Artist description The Fallen, a metal band that posts music on MP3.com, has been selected to receive a recording offer from Metal Blade Records. Beating out nine other finalists to win the Metal Search 2000 Contest, the Fallen is a four-member group from Laguna Hills, Calif., that has garnered recognition through posting music on MP3.com and releasing independent albums. The contest, which was launched by MP3.com and Metal Blade Records in September, invited metal bands from the MP3.com community of digital artists to submit music to be voted on by listeners who visit the site. Bands were judged on a diversity of criteria, including creativity, originality, presentation and self-marketing skills. The Fallen was selected as the contest winner by the Metal Blade A&R staff. Once it reaches an agreement with Metal Blade Records, the band will be the official winner of the Metal Search 2000 Contest. "The Fallen has everything we normally look for in a band--a fresh, heavy sound, excellent musicianship and serious commitment," said Brian Slagel, president of Metal Blade Records. "Working with MP3.com has been enormously valuable for us, and we have found a great resource for discovering new talent on the Internet." The Fallen has been together for more than six years and counts Slayer and Pantera among its musical influences. "The future of music is on the Internet, and I think Metal Blade has taken the initiative and set a new standard in how bands will be signed from now on," said Bryan Klinger, bassist/vocalist for the Fallen.THE FALLEN would like to thank everyone who voted and send out a big Cheerz to all the faithful who helped us get this far! Thank you & Keep the Faith!!!

Music Style Power/Death/Thrash METAL

Musical Influences Slayer/Metallica/Megadeth/Anthrax

Similar Artists Slayer, Death, Machine Head, Sepultura

Artist History Hailing from Orange County, California, THE FALLEN have been making uncompromising heavy metal for over a decade now, a feat that is quite amazing, considering the band resides in the same locale of such pop music darlings like No Doubt & The Offspring, and until the year 2000, did not have a record deal. THE FALLEN have always followed their own vision regarding the music they wanted to make, ignoring the mainstream and such forgotten trends like grunge and alternative, to forge their own sound in a genre that does not often reward originality. The only thing that matters to THE FALLEN is making music that resonates in their own hearts, and in the hearts of people that can appreciate uncompromising, unrelenting heavy metal. THE FALLEN were born in 1992, emerging from a previous band named Crestfallen, which was formed by Mike Granat(lead vocals/guitar), Mark Venier(guitar) and Max Wolff(drums), all of whom met at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. After graduation and upon relocating the band to Southern California, the three hooked up with bassist Bryan Klinger and shortened the name to THE FALLEN, thus creating their current lineup. Wasting little time, THE FALLEN quickly hit the Los Angeles/Orange County club circuit and established themselves as a dangerous live act, opening for metal powerhouses like Testament, Entombed, Cannibal Corpse and Overkill. In early 1994, THE FALLEN's first demo debuted at the #1 spot on the KNAC 105.5 Pure Rock Local Show with the single "Subliminal".  More demos ensued over the years, streamlining THE FALLEN's sound into a unique mixture of what the band likes to refer to as "Power/Death/Thrash Metal", a culmination of the finer points found in each of the various heavy metal subgenres. National and international praise followed each demo release, and slowly but surely, THE FALLEN were gaining new fans not just across America, but also from the different corners of the world. Appearances at the Milwaukee, New Jersey and Los Angeles Metalfests solidified their growing reputation as one of the metal undergrounds most promising bands. Unfortunately, record companies weren't sharing the fans enthusiasm, and THE FALLEN were forced to remain in the underground, where commercial recognition took a backseat to artistic integrity and musical vision. Never a band to base their existence on a record deal, THE FALLEN recorded their own independent full-length CD, "The Tones In Which We Speak", and in early 2000, released it on their own website and through MP3.com. The title track was featured on the "Bluetorch Rush Hour", a cable show broadcast on Fox Sports West that hosts extreme sports. The teaming with MP3.com proved to be a wise one, as based on the strength of their debut full-length CD, THE FALLEN were able to win the Metal Search 2000 contest sponsored by Metal Blade Records & MP3.com, and a subsequent record contract with Metal Blade soon followed. Entering the studio in late 2001 to follow up their independent release, THE FALLEN paired with legendary producer Bill Metoyer to record "Front Toward Enemy", the band's most accomplished work to date, available on Metal Blade Records now. With the addition of new drummer John Skaare, who replaces Max Wolff, THE FALLEN never miss a beat and continue to devastate audiences. The future for THE FALLEN is now, as the time has come for these metal stalwarts to rise from the underground and take their rightful place amongst the legions.

Group Members MIKE GRANAT-guitar/lead vocals; MARK VENIER-guitar/vocals; BRYAN KLINGER-bass/vocals; JOHN SKAARE-drums

Instruments THE FALLEN play BC Rich guitars & basses.

Albums FRONT TOWARD ENEMY(Metal Blade Records),

Press Reviews BRUTALLY HEAVY BEST REPRESENTS THE FALLEN!  THIS BAND PUTS THE "T" IN TIGHT. THIS ALBUM HAS GREAT RIFFS, STRUCTURES AND THEN MORE! GET A PAIR OF DENTURES,... "FRONT TOWARD ENEMY" IS READY TO KICK YOU IN THE TEETH! NO NEED TO SAY "GOOD LUCK" WITH THIS ALBUM, THE GOOD SUPERCEDES THE LUCK! NEED I SAY MORE... GO BUY THIS ALBUM... AND TELL 'EM THE METAL WEB! SENT YA!

Additional Info Merchandise & fan club info available at www.thefallen.net

Location Laguna Hills, California - USA

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