Abandon All Ships

Abandon All Ships was a Canadian metalcore band from Toronto, Ontario. Formed in 2006, it was signed domestically to Universal Music Canada via Underground Operations, along with an American deal to Rise Records and its imprint Velocity Records.

Abandon All Ships
Abandon All Ships live at the Cactus Courtyard venue in Lubbock, Texas (2011).
Background information
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Metalcore, electronicore[1]
Years active	2006–2014, 2016
Labels	Universal Canada Underground Operations Rise Velocity Redfield
Associated acts	Sine of the Lion Curses Woe, Is Me Biscaine Bay Cherry Pools
Past members	Angelo Aita Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez Martin Broda Daniel Ciccotelli Daniel Paiano Andrew Paiano Francesco Pallotta Nick Fiorini David Stephens Chris Taylor Kyler Browne Melvin Murray

History

Formation and First EP (2006–2009)

Abandon All Ships was founded in 2006 in Toronto, Ontario, originally playing covers of Norma Jean songs. Most of the band members attended Dante Alighieri Academy, including lead vocalist Angelo Aita, keyboardist Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez, and original guitarist David Stephens; Toronto friends Martin Broda and Francesco Pallotta were added on drums and bass. In 2007, Nick Fiorini was added on rhythm guitar.

By 2008, the band had released four demo songs online: "Megawacko", "When Dreams Become Nightmares", "Brendon's Song" and "Pedestrians Is Another Word for Speedbump". After rising in the Toronto scene, the group toured and opened for many larger bands in their same genre, such as Silverstein. By the end of 2008, Nick Fiorini had been replaced by Andrew Paiano. By then, the band had recorded their self-titled EP and quickly became popular on the Internet through Myspace. They were given even more exposure after their appearance on the MuchMusic's Canadian television program Disband.[2]

Because Christian themes regularly appear in the band's music, some thought that Abandon All Ships was a Christian band, but it was not; its regular use of profanity and suggestive lyrics eventually settled the debate.

Geeving (2009–2010)

At the end of 2009, David Stephens and Francesco Pallotta left the band; they were replaced by Kyler Browne on lead guitar and, on drums, Daniel Paiano (Andrew's brother). In early 2010, the group was signed to Underground Operations, Rise Records, and Velocity Records. On June 29, 2010, they released their first single, "Take One Last Breath"; the music video premiered online the same day.[3] They played at the 2010 Bluesfest in Ottawa, performing new songs "Geeving", "Guardian Angel" (which features Lena Katina from the Russian band t.A.T.u.), "Maria (I Like It Loud)", and "Take One Last Breath", all of which were to appear on the up-coming album, Geeving. (The name of the album is taken from its Urban Dictionary definition,[16] "Couldn't care less. Don't give a shit. Leave me alone. Fuck off. Happy Thanks Geeving."[17]

The single "Megawacko 2.0" was released on iTunes on August 24, 2010, with the video premiering on MuchMusic that same day. In September, "Bro My God" also premiered via online streaming. Abandon All Ships was then included on the Monument tour from October 29, 2010 to December 5, 2010 with Miss May I, Sleeping with Sirens, The Crimson Armada, and Bury Tomorrow.

Lineup instability, Infamous (2011–2012)

Members Martin Broda, Angelo Aita and Daniel Ciccotelli at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards.

On January 24, 2011, lead guitarist Kyler Browne left the band and was replaced by Daniel Ciccotelli. Abandon All Ships participated in the 2011 Vans Warped Tour for selected dates on the east leg.[4]

On July 14, 2011 the Paiano brothers, Andrew (rhythm guitar) and Daniel (drums), left the band.[5].

On January 18, 2012, the band announced that they were in the process of recording their second studio album. The title was announced as Infamous, and it was released on July 3, 2012.[6] The video for its title track was released on the first of May with its environment and direction being described as "very Toronto".[7]

On November 29, 2012, the band was announced as support for For the Fallen Dreams European/UK tour beginning in March alongside fellow supporting acts Dream On, Dreamer, and No Bragging Rights.[8] On December 14, drummer Chris Taylor left the band.[9]

Malocchio, and Breakup (2013–2014)

The band announced their third full-length album Malocchio on December 20, 2013, which was released in 2014. Along with the announcement, the band streamed the album's first single, "Reefer Madness" on YouTube.[10]. On January 25, 2014 the band released the second single, "Cowboys".[11]

On August 5, 2014, the band was announced to go on a short tour with Dance Gavin Dance and Stolas beginning at the end of August[12] and on the 15th of that same month, guitarist Daniel Ciccotelli left the band.

