Phoenix screamo outfit Greeley Estates formed in late 2002. By the following year the five-piece—vocalist Ryan Zimmerman, guitarist Dallas Smith, guitarist Brandon Hackenson, drummer Brian Champ, and bassist Josh Applebach—had already cultivated a devoted local audience through its slickly produced, self-released debut album Outside of This. The next several years found the band on perpetual tour across the United States, which eventually led to a performance at South by Southwest in Austin. Midway through 2005 the group signed with Record Collection, co-headlined MySpace’s fall tour, and issued the EP Caveat Emptor that November. The release showcased the quintet’s blend of catchy melodies, intense vocals, hardcore bite, and optimistic outlook. In January 2006 the musicians entered the studio to track their sophomore album, then joined the Taste of Chaos tour with the Deftones, Thrice, and Story of the Year. After completing a spring headlining run across the country, they released Far from the Lies in June. The summer months were spent on the Warped Tour. Early in 2007 bassist Josh Applebach left to pursue further education, at which point former Versus the Mirror bassist Brad Murray joined permanently.
