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“The last couple of years were the most challenging for us as a band.” Evergreen Terrace’s guitarist Joshua James spoke on their recent hardships. “We lost a long time member, gas prices we're eating us alive and record sales were down across the board, all due to the hurting economy. The future didn't look bright. When Craig, Kyle and I got into the practice space to start writing the new album, we didn't know what to expect but it just flowed out of us. All of the good, the bad, and the ugly things that had happened to us just poured out into these songs. It ended up being the easiest record for us to write because we had been through so much, and had so much built up inside of us.”
In April, the band entered the studio to record Almost Home, the follow up to their 2007 Metal Blade Records debut, Wolfbiker. An album which Outburn hailed as being “indeed badass, and as a band Evergreen Terrace takes a step forward.” Speaking on the significance of the new album’s title, James says, “We are a touring band, and it feels like we are forever saying we're ‘almost home.’ Touring is something that nothing compares to, but there's a feeling of almost being home that resonates with all of us. In a way the band has come full circle back to its original home. We started this band for fun, and it lead us to success. Writing this album has brought us back to the beginning. It has been fun, crazy, frustrating, insomniatic and even with the inevitable pressure, pretty carefree.”
The album was recorded in two separate studios which was a new experience for the band. Musically, the record was tracked at Martell Studios in Kingsland, GA and the vocals were handled by Audio Hammer in Sanford, FL (August Burns Red, Bury Your Dead, Trivium, etc.). “We usually get very little input from engineers because we've always self-produced. This time was the first time we actually had any type of ‘producer,’ so we were pretty excited to see how it was going to come out.” James spoke on the recording process. “We got to Martel Studios and found out that Stan (engineer) is a phenomenal bass player and had some really good instrumental ideas. He actually played all the bass on the record. Jason from Audio Hammer (vocal producer/mixer) had a lot of good ideas for effects and positioning of the heavy vocals and harmonies with Craig's clean vocals. Both Stan and Jason were great to work with. They were very energetic and eager to give their ideas but always let us have full control.”
Hailing from Jacksonville, FL, Evergreen Terrace has been blazing their path through the melodic hardcore style for close to a decade now. Anchored by guitar player/vocalist Craig Chaney’s clean singing and catchy hooks, punctuated by lead singer Andrew Carey's vicious screamed vocals, the five-piece band never depended on anyone but themselves to push their band forward. Rounding out the lineup alongside Andrew and Craig is Joshua James (guitar), Kyle Mims (drums), and currently Chris Andrews (formerly of Stretch Arm Strong) as touring bassist. Continuing their blistering combination of melodic hardcore, metal and punk-rock strains, Evergreen Terrace has gone back to their roots for Almost Home. “I think this record will surprise the new listeners as well as have the old ones stoked. I'd say its best described as a good mixture of (previous albums) Burned Alive by Time and Wolfbiker.” James comments.
The band has toured the world with bands like As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, Parkway Drive, Hatebreed, Rise Against, Thursday, Circa Survive, Every Time I Die, Strung Out, Agnostic Front and many more. They have also done Sounds of the Underground, Warped Tour and Soundwave. Next on the horizon is a tour with The Acacia Strain, Cruel Hand and Unholy with much more to follow.
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