Dezeray's Hammer

Emerging from Spartanburg, South Carolina, the melodic rock trio Dezeray's Hammer features Aaron Whisnant handling lead vocals and guitar, Chris Francisco on bass, and Kenny Hogan behind the drums. Their approach echoes the early-21st-century hitmakers Matchbox 20 and Third Eye Blind, and the band had already put out two recordings by the close of 2001: Mortified in 2000 and Immune in 2001, the second of which was helmed by noted producer Greg Archilla, whose résumé lists Matchbox 20, Collective Soul, and similar acts.