Erra (band)
Erra (stylized as ERRA) is an American progressive metalcore band from Birmingham, Alabama, formed in 2009.[1][2][3] The band was named after the homonymous Akkadian god of war and plague. The band has released four studio albums and three EPs to date. Their latest album, titled Neon, was released on August 10, 2018.[4] They have toured with bands such as August Burns Red, TesseracT, Born of Osiris, Glass Cloud, Within the Ruins and Texas in July.[5][6][7][8][9][10]
Erra | |
---|---|
Erra performing in 2018 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Birmingham, Alabama, U.S. |
Genres | Progressive metalcore[1][2] |
Years active | 2009–present |
Labels | |
Associated acts | Ghost Atlas |
Members |
|
Past members |
|
History
Early years and Impulse (2009–2011)
Erra was formed in 2009 by high school friends Alex Ballew, Jesse Cash, Adam Hicks, Garrison Lee and Alan Rigdon in Birmingham, Alabama. The band wrote and self-released two EPs: one self-titled in 2009 and Andromeda in 2010. This gained the attention of Tragic Hero Records, which had signed them in 2011.[11] Later that year, the band released their first studio album Impulse and toured with bands such as Born of Osiris and Upon a Burning Body.
Augment and line-up changes (2012–2014)
In 2012, Adam Hicks left the band to pursue other career options and the band began writing their second studio album with Cash tracking both guitar and bass for the album.[12] Augment was released and gained the band a lot more attention from touring bands and began touring more extensively. Hicks was replaced by current guitarist Sean Price, who was included in the "Hybrid Earth" music video. The band toured the following year to promote their second release. Vocalist Garrison Lee and guitarist Alan Rigdon announced their departure from the band in 2014 and left on good terms.[13]
Moments of Clarity and Drift (2014–2017)
Following the end of their record deal with Tragic Hero, Erra signed to Sumerian Records in mid-2014. Bassist Sean Price moved to rhythm guitar and vocalist Ian Eubanks replaced Garrison Lee's position.[14] In 2014, their third EP Moments of Clarity was released through Sumerian. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[15] Throughout 2015, Erra opened up for bands such as August Burns Red on their Frozen Flame Tour and TesseracT on their 2015 Polaris album tour. In late 2015, Eubanks parted ways with the band, citing an impact on his health as the main reason.[16]
In 2016, vocalist J.T. Cavey, former member of Texas in July, joined the band to replace Ian Eubanks' position.[17] Cavey and the band entered the studio and wrote and released their third studio album Drift. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[15] The band toured on the Sumerian 10-year tour, along with Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, After the Burial and Bad Omens.[18]
Neon (2018–present)
On June 12, 2018, the band issued the first single from their album Neon. The album was released on August 10, 2018, and is the band's third release on the label Sumerian Records, and the second album to feature J.T. Cavey on vocals. It peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200's Heatseekers Albums chart.[15]
In September 2018, the band departed on tour with After the Burial and The Acacia Strain.[19] On August 8, 2019, the band released a new single titled "Eye of God", it was made available to pre-save.[20] In August 2019, Erra went on the Neon/Alien tour through North America with Northlane, Crystal Lake and Currents.[21]
Musical style and influences
The band has been referred to as "the spearhead of the whole modern/progressive metalcore movement"[22] and have referred to their own style as "melodic-ambient."[23]
They have cited August Burns Red, Misery Signals, Born of Osiris, and Saosin as musical influences.[23] Cove Reber and Anthony Green of the bands Saosin and Circa Survive have been noted as a particular influence on Jesse Cash's vocals.
Members
Current
- Alex Ballew – drums, percussion (2009–present)
- Jesse Cash – guitars, clean vocals (2009–present); bass (2014–2016)
- Sean Price – guitars (2014–present); bass (2012–2016)
- J.T. Cavey – unclean vocals, backing clean vocals (2016–present)
- Conor Hesse – bass (2016–present)
Touring
- Blakeley Townson – bass (2015–2016)
Former
- Adam Hicks – bass (2009–2012)
- Garrison Lee – unclean vocals (2009–2014)
- Alan Rigdon – guitars, backing vocals (2009–2014)
- Ian Eubanks – unclean vocals (2014–2015)
Timeline
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
US [24] |
US Heat [15] | |||||
Impulse |
|
– | – | |||
Augment |
|
117 | 1 | |||
Drift |
|
101 | 1 | |||
Neon |
|
152 | 1 | |||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
Extended plays
Title | EP details | Peak chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Heat [15] | |||||
Erra |
|
– | |||
Andromeda |
|
– | |||
Moments of Clarity |
|
4 | |||
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart. |
Singles
Title | Year | Album |
---|---|---|
"White Noise" | 2011 | Impulse |
"Pulse" | 2013 | Augment |
"Hybrid Earth" | ||
"Dreamcatcher" | 2014 | Moments of Clarity |
"Luminesce" | 2016 | Drift |
"Drift" | ||
"Orchid" | ||
"Hourglass" | ||
"Disarray" | 2018 | Neon |
"Breach" | ||
"Eye of God" | 2019 | Non-album single |
"You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire" (Queens of the Stone Age cover) |
References
- "Erra | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
Precise and adventurous progressive metalcore from ambitious Alabama-based five-piece." ... " Erra are a progressive technical metalcore band from Birmingham, Alabama.
- "REVIEW: ERRA – 'Augment' | Under the Gun Review". Under the Gun Review. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
They are a five piece progressive metalcore outfit hailing from Birmingham, Alabama.
- Mark Deming. "ERRA - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
- "Erra - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- Tyler Sharp. "August Burns Red announce winter headlining tour with Miss May I, Northlane, Erra". Alternative Press. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
- Greg Kennelty. "TESSERACT To Tour North America With THE CONTORTIONIST, ERRA And SKYHARBOR!". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- Robert Pasbani. "BORN OF OSIRIS, VEIL OF MAYA, AFTER THE BURIAL Headline Sumerian 10 Year Tour, Dates Announced". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- Matt Crane. "Glass Cloud, Scale The Summit announce co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- Brian Kraus. "Born Of Osiris announce fall tour with Thy Art Is Murder, Betraying The Martyrs, Within The Ruins". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- "Texas in July U.S. headline tour announced". Equal Vision Records. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
- "Tragic Hero Records - Erra". Tragic Hero. Archived from the original on January 12, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Erra part ways with bassist Adam Hicks". Got Djent. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Alan Rigdon Leaves ERRA". New Transcendence. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Erra announces new lineup, records new EP". Lambgoat. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Erra Chart History". Billboard 200. Billboard magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- "Erra to part ways with vocalist". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "Ex-Texas In July Frontman JT Cavey Joins ERRA, New Song "Luminesce" Available". ThePRP News. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
- "Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, After the Burial Headline Sumerian 10 Year Tour, Dates Announced". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
- "After The Burial and the Acacia Strain announce North American tour". Alternative Press. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
- "ERRA on Instagram: "Eye of God • pre-save now via the link in our bio"". Instagram. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
- "Northlane, ERRA, Currents & Crystal Lake Tour Rumored". The PRP. April 28, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
- "12 Reasons Why Metalcore Isn't Dying". www.itdjents.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
- Dodderidge, Tim (February 11, 2015). "Interview: Erra". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
- "Erra History". Billboard 200. Billboard magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2019.