Silent Planet

Silent Planet is an American metalcore band from Azusa, California. The band is currently signed to Solid State Records. To date they have recorded two EPs and three full-length albums. Their name is derived from the C.S. Lewis science fiction novel Out of the Silent Planet.

History[]

Before finalizing the lineup for Come Wind, Come Weather the band held practices in the Azusa Pacific University music building. They shared practice sessions with fellow hardcore band Hepafilter,^[10] in which Russell was also the lead vocalist. Russell recorded an EP titled "Coward"^[11] with Hepafilter and toured with them until they disbanded in late 2011.^{[citation needed]}

In 2012 the band recorded their first EP Come Wind, Come Weather in Atlanta, Georgia with producer Matt Goldman, which they released on May 15, 2012.^{[citation needed]}

Afterwards, they toured with bands such as Becoming the Archetype, I, of Helix and Dayseeker and played at California Metalfest 2012.^{[citation needed]}

On February 14, 2013 the band released the song "Tiny Hands (Au Revoir)", which tells the story of Marguerite Rouffanche, survivor of the Oradour-sur-Glane massacre on June 10, 1944.^[12]
They continued touring and played on the Scream the Prayer Tour with bands like Wolves at the Gate and Fit for a King.^[13] On July 23, 2013 the band released "Darkstrand (Hibakusha)", which, like "Tiny Hands (Au Revoir)", also tells the story of a World War II victim; this time the story is set in Japan just after the impact of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.^[14]

On January 2, 2014 their five-track EP lastsleep (1944–1946), which is based on the stories of World War II victims,^[15] was released. It contains the two songs released in 2013 along with "Wasteland (Vechnost)", and two instrumentals. Later that year, they went on tour with bands such as Sleeping Giant, This or the Apocalypse, Phinehas, Those Who Fear, Lionfight and The Ongoing Concept.^[16][17]

On May 17, 2014 the band announced the completion of their upcoming album,^{[18][non-primary source needed]} which the band announced on July 13, 2014, to be released in fall 2014 through ″an artist-friendly record label who is allowing [them] to retain full creative control."^{[19][non-primary source needed]} On September 14, 2014, the band announced the release date of their upcoming album to be November 11, 2014, on September 19 they dropped a hint pointing toward the new album name on their Facebook page, while on September 23, 2014 it was announced that their new album The Night God Slept would be released on November 10, 2014, through Solid State Records.^[20] The band then released some new songs from their upcoming album to their Facebook page, starting with "XX (City Grave)" on September 30, followed by "Native Blood" on October 23, "firstwake" on November 2 and "Depths II" on November 5.^{[citation needed]}

On September 30, 2015, Efimov announced his departure from the band.^{[21][non-primary source needed]}

On April 27, 2016 Silent Planet announced on the Vans Warped Tour Instagram, the title of their second record, Everything Was Sound and the release date of the album which was July 1, 2016.^{[citation needed]} The band was on the Vans Warped Tour 2016 during the release of the album.^{[citation needed]}

The band released three singles from the upcoming album with two of them released as music videos. "Panic Room" was released on May 12, 2016.^{[citation needed]} "Psychescape" which featured Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath and Sleepwave was released on June 2, 2016 and "Orphan" was released on June 17, 2016.^{[citation needed]}

On October 26, 2016, it was announced Drummer Alex Camarena has formed a side-project with For Today brothers, Brandon and Ryan Leitru, and former A Bullet for Pretty Boy vocalist Dalon Saylor called Nothing Left, which is due to release music by the end of the year, via Nuclear Blast.^[8]

On June 15, 2018 the band released "Northern Fires (Guernica)", which revolves around the Spanish Civil War.^[22] The band released another single on July 17, 2018, it was titled "Vanity of Sleep", which revolves around modern consumer despair.^{[citation needed]} On August 7, 2018, the band announced the title of their third studio album, When the End Began, which was released on November 2, 2018.^{[citation needed]}

On January 24, 2020, the band released "The Night God Slept Redux", a recreation of their debut album, re-recorded and mixed from the ground up with no fanfare, only a few social media posts.^[23][24][25]

On February 14, 2020, the band released "Trilogy", a single that focuses and revolves around vocalist Garrett Russell's stay in a mental hospital in which he wrote the lyrics in one sitting.^[26]

Style and influences[]

Musically, the band has been described as progressive metalcore,^[3] a fusion genre of metalcore and progressive metal, and are known for their intricate sound and incorporation of post-rock textures.^[5]

The band has also been noted for their thought-provoking lyrics, which cover topics such as war, psychology, and religion.^[27][28] They have sometimes been labeled Christian metal^[6] due to their use of biblical references and the band members' faith, though they incorporate non-religious themes and references as well.

Band members have listed Oh, Sleeper, Architects, Underoath, and This Will Destroy You as influences on their sound.^[29]

Members[]

Current members

• Garrett Russell – lead vocals (2009–present)
• Thomas Freckleton – bass, keyboards, clean vocals (2012–present)
• Mitchell Stark – guitars (2014–present)
• Alex Camarena – drums (2012–present)

Former members^[30][31]

• Spencer Keene – guitars (2011–2016)
• Igor Efimov – guitars (2014–2015)
• Garrett Lemster – bass (2011–2013)
• Nathan Benedict – guitars (2009–2012), bass (2010–2011)
• Ryan Whittington – guitars (2011–2013)
• Teddy Ramirez – drums (2012)
• Jason Scribner – drums (2009–2010)
• Nick Marshall – guitars, clean vocals (2009–2010)
• Jay Learue – bass (2009–2010)
• David "Ducky" Belvin – guitars (2009–2010)

Timeline

Discography[]

Studio albums

EPs

• Come Wind, Come Weather (2012)
• lastsleep (1944–1946) (2014)

References[]