Audrye Sessions - Audrye Sessions

Genre indie-rock Publisher Black Seal

Things that can kill a band: False comparisons to other bands; over trying through clever, convoluted lyrics; entering into weird new techno territory; or keeping up the persona of I am so cool I don’t even have to try, among many others. Audrye Sessions, I am elated to say, is not doing any of those things. They are often compared to U2, Radiohead, or Coldplay, but the comparisons are legitimate and well deserved. Ryan Karazija (vocals, guitar), Alicia Marie Campbell (bass), Mike Knox (guitar), and James Leste (drums) made their full-length recording debut in 2007 with Braille, an independent release that led to a major-label recording contract with the RCA Records subsidiary. The band from the Bay Area has just released their self-titled EP. They are a modern power rock band playing and singing from the heart. The EP favors slow-churning melodies that show case Karazija’s soulful vocals, it will consume your bleeding heart with sugary, sweet, sophisticated melodies embedded in divinely placed guitar rifts. The next full-length album is slated to come out in February.

Karazija’s croons brilliantly on “Turn Me Off” which is actually a post- war inspired song about a soldiers’ return to home. In an interview posted on BandWebLogs.com Karazija says, “I was watching a show where James Gandolfini interviews people that have come back from war. There was one guy who lost his eyes and his life has completely changed. He has these awful dreams and doesn’t want to be alive. The song talks about being so messed up that you want to be shut off.”  Given the subject matter, it is a surprisingly upbeat track.

“Awake” is hard-core ballad with pitch perfect vocals and forceful guitar. The radio friendly “New Years Day” is such a beautiful masterpiece, its deliberate somberness almost makes me want to weep. 

The anthemic ballad “Where You’ll Find Me” is as absolute in structure as a song can get. It ascends quietly and them emerges into intense, melding guitar loops, finishing on the gentlest whisper. The lyrics “So I’ll drink to moving on and after this life I’ll be better” are proof that even the most self-loathing front men can progress on into a new day. 

One thing forgotten from the list above of things that can kill a band is hype. Audrye Sessions is generating some good hype with this release and I can honestly say that there will be no disappointment here. Their music is just that good and they have everything necessary to make it to the next level. I feel lucky to have experienced their charmingly delicate sound so early in their journey and happy to have it burning up my headphones.