Biography
Random Hero emerged from Denver as a Christian metal outfit known for its theatrical style, climbing the charts in the early 2010s through a string of independently issued EPs. Although personnel rotated repeatedly across the years, the group maintained its aggressive sound and spiritually centered lyrics across releases such as Oceans of Change in 2014 and The Covering in 2017. Once signed to a major label, the quartet delivered a potent fourth effort titled Tension in 2019.
The band took shape in 2005, its founding roster holding together only briefly while guitarist Joshua Bertrand anchored the songwriting. After pivoting from secular metal toward the Christian audience, Random Hero unveiled its first EP in 2009 with an entirely refreshed lineup featuring vocalist Aaron Watkins and drummer Josh Tarrant alongside Bertrand and bassist Derek Arosemena. Because Tarrant was then serving in the U.S. Air Force, the band entered a track in the Buckley Air Force Base Guardian Challenge contest, resulting in multiple performances of “Guardians of Freedom” at Air Force events throughout that year.
After issuing the follow-up EP Black in 2010, the group began performing at prominent Christian festivals including Cornerstone in Illinois and Agapefest. Teaming with Skillet guitarist Ben Kasica as producer, they dropped the Breakdown EP in 2011 and scored their first Billboard Christian Rock success when the title track reached number four. Shortly afterward Arosemena and Tarrant departed, replaced by Rob McDonough and John Cornella. In 2013 Random Hero independently released its debut full-length Carry Me, Bury Me, a dramatic fusion of Christian-themed metal, hard rock, and orchestral passages that earned them a contract with Illinois-based Redcord Records. With Patrick Madsen installed on drums in place of Cornella, the four-piece cut their sophomore album Oceans of Change, which surfaced in 2014 and spawned further charting singles including “Not Alone” and “Burn Up the Night.” Lineup stability allowed continued touring before the self-released third album The Covering appeared in 2017. Further upheaval arrived in 2018 when Random Hero secured a deal with Universal-affiliated Rockfest Records and parted ways with Bertrand, the final original member; newcomer Micah Labrosse assumed guitar duties, and the resulting fourth album Tension arrived in 2019, registering strongly on Billboard’s Christian and Heatseekers charts.
The band took shape in 2005, its founding roster holding together only briefly while guitarist Joshua Bertrand anchored the songwriting. After pivoting from secular metal toward the Christian audience, Random Hero unveiled its first EP in 2009 with an entirely refreshed lineup featuring vocalist Aaron Watkins and drummer Josh Tarrant alongside Bertrand and bassist Derek Arosemena. Because Tarrant was then serving in the U.S. Air Force, the band entered a track in the Buckley Air Force Base Guardian Challenge contest, resulting in multiple performances of “Guardians of Freedom” at Air Force events throughout that year.
After issuing the follow-up EP Black in 2010, the group began performing at prominent Christian festivals including Cornerstone in Illinois and Agapefest. Teaming with Skillet guitarist Ben Kasica as producer, they dropped the Breakdown EP in 2011 and scored their first Billboard Christian Rock success when the title track reached number four. Shortly afterward Arosemena and Tarrant departed, replaced by Rob McDonough and John Cornella. In 2013 Random Hero independently released its debut full-length Carry Me, Bury Me, a dramatic fusion of Christian-themed metal, hard rock, and orchestral passages that earned them a contract with Illinois-based Redcord Records. With Patrick Madsen installed on drums in place of Cornella, the four-piece cut their sophomore album Oceans of Change, which surfaced in 2014 and spawned further charting singles including “Not Alone” and “Burn Up the Night.” Lineup stability allowed continued touring before the self-released third album The Covering appeared in 2017. Further upheaval arrived in 2018 when Random Hero secured a deal with Universal-affiliated Rockfest Records and parted ways with Bertrand, the final original member; newcomer Micah Labrosse assumed guitar duties, and the resulting fourth album Tension arrived in 2019, registering strongly on Billboard’s Christian and Heatseekers charts.
Albums
Singles