Summer's End

Vocalist Josh Hansen and guitarist John Letzkus, after fruitless efforts in the short-lived New Jersey outfits Abysmal Gates and Blood Runs Cold, made their way back to their Washington D.C. birthplace in 2002 intent on beginning again. They assembled Summer's End and began writing material in a style they labeled "horror-core," although audiences heard little more than metallic death-thrash largely free of hardcore influence. With the addition of rhythm guitarist Paul Macatee, bassist Bucky Griffin, and drummer David Eaton, the group launched tours alongside assorted East Coast heavy metal acts and tracked a self-titled debut album alongside producer Eric Rachel. Hand of Hope Records issued the record in early 2005, by which point the founding pair had already reshaped the lineup around new rhythm guitarist Brian Mitchell, ex-the Burning Season bassist Dave Clarke, and former Walls of Jericho drummer Alexei Rodriguez.