As Yet Unbroken

You know those bands with the fancy biographies that tell of inspiration, heartache and how music is a catharsis for the soul?

Well, As Yet Unbroken asked for one just like that. The foursome was also going to buy skinny jeans, tuck them into their limited-edition kicks and swipe their carefully-teased bangs aside before doing so, but then these four musicians decided to just get off MySpace, pick up their instruments, and rock the hell out.

Coming together in late 2007, As Yet Unbroken started earnestly as most bands do -- a bunch of guys jamming in a smoky garage on the edge of town. But despite their varied backgrounds and influences, something clicked -- or maybe it was just the beer -- and an informal regular jam gave way to serious songwriting, grueling rehearsals and delusions of rock grandeur. After shuffling through a number of guitarists, singer Tim Beck, bassist Mark T. Zeilman and drummer Pj Perez solidified the might of As Yet Unbroken with axe man Richard Espe.

The linchpin of As Yet Unbroken's aggressive, guitar-driven songs is the dark lyrical vision of Beck. With songs such as "Alone," "Pseudo Angel" and "My Reality," the former front man of Throttlebent explores the dimly lit corners of life most people would prefer to sidestep. Instead, Beck tackles our harsh reality head on.

However, As Yet Unbroken's music is not simply relentless distortion and foreboding lyrics. With collective influences ranging from The Beatles and The Doors to Black Sabbath and Nine Inch Nails, this quartet injects bits of funk, pop and soul into its metal-tinged alt-rock fusion. Whether via Zeilman's infectious bass grooves, Perez's syncopated drum beats or Espe's soaring guitar textures, As Yet Unbroken explores the modern rock form as much as it does the depths of human emotion.

Zeilman, in addition to holding down the low end and providing backing harmonies, is a prominent Las Vegas artist and gallery owner. Espe has been playing music since age 12 and was a member of numerous Midwest bands including Inflection Machine, Voided by Guises and Fifth Ticket Fraud. Perez -- a 15-year veteran of the Vegas music scene, with stints as lead singer of industrial-rock band Rahne and guitarist of Goth purveyor Morgana Athena -- is also a journalist, blogger and former editor of Racket magazine. (read less)

You know those bands with the fancy biographies that tell of inspiration, heartache and how music is a catharsis for the soul?

Well, As Yet Unbroken asked for one just like that. The foursome was also going to buy skinny jeans, tuck them into their limited-edition kicks and swipe their carefully-teased bangs aside before doing so, but then these four musicians decided to just get off MySpace, pick up their instruments, and rock the hell out.

Coming together in late 2007, As Yet Unbroken... (read more)