U.P.O.

L.A.'s aggressive rock quartet U.P.O. features vocalist Shawn Albro, guitarist Chris Weber, bassist Ben "Crouch" Shirley, and drummer Tommy Holt. Although Albro and Weber already resided in the same city, their paths first crossed at England's Reading Festival during the mid-'90s. By 1997 they had recorded a demo that drew major-label attention, prompting the pair to assemble a rhythm section. After searching, they recruited Shirley, an acquaintance of Albro's, while Holt answered a newspaper advertisement. U.P.O. then signed with Epic and issued their debut album, No Pleasantries, in mid-2000. Four years afterward the band delivered its follow-up, Heavy.