Life in Your Way (also known as LIYW) is a
Christian hardcore
Christian hardcore or Christcore is a subcategory of hardcore punk bands which promote Christian belief. The method and extent of doing so varies between bands. Christian hardcore bands have often openly stated their beliefs and employ Christia ...
band from
Connecticut
Connecticut () is the southernmost state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its cap ...
.
History
Origins (1999-2002)
The band was formed by two childhood friends Josh Kellam and Todd Mackey. Jeremy Kellam joined the band to play bass after the dissolution of his former band, which also included Casey McCue who played second guitar for a short period and was then replaced by Jason DiNitto.
The band played many concerts throughout the Northeastern United States, quickly garnering acclaim and a rapidly multiplying fan-base. The band stayed a four piece for some time. At that time they befriended a band called Solace from New York, with whom they released a split CD entitled The Heart and Flesh Cry Out. The musical style of the band at that time far more influenced by
metalcore
Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use of ...
than their later material. Todd who later played guitar for the band, played drums in this incarnation.
The Sun Rises and the Sun Sets... and Still Our Time is Endless (2002-2006)
Jay exited the band and after a short hiatus, Todd transitioned to guitar and the band recruited John Young to take his place as drummer. They also added Andrew Bradley as second guitarist. The hiatus and the line-up changes sparked a dramatic stylistic transformation, which was sonically captured on the four song demo entitled 'All These Things Tie Me Down'. Released in 2002 the sharp contrast of the demo with their earlier split CD only further fanned the flames of their popularity. The demo attracted
Indianola Records
Indianola Records is an American independent record label that mainly focuses on hardcore punk.
Overview
Indianola Records was founded in 1999 with the release of Life Before's "Reflections on Tomorrow". The label quickly gained worldwide reco ...
, who signed the band, and released their first two full-length records. The first, ''
The Sun Rises and the Sun Sets... and Still Our Time is Endless'', which was released in 2003, and their second, ''
Ignite and Rebuild'', which was released in 2005. The latter was also released in the Christian Market by
Floodgate Records
Floodgate Records was a part of the East West Records family of labels. It was founded in 2000 and managed by Tim Taber (formerly of The Prayer Chain). Distribution was through Word Records and marketing through Rocketown. Their first release was ...
, and in Europe by Guideline Records.
Member changes, and Waking Giants (2006-2008)
After the recording of ''The Sun Rises and the Sun Sets...'', Todd left the band to pursue an opportunity singing for the band With Honor.
He was replaced for a short time by the former guitarist of the band Solace, Mike Saracino.
Several tours into promoting the record, John Young left the band, and not long after Andrew Bradley left as well.
The band went on a hiatus due to the lack of sufficient band members and started holding auditions for replacements. They chose a drummer, John Gaskill, a resident of Virginia, and also recruited two local guitarists from the defunct rock band October War, Dave Swanson and James Allen.
Once their contract with Indianola Records expired, the band signed with
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...
in June 2006. Their first, and only full-length record for Solid State Records entitled ''
Waking Giants'', was produced by
Garth Richardson
Garth "GGGarth" Richardson is a Canadian record producer and music engineer. He is the son of music producer Jack Richardson (Alice Cooper, The Guess Who, Badfinger, Poco), a pioneer of the music recording industry in the 1960s and 1970s. Gart ...
, and released on March 6, 2007. Shortly after the release of Waking Giants, guitarist Dave Swanson left the band to play guitar for Texas-based electro-pop-rock band
PlayRadioPlay!, and not long after, was followed by James Allen. To replace the two departed guitarists, the band rejoined with former guitarist Todd Mackey, and recruited Corey Stroffolino of the fellow Connecticut band, The Risk Taken.
Disbanding (2008-2011)
The band was set to play its final concert at the Heirloom Arts Theatre in Danbury, Connecticut on July 12, 2008, to a sold-out crowd, reuniting with several former members who played with the band in a revolving line-up at the concert.
Due to the sell-out, the band reunited for a concert not long after on December 20, 2008. At this concert the band performed alongside Wrench in the Works, The Risk Taken, Our Final Say, and With Honor, who had also reunited for the concert.
Reformation and Kingdoms (2011-2016)
On February 11, 2011 the band announced they had reformed, and while several former members returned to the band, John Gaskill was succeeded by Andy Nelson formerly of the band
Wrench in the Works
Wrench in the Works was an American Christian mathcore/metalcore band originating from Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to recording music and touring, Wrench in the Works had been featured on TVU and TVU's metalcore show, Battery for the vid ...
as drummer.
The band stated they would be releasing a new record entitled 'Kingdoms', and later clarified through a Twitter post that ''Kingdoms'' will not be traditional full-length album, but rather will be released successively as three EPs which will be entitled The Kingdom of Man, The Kingdom of Darkness and The Kingdom of God which was released on Come&Live! Records for free in 2011.
The band opened a
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...
campaign for fans to help raise money for the record, and the project met the projected goal of $12,500 in 3 days, 7 hours with 304 backers according to the band members'
facebook
Facebook is an online social media and social networking service owned by American company Meta Platforms. Founded in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with fellow Harvard College students and roommates Eduardo Saverin, Andrew McCollum, Dustin M ...
posts.
The band's comeback show was July 16, 2011 at Toad's Place in New Haven, Connecticut.
Upcoming (2016-present)
After ''Kingdoms'' was released, the band remained inactive. On May 26, 2016, the band released a video saying "Life in Your Way 2017", hinting at new shows and music. The band is due to play Souled Out Festival.
The band is due to release their fifth album in 2017.
