dominic Carcioppolo, vocalist/pianist Trevor Vesneski and bassist Paul Bahou found Topher Shultz, a drummer from Seal Beach with a style reminiscent of John Bonham . The band relocated to Long Beach, CA and released a self titled 5 song EP shortly thereafter with producer Josh Turner (Vast, Rx Bandits). Before the band could do any touring, Trevor's father was diagnosed with Cancer of the Kidney and passed away.

Its significance was felt beyond the reality of a young man losing his father. It gave Trevor a new perspective on the importance of what he was doing and a level of focus that lifted even his fellow members. They hit the road a little over a month later with Seattle band This Providence to expand their fan base and promote their EP. However , Inverse was now a darker entity. The sleek, poppy crunch of their first batch of songs had given way to force and grit. They went into the studio again with Portland-based producer Jacob Portrait (Crosstide, Paint By Numbers) only to emerge with one finished song: "Mescaline."

Disappointed but more determined than ever the band decided to take the rest of the year off from touring; INVERSE was going to record an album. For 6 months the band met no less than 4 times a week, writing, re-writing, demoing, all while maintaining dialogue with a handful of indie label A&R scouts. Jacob Portrait was tapped once again to produce. The budget was going to be tight, but everyone was committed. Then, life happened once more.

Cancer. This time it was one of the band members. Not a relative, not a friend, it was Paul. He was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma. All momentum within the band was now gone. In addition, Jake dropped off the project to record the LP. The band was left to wonder just how everything could have fallen apart so quickly. Because he was too sick to care for himself, Paul moved back to his parent's home in Temecula while he underwent treatment. The band was at another crossroad: Cut their losses and move on, or do everything in their power to make the band what it always had the potential to become.

INVERSE pressed forward. They wrote, demoed, promoted, networked and continued on as Paul kept up a fight of his own. The band would practice twice a week in Temecula, usually going until Paul couldn't even sit up anymore. But the work was paying off. The songs were coming along, and INVERSE was given the opportunity to record an EP with indie guru Casey Bates (Gatsby's American Dream, Daphne Loves Derby). The timing was perfect. Paul was declared in remission and finished his final chemotherapy session in late July 06'. Two months later, the band was on a plane to Seattle to record what had been years in the making.

The results are flawless. Matching the tightness and musical density of Queen with the punch of Thrice, INVERSE has produced an EP that has both power and melody. It rocks like it could shake arenas, but still keeps its soul. Now INVERSE is ready to take their band to the national stage and bring their brand of Rock and Roll to the masses.