New Universal Motown band Terrible Things may be hailed as rock all-stars – with ex-Taking Back Sunday vet Fred Mascherino, Coheed and Cambria alumnus Josh Eppard, and Hot Rod Circuit guitarist Andy Jackson forming the powerful triumvirate.
Appetites whetted for the splintering, pointed rock we've come to expect from each member of the reserved trio should prepare for added twists to their own reliable brand this time around. Never known to rest on thorny laurels /giving the gas face to the weathered indie formula of 'doing well and being miserable' in a recent interview with Alternative Press/, Mascherino's first order of new business was to record the new album in Birmingham, Alabama with producer Jason Elgin.
Terrible Things have made a concept album about a series of fires that haunted Fred's former hometown, the depressed Pennsylvania steel-millburgh of Coatesville, PA, located 40-plus miles west of Philadelphia. A reign of arson terror scorched the more modest neighborhoods of Chester County from 2007-2009. "It's not a political album," says Fred. "I leave that to others. But growing up in Coatesville, the shock of these fires affected me in a way I was even surprised at."
On the album, the band addresses such themes of fear and alienation in songs like "Revolution," with the lyric – 'This is not a revolution til we say it is…it seems we only want what we don't have….' Another song, the searing "Up At Night," touches on the town's fear and atrophy – 'burning, burning bright, our eyes wide open; I bet you can see our town at night from space.'
"I was just struck by the helplessness," says Fred. "Growing up there I remember the decay, but this was such a mindless thing, symptomatic maybe, of pure hopelessness" Though the band didn't initially set out to do a concept album, Fred says the other band members understood the depth of Fred's passion. Andy's contributions include "Not Alone," and "Wrap Me Up." Josh's Coheed and Cambria chops – no stranger to conceptual themes in their music, as well – made the debut offering a total communal effort.
The choice of Jason Elgin as producer, and the surprise location of Birmingham, Alabama to record their kick-off CD was agreed upon by all three members 'to get into a different head space,' says Fred. Jason was great, and to record down here meant no distractions. We were totally engaged in the music."

"Electric Sun is Vlad Holiday (lead vocals/lead guitar), Amanda Carl (keyboards/backing vocals), Steve Kellner (bass guitar/backing vocals) and Dave Tantao (drums). After a year and a half of writing songs about optimism, something Holiday explains he found "by sitting back and viewing other people's negativity" he presented the material to his long time friends. Holiday's goal is to "inspire people to do great things...I want to add soundtracks to their lives and give them a bit of extra fuel to get through the day." Carl, Tantao, and Kellner all backed Holiday's vision and ES was formed. The Gilded Cage EP is available now on iTunes"