Forget year of the horse, 2014 seems to be the year of the project. With the unfortunate demise of so many distinguished acts, this year has spawned an excess of new bands from well-known musicians looking to continue their craft.
Besides the few we’ve already featured (Beartooth, ’68, Slaves), below is a list of other notable up-and-coming acts that have certainly caught our attention with their new projects.
Sleepwave (ex-Underoath)
Spencer Chamberlain’s role as the iconic frontman of the screamo act, Underoath, earned him a bevy of supporters. Now, with his new hard rock duo Sleepwave, it’ll be interesting to see how many of those supporters remain fans of Chamberlain’s work. Out on tour with Nothing More to support their upcoming release, Broken Compass, Sleepwave will be sure to open some people’s eyes as they realize Chamberlain is more than just a screamer.
Frnkiero andthe Cellabration (ex-My Chemical Romance)
Not to be outdone by former My Chemical Romance frontman, Gerard Way, ex-MCR guitarist Frank Iero has thrown his hat into the ring with his new band, Frnkiero andthe Cellabration. Yes, you read that right. That’s Frank with no a attached to Iero, and and the sandwiched together, finished off with celebration spelt more like the millions of living organisms inside our bodies. Put it all together, and you get a band that sounds very – and we mean very – faintly like MCR and more like a combination of the Matches and Cloud Nothings. After releasing their debut album Stomachaches in August, Iero and co. have a busy tour schedule ahead of them in support of their new release. Hitting the road with Taking Back Sunday and the Used, this act should have no problem playing to crowds that are already very familiar with Iero’s previous work. If you haven’t heard Stomachaches yet, you can listen to it in full, here.
No Devotion (ex-Thursday / Lostprophets)
Have you been curious as to what ex-Thursday frontman, Geoff Rickly, has been up to lately? Well, look no further than No Devotion. Besides his time spent fronting the incredibly covert group, United Nations, and running his own label, Collect Records, Rickly has been seen with ex-Lostprophets band members Lee Gaze, Mike Lewis, Jamie Oliver, Stuart Richardson and Luke Johnson. Creating an atmospheric 80’s, synth rock sound, No Devotion has undoubtedly caught our attention. Now, it’s just a matter of time to see what they’ll do with it. If you’re interested in catching this group live, their currently on the road opening up for Neon Trees. You can see their tour dates, here.
Favorite Weapon (ex-Woe, Is Me)
Although things with Woe, Is Me came to a bit of an abrupt end, vocalist Hance Alligood has been able to land on his feet with his new project, Favorite Weapon. Already signed to Rise Records, fans of Alligood can expect his new band’s full-length, Sixty Saragossa, to hit stores October 10 of this year. After listening to “Hollow” as well as their latest, “Let’s Shake on it,” it’s safe to say the only similarities Woe, Is Me and Favorite Weapon will share are their ties to Rise Records and Alligood’s voice. Whether or not that’s a good thing, we’ll leave up to you. Favorite Weapon will be out on tour soon with The Amity Affliction. You can head here for dates, as this will be a tour you don’t want to miss.
Wovenwar (ex-As I Lay Dying)
Similar to No Devotion’s former group Lostprophets, Wovenwar has had its share of embarrassing vocalist issues. No stranger to poor publicity, ex-As I Lay Dying members, Jordan Mancino, Nick Hipa, Phil Sgrosso and Josh Gilbert, are attempting to move on from Tim Lambesis’ current run-in with the law. Joining forces with Oh Sleeper’s lead guitarist/clean vocalist, Shane Blay, Wovenwar released their debut self-titled record this past August. If you haven’t heard it yet, you should probably get to doing that soon. Wovenwar is currently in Europe with In Flames showcasing their new tunes to world. For dates, be sure to check their Facebook page.
