The Accident Experiment
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The Accident Experiment

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The best kept secret in music

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"FORMER P.O.D. GUITARIST MARCOS CURIEL TESTS THE WATERS WITH HIS ACCIDENT EXPERIMENT."

Marcos Curiel is feeling good these days. In recent months, the former P.O.D. guitarist has taken more than a few nasty potshots at his old band in the press. But the birth of his first child and the debut release by his new band, the accident experiment, seem to have put him in a more positive and reflective state of mind.

"They could bash me in interviews, and I could bash them, and it could last forever," he says. "But I'm not trying to sit here and hate-even with all the bullshit that's been going on, and all the stuff that's been said between P.O.D and me, we had a lot of great times. I wish them all the best, and hopefully we'll talk one day and hash things out. But for right now, they've got their thing goin' on, and I've got mine."

Arena, The Accident Experiment's debut EP, shows Marcos charting a heavier, angrier, and more musically adventurous path for himself and his new bandmates, vocalist Pete Stewart (formerly of Grammatrain), bassist Tony DeLocht, and drummer Ernie Longoria (the latter two of whom were in Sprung Monkey). "If I was gonna do something else, I wasn't gonna do P.O.D. Part Two," explains Marcos, who originally started the band as an open-ended side project in October 2002. "The guys that I'm with now, they all really love rock n roll, and they're influenced by great rock n roll bands. With P.O.D. there was a lot more reggae. Don't get me wrong, I love reggae, But I can't listen to it 24hours a day! Sometimes I'm in the mood for punk;sometimes I'm in the mood for big-balls rock n roll. The new EP is more rock- based, but we also have some acoustic shit that we do, and we also totally jam out on some things, Kind of like Rush or tool. We don't want to be one-dimensional."

Several of the band's songs, including Arena's "Scream to Breathe" and "Million Dollar Hell." tackle disillusionment with organized religion, a sentiment that Marcos and his new singer apparently share.

"Pete and I were both brought up in religious backgrounds, and we're basically trying to expose what we've been through." he says. "I can't deny that I came from a christian thing, but the way I see things going on in the world today, I'm like, man, this place is crazy! There are people killing in the name of God, and it's a bunch of bullshit. Right now, all the Christians are pointing their fingers at the Muslims, while Christians were doing the same thing 200 years ago. They're still doing it now, bombing abortion clinics and all that stuff! With this band, we're trying to get people to think for themselves-if someone tells you to believe in something, do your research first before you go and follow them."

The six-song EP is currently available through the band's website, which also offers streaming previews of new songs that are slated for inclusion on the Accident Experiment's forthcoming full-lenght CD. "It's gonna be 15 tracks and, like, 78 minutes," says Marcos. "We wanna give people an experience from the first minute to the end." The band is currently unsigned, but Marcos doesn't mind. "We're talking to several labels, but I've been through this once before, and I know what goes on," he says, laughing. "I'm not in any rush to go, "Sign us!' So I'm kind of creepin' it, instead of running right in." - Revolver Magazine (Dan Epstein)


"WAITING TO HAPPEN - The Accident Experiment and other local acts are ready to make their mark"

(October 9, 2003)

The San Diego Music Awards Best New Artist category is not just for new artists, but for new beginnings, too.

After an acrimonious split with his old band P.O.D. during San Diego's Super Bowl festivities last January, Marcos Curiel has re-emerged with a new attitude and a new band. The Accident Experiment – created by the ex-P.O.D. guitarist with former members of local favorites SprungMonkey and Seattle's Grammatrain – has been nominated for Best New Artist in the 2003 version of San Diego's local music awards. P.O.D. –Payable On Death – incorporated the members' religious beliefs with rap-inflected hard rock. The combination was wildly successful, selling a million copies of the band's major-label debut, 1999's "The Fundamentals of Southtown." The Chula Vista natives scored huge with the 2001 release "Satellite," sporting the singles "Alive" and "Youth of the Nation."

