East of the Wall

East of the Wall, a group that refers to itself as a "situational art metal band," formed in Gunnison Beach, New Jersey. Before combining their abilities, its members had performed in separate acts including Postman Syndrome, Day Without Dawn, and Biclops. Starting in 2005, bassist Brett Bamberger, drummer Mike Somers, and guitarist Jeff Speidell developed songs that yielded a self-released EP under the band's own name the next year. Guitarist Matt Lupo joined the lineup ahead of the 2007 album Farmer's Almanac, issued by Forgotten Empire Records. Kevin Conway soon took over guitar duties from Speidell, and in 2009 Seth Rheam replaced Somers on drums while Chris Alfano entered as a third guitarist. After issuing a split with Rosetta and Year of No Light, the band recorded its second full-length, Ressentiment, for Translation Loss. That release brought vocals into a previously instrumental framework for the first time, although sleeve notes credit none of East of the Wall's own musicians with the performances.