blessthefall

A Christian-oriented screamo quintet drawing on hip-hop and nu metal elements, blessthefall originated in Phoenix, Arizona, where high-school friends Mike Frisby and Matt Traynor first began practicing together in 2002. Guitarist Frisby and drummer Traynor recruited singer Craig Mabbitt and bassist Jared Warth through the local baby-band scene, officially forming blessthefall in early 2004. After issuing a self-released three-song demo during summer 2005, guitarist Eric Lambert rounded out the group’s final configuration. Heightened local activity, highlighted by numerous performances alongside fellow Phoenicians Greeley Estates, drew the attention of Greeley Estates’ label Science Records—an imprint of Record Collection—which signed the still largely teenaged band in 2006. Appearances with acts such as Norma Jean and Alesana preceded the April 2007 release of their debut album, His Last Walk.

Shortly after the album appeared and while the band was on its first European tour, Mabbitt declared his departure to prioritize time with his family. Although he later sought reinstatement, the position went to Beau Bokan, formerly of Take the Crown; Mabbitt subsequently joined Escape the Fate. With Bokan in place, blessthefall continued touring and, in early 2009, signed with Fearless Records before entering the studio with Michael Baskette to record their sophomore effort, Witness. Following promotional dates in Australia and New Zealand, Mike Frisby exited in early 2011 and was succeeded by Elliott Gruenberg, formerly of Legacy. The band bypassed that year’s Warped Tour to concentrate on their third album, Awakening, which became their strongest commercial showing to date by debuting at number 32 on the Billboard charts.

Work on a fourth album commenced in April 2013, after which blessthefall finally joined the Warped Tour to support Hollow Bodies, produced by Joey Sturgis and issued that August. Guest contributions from members of August Burns Red and Stick to Your Guns helped the record earn favorable fan response and reach number 15 on the Billboard Top 200. North American touring occupied 2014, followed by a return to the Warped Tour lineup in 2015. Their fifth full-length, To Those Left Behind, arrived in September 2015. After years of intensive road work, blessthefall secured a deal with Rise Records, which released their sixth album, the Tyler Smyth-produced Hard Feelings, in early 2018.