"We were four guys growing up in South Bay San Diego, and we just wanted to play," said Curiel recently over lunch at BJ's in La Mesa. "Basically, we had a dream to make it. But we also wanted to play the best we can and incorporate some of our beliefs. But it was either too much or not enough. In the band itself, there was a lot of struggle.

"I'd rather play and let the music speak for itself, rather than be this band that goes out and puts a stake in everyone." The divide created a rift between band members, which led to finger pointing and the parting of ways. P.O.D. has a new guitarist (Jason Truby) and Curiel's new project ("AX" by fans) is gaining momentum after only 10 months of existence. After a few angry moments, the former P.O.D. guitarist has taken a step back from the whole affair.

"Regardless that we may not see eye-to-eye on things and I'm not with the band anymore, there were some great times, and I'm not going to deny that," stated Curiel. "I learned a lot as a musician. It helped me be the person I am today. So I'm not going to sit here and bash them. I wish them all the luck in the world. Much success."

It's always easier to take the high road when thing are going well for you, and things are going pretty well for Curiel. With Pete Stewart on vocals, Ernie Langoria on drums, Tony De Locht on bass and Curiel on guitars, The Accident Experiment churns out a potent hard rock brew.

Fans expecting P.O.D., Part II will be surprised by the lack of rap and reggae elements. "It's not as much rap and hip-hop based (as P.O.D.)," said Curiel. "It's more rock 'n' roll vocals in the vein of Soundgarden or Tool or [Black] Sabbath. I've got a good lineup that I'm really proud of." Riding the substantial buzz currently around The Accident Experiment, the quartet released its debut EP "Arena" on Aug. 31. The six-track gives a taste of AX's blend of '70s prog rock, '80s metal and '90s grunge.

"It's not for everybody: It's not pop, but it's definitely rock," said Curiel. "It has a lot of elements of the late '70s and the early '80s. We love that because it was a powerful time in music, especially on the progressive side. So you can hear a lot of that stuff in our tunes." After only eight shows, The Accident Experiment has been nominated for the Best New Artist category for the 13th annual San Diego Music Awards. The band has also been chosen to perform as part of Tuesday's awards ceremony, taking to the Humphrey's by the Bay stage along with Steve Poltz, the Troys, Ilya, Mojo Nixon and Earl Thomas & the Jezebels.

"I kinda wanted to do something with Marcos' thing, because I think they have a chance," said San Diego Music Awards organizer Kevin Hellman. "Two years from now, I'd like to say we had the band before they were big. It shows we know something about music."

Up against Liz Janes, Spell Toronto, Tubby, Tristan Prettyman and the Stereotypes, AX faces stiff competition in the Best New Artist category. The Accident Experiment's considerable energy and appeal may place them side-by-side with past winners Jewel, Buckfast Superbee, Berkley-Hart, Rochelle Rochelle and Congress of the Cow.

"What about that? We only played eight shows and we're nominated for best new band," said a surprised Curiel. "We're going to play three songs. We're not even signed and we're getting write-ups all over the country."

The music awards transcend just one evening. There are actually 12 nights of showcases in local venues all over San Diego, with performances at the Casbah, 'Canes Bar & Grill, the Whistle Stop, Winston's, Blind Melon's, Claire de Lune, the Scene and Tio Leo's to name a few.

The San Diego Music Awards serves as a herald of the local music scene, but also helps put guitars in the hands of elementary school students throughout San Diego County. The program has always been a benefit, but has partnered with Taylor Guitars over the past four years to help promote music in schools.

"Over four years, we'll have put 520 guitars into 21 elementary schools in the county," said Hellman. "The average school gets 24 guitars. We raise like $30,000 to $50,000 a year plus what Taylor donates on top. It allows us to add eight or nine schools. I'm sure Taylor would like to do this more on a national level, but it's baby steps."

After the surge of P.O.D. and blink-182, San Diego bands have had trouble breaking out nationwide. Citing the cyclical nature of music and trends, Hellman senses a sea change coming.

