Personnel:

Lawrence Daniel Caswell: testimony
Jeff Deasy: bass
Matt Fish: drums
Ron Kretsch: guitar
Jason Schafer: guitar

Lives of the Saints began its career as a Bad Brains tribute band called Fearless Vampire Killers, organized solely for the purpose of a benefit show for the Cleveland Free Clinic. The chemistry between the four original members was so potent, however, that the Bad Brains set was summarily discarded and the Lives of the Saints moniker was adopted. And no wonder -- several of the members had been together in very influential underground Cleveland bands, such as Biblical Proof of UFOs, the Conservatives, and Proletarian Art Threat. Over the course of two years, the lineup grew even further: Matt Fish, drummer for former Get Hip recording artists the Chargers Street Gang, joined the band.

The result is a furious summation of all that is good and true about the Midwest's underground music scene: a loud repudiation of trends brought about by insubstantial "rock" fashionistas, and an unwavering adherence to full-on catharsis. Drive Like Jehu-poisoned guitars weave between order and chaos, spurred on by dub-infected bass and muscular drumming. What truly makes Lives of the Saints stand out from their atonal peers is the soulful wail of Lawrence Daniel Caswell. The resulting effect is at once terrifying and beautiful, as if Bobby Womack were singing the Book of Revelation over a bursting dam.

Others have coined terms to describe us, for example, "Splatter R&B," "Soul Noise" and "Gospelcore." We think these are not entirely off the mark, but not quite on it, either. For the firsthand experience, we have some MP3s.