Breaking creative ground and balancing divergent directions, Epochalypse transcends traditional classification. While definitively a rock sound, this four piece band has managed to artfully combine the positive, take-back-the-earth message of hip hop with the knuckle dragging ferocity of hard rock head banging.
Currently living on the Mendocino County coast, Epochalypse is made up of consummate musicians who know how to groove—in pretty much every genre as their past projects attest. Their ...
Breaking creative ground and balancing divergent directions, Epochalypse transcends traditional classification. While definitively a rock sound, this four piece band has managed to artfully combine the positive, take-back-the-earth message of hip hop with the knuckle dragging ferocity of hard rock head banging.
Currently living on the Mendocino County coast, Epochalypse is made up of consummate musicians who know how to groove—in pretty much every genre as their past projects attest. Their sound is influenced by a wide range of music, primarily the hard rock and rock and roll styles of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s; hip hop styles of the 80s, 90s and 00s; reggae and alternative music of all styles and eras; as well as 70s and 80s funk and R&B. Blending these diverse genres with their native talents, Epochalypse creates a rock sound that is solid, driving, and infused with soul speaking songs that thunder with passion and purpose.
Raised in Point Arena, lead vocalist and lyricist Ian Gleason (“Ian G.”) has participated in numerous touring band projects—including North Coast Underground, Dysphunctional Species, Vin Lawdin and the Caliband—and literally grew up jamming with the other Point Arena native in the band, bass player/vocalist Jacob Stillman (“Jake”)—also working with Covered in Butter. Similarly, guitarist/vocalist Michael Burton (“Mike. B.”) and drummer/vocalist James Schmidt (“Schmidty”) were both raised in Kansas City, MO, and started gigging together as teenagers; both have featured in a number of different bands including Otis, The Last Lighter and Thunderhoof.
Lyrics like “as time marches on we grow strong as the trees, don’t let the song of Babylon bring you down to your knees” (The Song of Babylon) and “I hated you for the pain that you caused me, now I love you for the lessons that you taught me” (Love the Hate) remind that hope is still possible in a world rife with pain and deception. Whereas, “we’re not ready to die for you” (Gonna Get You) sounds a warning to those weilding false power of a force much greater than personal gain—one that history will give the upperhand.
Mixing fire and water, earth and sky, rebellion and insight, Ian G.’s words are driven by the heart, infusing the ferocious guitar, driving bass, explosive drums with an unmistakable joy and desire to thrive through all the follies and tribulations of humanity, creating a direct path to the epoch beyond the apocalypse.
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