"Right now we're in a position where it's the calm before the storm," said Hellman commenting on San Diego's music scene. "There are a lot of cool bands out there right that we're just finding out about. I think by a year from now, our new nominees are going to do something."

If Curiel has his way, The Accident Experiment will be a part of the storm of new San Diego bands bringing national prominence back to the local music scene.

(c) 2003 Union-Tribune Publishing Co. - San Diego Union Tribune (by Chris Nixon)


"UNLEASHES THE ACCIDENT EXPERIMENT"

When Marcos Curiel was unceremoniously booted from P.O.D. last February, the nu-metal communtity was shocked. But no one was more surprised than Curiel himself.

The band's bone of contention was Curiel's progressive rock side project, The Accident Experiment. Although his former bandmates had said they had no qualms about him being in another band, Curiel claims they were speaking with forked tongues."I was hoping I could hold both bands together, but it was not the case."

According to Curiel, he was also booted because he wasn't devout enough for the Christian rockers, who immediately replaced him with Jason Truby, former guitarist of metalcore god band Living Sacrifice. But, as fallback plans go, the Accident Experiment is a damn good one.

Unlike P.O.D., the band eschews surging rap in favor of epic structures and multi-textured rhythms. The band features vocal-ist Pete Stewart, who sang in Seattle rock band Grammatrain, and bassist Tony De Locht and drummer Ernie Longoria, who both played in Sprung Monkey. The band's web site, currently features streams of five songs, two of which are from the group's new EP, Arena. Curiel says a full- length album and tour are in the works. - Guitar World (Jon Wiederhorn)


"THE ACCIDENT EXPERIMENT"

Formed as a side project for P.O.D. guitarist Marcos Curiel, the Accident Experiment became a band with legs to stand on when Curiel left P.O.D. to pursue Accident full-time, along with ex-Sprung Monkey drummer Ernie Mongoria, bassist Tony Delocht, and former Grammatrain vocalist Pete Stewart.

A departure from the sounds of both P.O.D. and Sprung Monkey, Accident Experiment is a straight-ahead modern rock group, with plenty of classic rock and grunge influences coming across. Some heaviness remains, especially in Mongoria's punk-flavored drumming and the occasional crunch of the guitar and bass work. Yet this is by and large an open and flowing rock band; Stewart's voice soars with emotion and clarity, and Curiel's unhurried, graceful solos meld much better then they ever could with P.O.D.
- SignonSanDiego.com (Rinaldo Dorman)


"Ex-P.O.D. Guitarist Discovers By 'Accident' That There Is Life After 'Death'"

For Marcos Curiel, there is life after Death.

After an ugly split with former band P.O.D. (Payable on Death), the guitarist is focusing his energies on the Accident Experiment, a musically adventurous group that sounds like an unlikely hybrid of Tool, Rush, Pink Floyd, Disturbed and Queensrÿche.

Curiel has been playing with the Accident Experiment since October 2002, but the former side project became his full-time gig in February when he left his former bandmates, who he said would not allow him to pursue a side project while he was still in P.O.D (see "P.O.D. Split With Guitarist Marcos Curiel").

Joining Curiel in the Accident Experiment are vocalist Pete Stewart (ex-Grammatrain), bassist Tony Delocht and drummer Ernie Longoria (both ex-Sprung Monkey). The band's six-song debut EP, Arena, will be available in August through the band's Web site, theaccidentexperiment.net. The disc will feature the tracks "Scream to Breathe," "Seeds of Black," "Songs for You," "Nevermore," and "Million Dollar Hell." The latter addresses the three musicians Curiel once considered his best friends.

"It's about getting paid to be a fake," he said. "Once people hear it, they'll be like, 'Whoaaa.' With P.O.D. things were supposedly handled in the name of God, but they were actually handled in the name of greed."

The Accident Experiment aren't a religious rock band like P.O.D., but that doesn't mean Curiel isn't still motivated by spirituality. The group's name even comes from a vision that popped into his head as if beamed from above.

