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In the cookie cutter world of Modern Rock, artists come and go, most without ever leaving so much as a stain. That makes it all the more special when a band comes along and throws off every doubter's expectation, connecting with listeners on a musical, if not spiritual, level. That is certainly the case with Jacksonville's Allele (pronounced Uh-Leel), as the Florida 5 piece has been tearing up stages across the US for the past 3 years, alongside major artists like Saliva, Yellowcard, Nonpoint, Staind, Sevendust, Earshot, Trapt, Shinedown, Socialburn, 12 Stones and Godhead, along the way building a devoted family of rabid followers
As the Allele Army grew exponentially, the band formed in 2002 by vocalist Wally Wood and guitarist Lane Maverick (who had previously been one of the first guitar players for Otep), got an even bigger shot in the arm when they recruited recently departed Cold guitarist Kelly Hayes, who had previously dabbled with Allele on a side project basis. Hayes, who had grown increasingly disenfranchised with his role in Cold, looked to Allele as a fresh, new creative outlet.
Around this time, the band's buzz caught the ear of Corporate Punishment Records president Thom Hazaert, a longtime Cold fan/associate, who had been involved with the band, and Kelly for almost a decade (he even sports a tattoo of the Cold spider on his hand.) After two meetings a deal was struck, and the band went to work on their debut LP Point of Origin, with new drummer Giancarlo Autenzio and bassist Tim Tobin in tow.
Point of Origin is 10 jarring tracks of sonic weaponry and emotional release, from the stunning album opener "Fake", to the first single "Closer to Habit", that is quickly becoming a staple at Active Rock radio, to "Jaydin's Song" the beautifully textured instrumental "hidden track".
Recorded at Cleveland's Spider Studios with producer Ben Schigel (Chimaira, Drowning Pool, Breaking Point, Rikets) Point of Origin shows many sides of this complex, young ensemble, and will assuredly guarantee them a spot in the hearts and CD collections of Rock fans, and on radio playlists, for years to come.
Singer Wood puts it best. "I want Allele to be in every single person's musical vocabulary. We have a message of unity we want to share with everyone."
The band has rapidly progressed towards those goals with their first single and video steadily beginning an assault on the airwaves, and a rigorous tour schedule taking them through the new year, with clubs, not arenas at the top of the list.
"We'd be happy just to pack clubs. I humbly think that we won't become an icon thing. That's rare. That's when music was to be innovated and you can no longer innovate because it's all been done. I think the time of being an icon is over. Obviously, I would love to get to a point where our band could headline arenas, who wouldn't? But that is such a huge goal. I would be happy headlining a 500 person venue, six days a week. That would be the greatest thing to us. If God had a sense of humor, and we were selling out arenas, I wouldn't even know what to say."
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