Senses Fail

Bergen County, NJ's Senses Fail consisted of vocalist James "Buddy" Nielsen, guitarists Dave Miller and Garrett Zablocki, bassist Michael Glita (ex-Tokyo Rose), and drummer Dan Trapp. Forming in 2002, SF developed a slick amalgam of post-hardcore chuggery and emo heartbreak that was solidly in line with the sound of other New Jersey groups like Saves the Day. Senses Fail quickly issued a debut EP through Boston indie ECA and began to play out frequently while spreading the word with a thriving Internet presence. Drive-Thru Records took notice and signed the group in late 2002. A revamped version of the From the Depths of Dreams EP appeared in April 2003; it featured better mixing, one new song, and an acoustic version of "Ground Folds." A tour with the Used wrapped up the year in a successful fashion. After more heavy touring and a bit of label drama, 2004's Let It Enfold You, named after a Charles Bukowski poem, was released that September through Vagrant/Drive-Thru; a deluxe edition with bonus tracks was issued a year later. The band also contributed a cover of Suicidal Tendencies' "Institutionalized" for 2005's Tony Hawk's American Wasteland video game soundtrack. Relentless touring persisted before the guys began work on their sophomore effort. Senses Fail hit the studio in May 2006 with producer Brian McTernan (Thrice, Cave In) and new guitarist Heath Saraceno (the former Midtown member wound up permanently replacing Miller, who'd previously left the group). A main-stage spot at that summer's Warped Tour and the fall U.K. installment of Taste of Chaos preceded the October release of the explosive Still Searching, which they immediately supported on headlining dates with Saosin and Bleeding Through in tow.