"I suddenly started thinking about the force inside an accident," he said. "The force of what happens when you fall to the ground or get into a car crash is really strong and it's something that no one can control. It's not really an accident that we got together, but there's a strong force there, and it's kind of an accident that I'm not with P.O.D. anymore."

The Accident Experiment are more eclectic and musically adventurous than P.O.D. In addition to rib-sticking riffs and head-bobbing choruses, the band's songs are filled with abrupt rhythm changes, meandering midsections and busy guitar work.

"We just feel like music nowadays is lacking substance," Curiel said. "It's just really straightforward and to the point. Musicians don't have to play their instruments because they have ProTools and samplers. We like to take it old-school, kind of like Led Zeppelin did. The great bands used to jam and it was cool. But we're not just a jam band, either. It's basically just good, old-fashioned rock and roll, man."

- MTV.com (Jon Wiederhorn)


"THE ACCIDENT EXPERIMENT - ARENA (review)"

Earlier this year, guitarist Marcos Curiel went through an ugly public breakup with his former band P.O.D. Depending on whose side of the story you believe, Curiel either left to pursue a side project or was kicked out of the band due to differing spiritual and philosophical viewpoints.

The Accident Experiment is that new band, a side project no longer. Together with Pete Stewart, another fallen son of the Christian music industry, Curiel has crafted a band that is both lyrically honest and musically adventurous.

Those looking for a sequel to P.O.D.'s mingling of rap, reggae and rock won't find it. The Accident Experiment sounds more like a Disturbed or Chevelle with bits of Pink Floyd, Rush and Led Zeppelin baked into the crust.

In other words, what you're getting is only passably radio friendly modern rock. Instead, The Accident Experiment would rather lead listeners down dark, twisting sonic passages. Abrupt rhythm changes, moody guitars, and Stewart's gooey, wailing vocals guide listeners across hesitant emotional footholds, where little is certain.

Equally intriguing is Stewart's lyrical power. Stewart has long been prone to bleak, sometimes angry word power. He's no different here. From his disappointment with spirituality ("Broke my bones so I could find you/ Cut myself to be around you/ And when I bled you disappeared") to P.O.D's supposed hypocrisy ("Tellin' people what they want to hear/ All your pretty bullshit in their ears"), Stewart addresses and challenges perceptions of dreams, insanity, and depression.

The Accident Experiment is already making large waves in San Diego, where it won Best New Band in the San Diego Music Awards, and is one of the only independent bands garnering airplay on mainstream radio. Here's hoping the rest of the country catches on quickly. - Metropulse.com (Lloyd Babbit)


"THE ACCIDENT EXPERIMENT - ARENA (review)"

When lead guitarist Marcos Curiel left San Diego-based P.O.D. last year over "creative differences," he struck out on his own and eventually formed the riff-heavy rock band, the Accident Experiment, which has just released a solid six-song self-titled EP.

Singing for the Accident Experiment is Pete Stewart, who used to handle vocal duties for the hard-edged Christian band Grammatrain. Good choice on Curiel's part. I caught Grammatrain about seven years ago on a stage in Oklahoma and Stewart had the chops. Good choice.

Along with a tight rhythm section (bassist Tony DeLocht and drummer Ernie Longoria), AX (as they're also known) have released an emotionally powerful album chock full o' muscular guitar rock and substantive and philosophical lyrics.

AX's first single, "Song for You," opens with Curiel's melancholy guitar, soon followed by Stewart's strong and passionate vocals.

Avoiding the chains of confor! mity and mind control is the subject of the gut-level punchiness of "Mind Death Machine." There is a lot going on here musically and sonically. Siren sounds, subtle Pink Floyd-styled atmospherics, and some of the band's best lyrics pepper this track. Clearly, Curiel has some issues with blind allegiance to authority figures. Well, I say good for him.

Also, I loved the way Longoria's bass drum pedals pump furiously on this song.

