Cry Of The Afflicted

Sporting a balance between guttural screams and expansive vocal hooks, the aggressive yet melodic rock outfit Cry of the Afflicted formed in Kelowna, British Columbia—roughly three hours northeast of Vancouver—during the winter of 2003. Within months the group landed prime support slots across western Canada, sharing stages with Misery Signals and Bury Your Dead. Their first release, the EP From the Shadows, appeared in September 2004 via Ethics Industries. At that time the lineup consisted of guitarist James Johnson, vocalist Garrett Packer, bassist/vocalist Nik Wagener, guitarist Steve Lockhart, and drummer Troy Doell. Despite steady regional promotion, the band reached a broader audience largely through chance when they issued Consume This Wasteland in 2006. While performing on that summer’s Warped Tour, several members struck up an unplanned conversation with representatives from Solid State, the heavier imprint of Seattle’s Tooth & Nail Records. Once identities were clarified, a copy of the new album changed hands, prompting the label to offer a deal. Cry of the Afflicted’s subsequent full-length, The Unveiling, arrived in August 2007.