Abandon All Ships announced its breakup on August 15, 2014 and played their last show on September 25 in Toronto with current and past members. Some members went on to a form a new band, Sine of the Lion. Martin Broda started a new band, Cherry Pools.[13]

Reformation and new single (2016)

The band reformed to release one new single titled "Loafting", which features the band's original line-up, except for Kyler Browne, and with the addition of Daniel Ciccotelli.[14]

Musical style

The band's third album incorporates elements from their first and second albums, plus new elements as keyboardist Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez brought in more of an EDM influence.[15] Allmusic's Gregory Heaney described the group as "an electronicore band who fused metalcore with EDM" besides stating that they "combine elements of electronic music and post-hardcore and technical metal into a strangely triumphant hybrid.[1] The band cites Metallica, Anthrax, Pantera, Alice in Chains, Avenged Sevenfold, Linkin Park, Slipknot, Lamb of God, Benny Benassi, Gigi D’Agostino, Hardwell, Tiësto, deadmau5, Lordz of Brooklyn and Beastie Boys as influences.

Members

Final lineup

• Angelo Aita – unclean vocals (2006–2014, 2016)
• Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez – keyboards, programming, electronics (2006–2014, 2016)
• Martin Broda – clean vocals (2006–2014, 2016), bass guitar (2009–2014, 2016), drums (2006–2009)
• Andrew Paiano – rhythm guitar (2008–2011, 2016)
• Daniel Paiano – drums (2009–2011, 2016)
• Daniel Ciccotelli – lead guitar (2011–2013, 2016)

Former

• Nick Fiorini – rhythm guitar (2007–2008)
• David Stephens – lead guitar (2006–2009)
• Francesco Pallotta – bass guitar (2006–2009)
• Chris Taylor – drums (2011–2013)
• Kyler Browne – lead guitar (2009–2011, 2013–2014)
• Melvin Murray – drums (2013–2014)

Timeline

Discography

Abandon All Ships discography
Studio albums	3
EPs	1
Singles	5

Studio albums

Year	Album	Chart positions
		CAN	US 200 [16]	US Heat [17]
2010	Geeving Released: October 5, 2010 Label: Universal Music Canada Format: Compact Disc, digital download	27	—	16
2012	Infamous Released: July 3, 2012[18] Label: Universal Music Canada Format: Compact Disc, digital download	54	142	3
2014	Malocchio Released: February 11, 2014[10] Label: Universal Music Canada Format: Compact Disc, digital download

EPs

Year	Album details
2009	Abandon All Ships Released: July 17, 2009 Label: Independent Format: Compact Disc

Music videos

• "Take One Last Breath" (2010)
• "Megawacko2.1" (2010)
• "Geeving" (2011)
• "Infamous" (2012)
• "August" (2012)
• "Less Than Love" (2013)
• "Trapped" (2014)
• "Loafting" (2016)

References

1. Heaney, Gregory. "Artist Biography". Allmusic. All Media Network. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
2. "Abandon All Ships". MuchMusic. Archived from the original on September 18, 2011. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
3. Abandon All Ships – Take One Last Breath (video) Youtube.com August 10, 2010
4. Vans Warped Tour Bands Archived July 3, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Vanswarpedtour.com
5. Common, Tyler. "Abandon All Ships lose two members, one joins Woe, Is Me". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
6. "Abandon All Ships frontman confirms second album plans". Archived from the original on January 21, 2012. Retrieved January 19, 2012.
7. Ramirez, Carlos. "Abandon All Ships, 'Infamous': Metalcore Meets Rap in New Video". Noisecreep. Retrieved May 3, 2012.
8. "abandon all ships - Under the Gun Review". Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
9. "YouTube". Retrieved October 23, 2014.
10. "Abandon All Ships Announce 'Malocchio'; Stream "Reefer Madness"". Retrieved October 23, 2014.
12. "Dance Gavin Dance, Abandon All Ships, Stolas tour". Retrieved October 23, 2014.
14. "Abandon All Ships Premiere Music Video For "Loafting"". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
15. "Abandon All Ships release new studio update". Alternative Press. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
16. "Infamous". billboard.com. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
17. "Geeving". billboard.com. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
18. "FANS REPORT IN: Abandon All Ships Album And Music Video Details". Under the Gun Review. March 6, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2013. Retrieved March 26, 2012.