Alesana ( ) is an American post-hardcore band from Raleigh, North Carolina. The group was founded by Steven Tomany, Daniel Magnuson, Shawn Milke, Dennis Lee and Patrick Thompson during the fall of 2004, and is currently signed to Revival Recordings and Artery Recordings. Alesana has collectively released three EPs and five full-length studio albums.
The band started to pick up an audience shortly after the release of the debut, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, featuring a musical style shifting between light and heavy sounds along with a wide influence ranging from pop, punk, metal and even classic rock bands. The release of their third album, The Emptiness (2010) saw Alesana's fanbase grow expansively. The band's name comes from Aliceanna Street in Baltimore, the street on which vocalist/rhythm guitarist Shawn Milke and lead guitarist Patrick Thompson grew up.
History
Formation and Try This with Your Eyes Closed (2004–2005) Shawn Milke and Patrick Thomson were both living in Baltimore, Maryland in the early 2000s where they both played in a few previous bands around that time. One notable band that Milke was in was the punk rock band The Legitimate Excuse, which formed in 2001 in Pennsylvania (and later moved to Baltimore by 2002). About a year into looking for members around the Baltimore area and writing/recording early demos under the de facto/prototype Alesana name, the pair decided it would be best to move to Raleigh, North Carolina and continue their search there due to their fondness of the city's music scene. Once in Raleigh they were eventually joined by Dennis Lee, Steven Tomany, and Daniel Magnuson. With these new members in place, Alesana officially formed in October 2004. The name of the band is inspired from Aliceanna St., which Shawn Milke and Patrick Thompson lived on when playing in Baltimore, MD. Aliceanna St. is located in Fells Point, a neighborhood in Baltimore.
Alesana was the first band to join Tragic Hero Records in 2005, and their three demo songs titled "Apology", "Beautiful in Blue" and "Goodbye, Goodnight for Good" were featured on the compilation All The Tragedy Money Can Buy. In May 2005 they released their debut EP, Try This With Your Eyes Closed. In the same year, founding drummer Daniel Magnuson was replaced by Will Anderson, who was soon replaced by Jeremy Bryan. Alesana then toured across the United States, including an appearance at the Cornerstone Christian music festival, despite them not being a Christian band.
On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax (2006–2008) In 2006 they added guitarist/vocalist Adam Ferguson to their lineup. They followed with a full-length album, entitled On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax, produced by Kit Walters, during the summer of 2006. The album was their first foray into concept albums with most songs being based on Greek mythology. In late 2006 Alesana signed to Fearless Records, which re-released their LP in March 2007 to mostly positive reviews and released a music video for "Ambrosia". In the same year, the song "Apology" in an acoustic version was featured on the compilation release, Punk Goes Acoustic 2. The group parted ways with Steven Tomany on the second to last day of tour before having a break before playing the entire Warped Tour 2007, being replaced by the merch girl Shane Crump. The record is also the first to feature Shawn Milke's sister, Melissa Milke, who performs all female vocals.
In early 2008, On Frail Wings of Vanity and Wax charted on the Billboard magazine's Heatseekers chart, peaking at #44.
Where Myth Fades to Legend (2008–2009) In 2008, Alesana finished recording their second album, Where Myth Fades to Legend. It was released on June 3, 2008, but was leaked on popular torrent sites a month beforehand. Where Myth Fades to Legend was also the title of their headlining tour with Sky Eats Airplane, Our Last Night, Lovehatehero, and The Chariot that supported the album.
On the 2008 Warped Tour, Shane Crump briefly left due to personal matters at home and Jake Campbell, formerly of Twelve Gauge Valentine, became a temporary fill in-bassist. Upon Crump's return, Adam Ferguson and the band parted ways and Campbell became the new guitarist/vocalist. Shane Crump also took care of all the backing unclean to this point.
On January 20, 2009, the music video for "Seduction", the song features a few screams made by Ferguson before he left the band, because of that Shane Crump lip sync all his screams. On March 10, 2009, the album Punk Goes Pop 2 was released which includes Alesana's cover of "What Goes Around...Comes Around" by Justin Timberlake. Alesana's Where Myth Fades to Legend has also charted on the Billboard 200 at #96 and on the Billboard Hard Rock Album at #13.