Ambitions

In 2005, three ex-members of the straight-edge metalcore band With Honor—Jay Aust on vocals, Jeff Aust on guitar, and John Ross on bass—launched Ambitions in Connecticut. Their goal was to erase boundaries separating hardcore from punk while crafting lyrics rooted in everyday realities. What began as a studio-only trio, they tracked a demo and material for the upcoming EP Question ahead of securing a road-ready configuration. Early performances drew support from sympathetic associates such as Shai Hulud’s Matt Fox and Matthew Fletcher alongside Throwdown’s Mark Choiniere, yet the permanent roster crystallized once Jake Woodruff joined on guitar and Keith Sidorowicz took the drum chair. That stabilized unit promptly embarked on dates alongside Have Heart. Think Fast! Records issued the single “Neon Lights” together with the seven-track Question in autumn 2006. Critical praise followed, prompting extensive touring with Modern Life Is War, Shipwreck, and Verse; the resulting attention drew Bridge Nine Records, which contracted Ambitions for a debut full-length. Greg Thomas produced the album Stranger, slated for release on July 31, 2007.