Asking Alexandria is a British metal band that has only been in existence since 2008 but has leapfrogged over bands to headline tours.
Its second album, "Reckless and Relentless," was released in 2011 and jumped all the way to No. 9 on the Billboard album chart.
(Trivia: Utah adult entertainer Belladonna appeared on the album cover.)
However, the band’s success has emboldened Asking Alexandria to pursue a different direction on its as-yet untitled third album, due out in 2013. In some sense, you could say that the band is returning to its 80s’ influences on the new record.
Singer Danny Worsnop said one of his chief singing idols is Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler, and that on the new record he is departing from the vocal style he exhibited on the first two albums. "I think I pigeonholed myself on the last two albums as a screamer," Worsnop said in a phone interview. "[But] I’m a rock ‘n’ roll singer. I don’t consider myself a metal singer. I want to sing like me."
The trend in metal is to occasionally include what are called "clean" vocals, but primarily the focus is on death-growl, guttural vocals. Worsnop wants to show off his cleaner side. "I haven’t gotten the chance to show who I am vocally," he said. "My voice has come a long way. I’ve found my voice. I just want to be a rock singer."
Does Worsnop worry about fans who have come to expect a particular type of vocals from Asking Alexandria?
Nope.
"Those people can f___ themselves," Worsnop said of critics of his new style. "I love pissing people off."
Opening for Asking Alexandria is As I Lay Dying, a San Diego-based metal band whose last three albums — 2007’s "An Ocean Between Us." 2010’s "The Powerless Rise," and 2012’s "Awakened" — have all debuted in the top-11 on the Billboard album charts.
Drummer Jordan Mancino said in a phone interview said that in the first three years of the band, there were 15 different members coming and going. "There was a questionable period where we didn’t know if we could go on," he said.
But times have changed. "It’s great to have five people be committed."
The goal of the band is simple, Mancino said. "We are going to make music that is genuine to us," he said. "The bottom line is that we want to record genuine music and perform genuine music. We will evolve, but it’s hard to say how we’ll evolve."
Asking Alexandria with As I Lay Dying, Suicide Silence, Memphis May Fire, and Attila
When • Monday, Nov. 26, 5 p.m.
Where • In The Venue, 219 S. 600 West, Salt Lake City
Tickets • $28 at SmithsTix