The band was set to perform at Birmingham, AL's Furnace Fest 2020 before dropping off during the midst of a pandemic. The band are now slated to perform at Furnace Fest in 2022.
Band members
; Current
* Joshua Kellam – lead vocals (1999-2008, 2011–present)
* James Allen – clean vocals, guitar (2004-2007, 2011–present)
* David Swanson – guitar, background vocals (2004-2007, 2011–present)
* Todd Mackey – guitar, background vocals, (2001-2003, 2007-2008, 2011–present) drums (1999-2001)
* Jeremy Kellam – bass (1999-2008, 2011–present)
* Andy Nelson – drums (2011–present) (formerly of
Wrench in the Works
Wrench in the Works was an American Christian mathcore/metalcore band originating from Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to recording music and touring, Wrench in the Works had been featured on TVU and TVU's metalcore show, Battery for the vid ...
)
; Former
* Andrew Bradley - guitar (2001-2005)
* Jason "Sorterz" DiNitto - guitar (1999-2001)
* John Young - drums (2001-2005)
* Casey McCue - guitar (1999)
* Mike Saracino - guitar (2003-2004)
* John Gaskill - drums (2005-2008) (Now in
Comrades
The term ''comrade'' (russian: товарищ, tovarisch) generally means 'mate', 'colleague', or 'ally', and derives from the Spanish and Portuguese, term , literally meaning 'chamber mate', from Latin , meaning 'chamber' or 'room'. It may also ...
)
* Corey Stroffolino - guitar (2007-2008)
; Timeline
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id:CVocals value:red legend:Clean_vocals
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id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums
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id:album value:black legend:Album
id:other value:gray(0.55) legend:Other_release
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at:10/25/2011
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bar:Josh text:"Joshua Kellam"
bar:Casey text:"Casey McCue"
bar:Jason text:"Jason DiNitto"
bar:Andrew text:"Andrew Bradley"
bar:Mike text:"Mike Saracino"
bar:Dave text:"Dave Swanson"
bar:James text:"James Allen"
bar:Corey text:"Corey Stroffolino"
bar:Jeremy text:"Jeremy Kellam"
bar:Todd text:"Todd Mackey"
bar:Young text:"John Young"
bar:Gaskill text:"John Gaskill"
bar:Andy text:"Andy Nelson"
PlotData=
width:11
bar:Josh from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2008 color:Claret
bar:Josh from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Claret
bar:Casey from:01/01/1999 till:09/01/1999 color:Green
bar:Jason from:09/01/1999 till:06/01/2001 color:Green
bar:Todd from:06/01/2001 till:06/01/2003 color:Green
bar:Todd from:01/01/1999 till:06/01/2001 color:Orange
bar:Todd from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:Green
bar:Todd from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Green
bar:Mike from:06/01/2003 till:01/01/2004 color:Green
bar:James from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2007 color:Green
bar:James from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Green
bar:Dave from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2007 color:Green
bar:Dave from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Green
bar:Corey from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:Green
bar:Andrew from:06/01/2001 till:01/01/2005 color:Green
bar:Jeremy from:01/01/1999 till:01/01/2008 color:Blue
bar:Jeremy from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Blue
bar:Young from:06/01/2001 till:01/01/2005 color:Orange
bar:Gaskill from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:Orange
bar:Andy from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Orange
width:3
bar:Todd from:01/01/1999 till:06/01/2003 color:pink
bar:Todd from:01/01/2007 till:01/01/2008 color:pink
bar:Todd from:02/11/2011 till:end color:pink
bar:James from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2007 color:Red
bar:James from:02/11/2011 till:end color:Red
bar:Dave from:01/01/2004 till:01/01/2007 color:pink
bar:Dave from:02/11/2011 till:end color:pink
Related projects
Current musical projects involving past and present members of the band are:
* The Frozen Ocean (Dave Swanson)
* Barricades (James Allen)
* The Attending (Corey Stroffolino)
* Endeavor (John Gaskill)
*
Wrench in the Works
Wrench in the Works was an American Christian mathcore/metalcore band originating from Hartford, Connecticut. In addition to recording music and touring, Wrench in the Works had been featured on TVU and TVU's metalcore show, Battery for the vid ...
(Andy Nelson)
Discography
* ''Demos'' (2000) (Self Released)
* ''The Heart and Flesh Cry Out (Split with Solace)'' (2001) (Salad Dressing Records)
* ''All These Things Tie Me Down'' (2002)
* ''
The Sun Rises and the Sun Sets... and Still Our Time is Endless'' (2003) (
Indianola Records
Indianola Records is an American independent record label that mainly focuses on hardcore punk.
Overview
Indianola Records was founded in 1999 with the release of Life Before's "Reflections on Tomorrow". The label quickly gained worldwide reco ...
)
* ''
Ignite and Rebuild'' (2005) (
Indianola Records
Indianola Records is an American independent record label that mainly focuses on hardcore punk.
Overview
Indianola Records was founded in 1999 with the release of Life Before's "Reflections on Tomorrow". The label quickly gained worldwide reco ...
/Guideline Records)
* ''
Waking Giants'' (2007) (
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...
)
* ''Kingdoms'' (2011) (Kingdom Records/ Come&Live!)
Further reading
*
References
External links
PureVolume pageMySpace pageInterview on Punk76.com
{{Authority control
American post-hardcore musical groups
Manchester, Connecticut
American Christian rock groups
Solid State Records artists
Musical groups established in 1999
Indianola Records artists
1999 establishments in Connecticut
Metalcore musical groups from Connecticut