Light the Torch
- Metalcore
- alternative metal
- Francesco Artusato
- Howard Jones
- Ryan Wombacher
- Alex Rüdinger
- Mike Sciulara
- Roy Lev-Ari
- John Sankey
- Kyle Baltus
Light the Torch (formerly Devil You Know) is an American metalcore supergroup formed in Los Angeles in 2012. They are currently signed to Nuclear Blast Records and have released four albums: two under the "Devil You Know" moniker (The Beauty of Destruction and They Bleed Red) and two under the "Light the Torch" name (Revival and You Will Be the Death of Me).
History
Devil You Know (2012–2017)
The band started when guitarist Francesco Artusato (All Shall Perish, Hiss of Atrocities) and drummer John Sankey (Devolved) began jamming and writing together in 2012. After 30 to 40 song ideas were written the two decided to look for a vocalist. A couple of early demo recordings were sent to Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage, Blood Has Been Shed) who subsequently got interested and joined the band in late 2012. They named the band Devil You Know.
In early 2013, the band started recording with producer and ex-Machine Head guitarist Logan Mader (Gojira, Five Finger Death Punch).[1]
On October 23, 2013, it was announced the band signed to Nuclear Blast.[2] A day later the first demo song "Shut It Down" was released online through the band's Facebook page.[3] On October 31, 2013, the demo was released officially through the label YouTube channel.[4]
On December 19, 2013, it was announced that the band finished recording of the album and that bassist Ryan Wombacher (Bleeding Through) and guitarist Roy Lev-Ari (Hiss of Atrocities) joined the band.[5]
In February–March 2014, the band took part in Soundwave Festival in Australia.[6]
On March 5, 2014, the debut single "Seven Years Alone" was released.[7] On March 27, 2014, the official music video for "Seven Years Alone" was released.[8]
The band's debut album The Beauty of Destruction was mixed by Chris "Zeuss" Harris and was released on April 24 (EU), April 28 (UK) and April 29, 2014 (US and the rest of the world) via Nuclear Blast.[9][10] It charted at No. 50 on the Billboard 200, selling nearly 6,000 units in the first week.[11]
In April–June 2014, the band took part in Revolver Golden Gods Tour with Black Label Society, Down and Butcher Babies.[12]
On October 31, 2014, a music video for "It's Over" was released.[13] On March 9, 2015, the band released an official music video for "As Bright as the Darkness".[14]
In June 2015, the band started recording the second album.[15]
On September 10, 2015, the band released "Stay of Execution",[16] the first single off the second album titled They Bleed Red which was released on November 6, 2015, via Nuclear Blast.
Light the Torch (2017–present)
On July 26, 2017, the band announced via social media that they had changed their name to Light the Torch without an explanation beyond, "A full statement will be made soon and a new album is very close to being completed. It's a new beginning and we couldn't be more excited."[17]
Jones revealed in an interview on October 13, 2017, that the band had to change its name due to legal issues surrounding Sankey's departure from the band, and how the latter wanted to claim part copyright of the name.[18][19]
Light the Torch released their first studio album Revival on March 30, 2018.[20]
The band released their latest album, You Will Be the Death of Me, on June 25, 2021.[21]
On April 9, 2021, the band released their single "Wilting in the Light" on YouTube from their latest album You Will Be the Death of Me. The music video features Alex Rüdinger from Whitechapel as the band's new drummer. On June 4, 2021, they released another single titled "Let Me Fall Apart".[22]
Music style and influences
Light The Torch is a metalcore and alternative metal band[23]
The band's influences included Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Stryper, Bad Religion, the Exploited, Ignite, Sick Of It All, Hatebreed, Clutch, Crownbar, HIM, Depeche Mode, Portishead, Massive Attack, Deftones, Alice In Chains, Faith No More, Coheed and Cambria, Lower than Atlantis, Every Time I Die, the Acacia Strain, Between the Buried and Me, Mastodon, Gojira, Messhugah, Behemoth, Michael McCann, the Comet is Coming, VUKOVI, Bring me the Horizon, Alter Bridge and Within Temptation.[24][25][26]
Band members
Current
Touring musicians
| Former
|
Timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/t4wrc6tlkhrvpskc3e8hzzeclxb2i1b.png)
Discography
as Devil You Know:
- The Beauty of Destruction (2014)
- They Bleed Red (2015)
as Light the Torch:
- Revival (2018)
- You Will Be the Death of Me (2021)
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album |
---|---|---|---|
US Main. [27] | |||
as Devil You Know | |||
"Seven Years Alone" | 2014 | — | The Beauty of Destruction |
"It's Over" | 2015 | — | |
"Stay of Execution" | — | They Bleed Red | |
"The Way We Die" | — | ||
as Light the Torch | |||
"Die Alone" | 2018 | — | Revival |
"Calm Before the Storm" | — | ||
"The Safety of Disbelief" | 32 | ||
"The Great Divide" | 2019 | — | |
"Wilting in the Light" | 2021 | 33 | You Will Be the Death of Me |
"—" denotes a release that did not chart. |
Awards and nominations
Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2014 | Devil You Know | Best New Band[28] | Won |
References
- ^ "Devil You Know". Facebookm. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know - DEVIL YOU KNOW signs to Nuclear Blast..." Facebook. October 23, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know Shut It Down Howard Jones". Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2014.
