Of Mice & Men is a metalcore band formed in Costa Mesa, California, United States in 2009 by Austin Carlile and Jaxin Hall. Their current line-up consists of Austin Carlile (ex. Attack Attack!), Phil Manansala, Valentino Arteaga (ex. Lower Definition) and Alan Ashby.   After recording Someday Came Suddenly and touring with Attack Attack!, Austin was kicked out of the band. After that, Austin decided to start something new on his own. He asked one of his best friends Jaxin Hall from New Zealand to be his partner in crime and a part of whatever he did next. The two got their friends in Though She Wrote and Miss May I to help them write and record the song “Seven Thousand Miles For What?” they had been working on. The next day they posted it and made a MySpace page. Five days later the inevitable happened. They joined up with the two people that had stood by them since day one. Rise Records and Artery were always considered family, and after hearing the song, they were signed.   Solidifying the line up with Valentino Arteaga from Lower Definition on drums, Shayley Bourget from Covette on guitar and vocals, and Phil Manansala from A Static Lullaby on guitar, Of Mice & Men recorded their debut self-titled album.   On April 5, 2010, Of Mice & Men announced on their MySpace that Austin Carlile was no longer in the band due to an inability to tour because of heart surgery and a personal feud with the guitarist. He was replaced with former Sky Eats Airplane vocalist Jerry Roush.

 

MEMPHIS MAY FIRE have consistently pushed the envelope to redefine both themselves and the various sub-genres they’ve made their mark within. 2009’s “Sleepwalking” full-length yielded no exception as the band ventured into the territory of Post-Hardcore / Southern Rock with no reservations. Their fresh approach to an otherwise stale scene gathered critical acclaim and found “Ghost In The Mirror” featured on the both the Saw VI Soundtrack and DVD/Blu-Ray releases. Subsequent touring with the likes of Asking Alexandria, From First To Last, and Alesana facilitated the delivery of their music to the masses and established a live precedent that the band continues to build on today.   Following well-received releases on both Trustkill & Bullet Tooth, domestic/international touring success (featuring the band’s first visit to Japan) and a tag as one of Revolver Magazine’s “Top 25 Under 25,” we’re left with only one certainty; members Matt Mullins (vocals), Kellen McGregor (guitar), Ryan Bentley (guitar), Cory Elder (bass), and Jake Garland (drums) are headed somewhere fast.   In fact, it’s safe to say that MEMPHIS MAY FIRE are “Sleepwalking” no longer. Their latest effort, “Between The Lies,” boasts an elevated aggression that tastefully combines elements of melodic metal, southern rock, and electronics amidst a platform of carefully crafted songwriting. Existing solely in the digital realm, this EP is clearly an indication of things to come in terms of its unique dynamics & cross-genre experimentation.    Fast forward to 2011 and MEMPHIS MAY FIRE have now partnered with Rise Records as an outlet for their musical creativity. This move continues to broaden the band’s reach and welcomes a new world of possibilities within the scope of their burgeoning career. MMF’s high-octane live show acts as a testament to their ever-increasing identity and always leaves the audience wanting more. Expect their RISE debut to enter your lives later this spring alongside a massive touring cycle that is sure to reach your doorstep. Critics beware; MEMPHIS MAY FIRE are not only here to stay, they’re paving the way.

Hailing from sunny San Diego, CA, SECRETS has already made an impact as one of the most promising up and coming acts in the scene. Armed with irresistibly catchy choruses, soaring vocals, and mercilessly dynamic breakdowns, its no wonder the post-hardcore five-piece has seen such success since signing to Velocity/Rise Records in the Spring of 2011.

Velocity Records’ Dave Shapiro says, "When I heard these songs, I knew San Diego had yet another band that would be at the forefront of their genre." Rise Records’ founder Craig Ericson is equally pumped on the signing, explaining, "Dave showed me the band and I immediately knew these guys were keepers.”

SECRETS released their debut full length The Ascent (Produced by Tom Denney) in January of 2012 to rave reviews. The record debuted at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart and became the first Velocity Records release to crack the Billboard Top 200, debuting at #185. SECRETS will be touring heavily this Spring in support of the release, hitting the road with Sleeping With Sirens in March and April and then jumping right into the "This World Is Ours" tour in April and May with heavy hitters Attack Attack! and Escape The Fate.