Equally strong is "Holy Magic Man." This track is AX's condemnation of "get-healed-quick" charlatan preachers and their empty promises.

This is appropriate considering the religious nature of Curiel and Stewart's previous bands. I sense that both left their former groups with more questions than answers, spiritually speaking.

And in case you're wondering why Curiel left P.O.D. at the height of their success, press clippings have reported him saying that not only was he was tired of P.O.D.'s dabbling with reggae, he also didn't ! totally go along with their overtly Christian image. Rather, Curiel wanted to keep it real and simply "be myself all the time."

I can certainly appreciate that. - The Town Talk (Andrew Griffin)


Discography

EP - "Arena"

(There are 2 tracks and 1 video streaming on the band's website.)

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

Having toured and performed with such international acts as Korn, Sevendust, Staind, Blur, Ill Nino and Body Count and picking up the 2003 San Diego Music Award for best new band, The Accident Experiment is off to a loud start proving themselves as one of the pinnacle bands in the next movement of heavy rock.

“A musical journey of epic proportions” is one of many ways to describe the project known to the underworld as The Accident Experiment, aka “AX”. Formed in late 2002 by chief songwriters Marcos Curiel (ex/founding member of P.O.D.) handling guitar duties and Pete Stewart (ex/founding member of Grammatrain) on vocals, AX challenges the boundaries of music and artistry. After recruiting Tony DeLocht (bass) and Ernie Longoria (drums) to round out the line up, Curiel and Stewart knew they had the necessary elements to deliver the AX vision. Curiel notes, “I wanted to form a project that, musically, was larger than any one member; something that could be an experience in the truest sense of the word.”

Curiel and Stewart first met in 1997 when their former bands shared a stage in Portland. The two immediately clicked and spent hours chatting about musical influences, goals and philosophies. Both became increasingly busy with their respective projects and ultimately lost touch.

Fast-forward five years. With a handful of songs written and recorded, Curiel was in need of a singer that could vocally and lyrically meet the challenges he had personally set for his new project. Stewart was the first to come to mind. “I tracked him down, sent him some of the songs and just asked him to see what he could do with them,” comments Curiel. “When I got the music, I was blown away with how ‘big’ it sounded. I had never written to music that was already finished and recorded before so it was a new challenge for me, but one that was inspiring,” adds Stewart. After hearing the lyrics and melodies that had been put to his music, Curiel knew his forethoughts of what AX was to be were not only complete, but were shared by Stewart.

The Curiel/Stewart writing team wasted no time in bringing their vision of the AX experience to life. In five short months, the duo wrote and recorded over twenty songs. “It sounds cliché, but a lot of these songs really just came out and wrote themselves,” offers Stewart. Curiel and Stewart write from a “place” or “state of mind”, rather than apply the formulated approach often found within mainstream music. “This isn’t mainstream. This isn’t what you hear hour after hour on the radio. AX isn’t predictable, that’s what makes it an experience for us and the fans. There’s more to it than just us, the band members,” states Curiel.

Effortlessly, AX guides the listener through his or her own mind by challenging the thoughts and perceptions often associated with such concepts as human emotions, dreams, deceit, mind control, love, hate, depression and manipulation. “Seeds of Black”, “Scream to Breathe” and “Song for You” are but a few of the songs that lead the listener down the uncertain and unpredictable road of interpretation. “Songs are identifiable to anyone and can be interpreted in a vast number of ways. In our music, we try to take it to another level. We want to offer the opportunity to really think about, and question, what is being said lyrically and musically. If a fan wants substance, it’s there. If it’s just about the rock, there’s plenty of that as well,” comments Curiel.

Not many bands can truly build on, and fuse, their influences. From the journeys of Pink Floyd and Rush to the bruised tones of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin, AX tastefully progresses the direction such artists established. The diversity of these influences can be found in the many moods and emotive illustrations created, developed and performed by AX.

Collectively, it’s the music, experiences, personalities and visuals of the band’s members and fans that create a platform for The Accident Experiment to live and breathe on its own.