- ^ "Devil You Know - Shut It Down (Official Demo)". YouTube. October 31, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know Live Line-Up Announced". MetalSucks. December 19, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "DEVIL YOU KNOW - Soundwave 2014 (OFFICIAL GREETING VIDEO)". YouTube. February 11, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Ex Killswitch Engage Singer's Devil You Know: New Song 'Seven Years Alone' Available For Streaming". Blabbermouth.net. March 5, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "DEVIL YOU KNOW "Seven Years Alone" music video". Metal Injection. March 26, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know Taps Zeuss For Debut Album Mix". Blabbermouth.net. December 19, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know - Here it is DYK fans : Devil You Know..." Facebook. February 14, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Metal By Numbers 5/7: Whitechapel break into the top 10". Metal Insider. May 7, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know - It's official - DYK will be joining Black..." Facebook. February 12, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know - It'S Over (Official Video)". YouTube. October 31, 2014. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "DEVIL YOU KNOW - As Bright As The Darkness (OFFICIAL VIDEO)". YouTube. March 9, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know - DEVIL YOU KNOW to Begin Recording..." Facebook. May 11, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
- ^ "Devil You Know premiere Stay of Execution - Metal Hammer". Archived from the original on September 11, 2015. Retrieved September 10, 2015.
- ^ "Devil You Know Get a Re-Brand". July 26, 2017. Retrieved July 26, 2017.
- ^ "Howard Jones Explains The Drummer Drama That Caused DEVIL YOU KNOW To Change Names - Metal Injection". October 16, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Episode 295 - Howard Jones (Light The Torch) & Trent Hafdahl (After The Burial) — The Jasta Show — Overcast". overcast.fm. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Light The Torch (Ex-Killswitch Engage) Detail New Album "Revival", Stream "Die Alone"". theprp.com. February 2, 2018. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
- ^ "Light the Torch announces new album, 'You Will be the Death of Me' - Music News - ABC News Radio".
- ^ "Light the Torch release new music video for 'Let Me Fall Apart'". June 6, 2021.
- ^ "Light The Torch on Apple Music". Apple Music - Web Player. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Light The Torch - Howard Jones: Now Playing". Spotify. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Light The Torch - Ryan Wombacher: Now Playing". Spotify. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ "Light The Torch - Francesco Artusato: Now Playing". Spotify. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
- ^ Peaks on the Mainstream Rock chart:
- The Safety of Disbelief: "Mainstream Rock Tracks: March 30, 2019". Billboard. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
- Wilting in the Light: "Mainstream Rock Tracks: May 15, 2021". Billboard. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ "Orange Amplification Presents the Metal Hammer Golden God Awards 2014 in Association with World of Tanks". Archived from the original on April 13, 2014. Retrieved April 12, 2014.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Light the Torch at AllMusic
- v
- t
- e
- Francesco Artusato
- Howard Jones
- Ryan Wombacher
- Alex Rüdinger
- John Sankey
- Nick Augusto