Sherazada: Honest, Epic, Solid

by Leigh Silbernagel in Concert Reviews, Musician Reviews, Reviews, Song Reviews, bands to watch

Alternative Rock/Post-Hardcore brings back solid alternative rock, honest musicianship, epic-romantic lyrics, and a quality stage show

June 3, 2008: Sherazada (Bergen County, NJ) was still in its forming stages when I met Stephen Nahorniak, lead singer of Sherazada, at a party at The College of New Jersey in December 2006. Six months later, he sent me an invite to the Sherazada Facebook group. I first saw them perform at the Bogota VFW in September 2007: I blew off tailgating at a TCNJ football game to drive an hour and 45 minutes to see them perform a short set on a small stage. On May 28, 2008, I was listening to “Let it Go” downstairs, my brother heard the song, came down from upstairs and asked, ‘what band is that?’ I said, ‘Sherazada.’ He said, ‘I know the lead guitarist.’ I said, ‘I know the singer.’ My brother and I never agree on anything; but on that Wednesday, we agreed that Sherazada should have played Bamboozle 2008.

[The Band]

Sherazada began in the summer of 2006 and spent a year fine tuning the philosophy behind the band, writing songs, searching for the right members and rehearsing. Alternative-Rock- Post-Hardcore out of Bergen County, the members are Stephen Nahorniak; vox, Adam Biener; lead guitar, Jason Thalmann;­­ lead guitar, Kyle Miller; Rhythm guitar, Glenn Petnel, Drums; Dan Pieraccini, Bass. The band has a harder sound than what you’d expect since the singer has a pop-punk voice: it works because he can scream very well. Every song has nicely done mixing and mastering giving you a good, readily identifiable sound. The band is a combination of Thrice, The Receiving End of Sirens, and August Burns Red. Each performance, you can expect a precise, powerfully emotional metalcore onslaught.

[The Concert]

I saw them perform with Ice Nine Kills and Slow Motion Sickness, May 31^st at Mainstage, 222 Wanaque Ave., Pompton Lakes, New Jersey. I really like the venue, Mainstage. The crowd loved every second that Sherazada played. There was pretty intense moshing. Every song delivered, which showed that these are musicians that practice a lot. The band achieved a solid stage show in that the members were cohesive with each other. They also moved around so that each player (except the drummer) approached the crowd at some point, which made the stage show as successful as it was. Nahorniak also jumped down into the crowd during certain songs. Go see this band perform live because the stage show stands up to the music’s combination of hard rock roots with pop metal qualities, demanding instrumental part writing, and intense vocal centric aesthetic.

[The Songs]

“Let it go”

I love the vox for its hard-pop sound (harder than the bubblegum sound of pop bands, but more melodic than the hardcore bands). You can’t go wrong with epic lyrics. For most of the song the guitar playing is strong and stands up to the demanding vocals. The drums enhance the vox and guitar. And I love the hook “we will not falter on our journey/… we will never turn around” because it has just enough call-n-response to compliment it. This is available on their EP “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.”

“Trial by Fire”

This is a heavy alternative song. As in, predominantly alternative sound. I love the guitar playing. Drums are solid. As always, Nahorniak can scream very well. I love the bridge. The lyrics are incredibly deep compared to the other pop-alternative-screamo songs out there. I love the call and answer between the lyrics and the screamo after the bridge and the hook. There is something about it which is also hypnotic. This song is their best in terms of lyrics written.

“Walls of Season”

Standard alternative sounding intro. Nahorniak sounds pop-like in this one. Lyrically, it is also very pop-like. I LOVE the bridge, the effects on the bridge and the transition to the second verse. I’m sitting here thinking, its another pop-punk song, but then you get hit with the guitar playing and have to say, wow. The transition into the screamo part is unlike anything else out there and the guitar playing impresses me. This song showcases how talented the band is and how much potential they have.

“Eclipse”

Nahorniak’s vox amazing in that one minute he can maintain a melody and then he starts screaming very well. Nice mixing and mastering. I love the riffage on the hook and the screamo. Guitar playing is solid throughout.

[The Interview]

I interview Adam Biener and Steve Nahorniak.

When/where/how did you guys form as a band? What’s the story of how you got together?

Adam: I knew Jay for years. There were a lot of failed projects. I came to Jay after not being in a band for a while and we planned the band. We didn’t start writing songs until we had the members. It was really thought out before we started playing.

How did you get your band’s name?

Adam: Sherazada is the English version of Scheherazade, from 1001 Arabian nights.

(Writer’s note: She became the wife of Shahryar by first keeping herself alive by telling him a different story but never finishing it until the next night. She had been educated in her country’s history, poetry, philosophy, the sciences, arts and accomplishments. Her knowledge enabled her to tell fascinating stories which kept her alive.)

Adam: But in reality, the band couldn’t agree on a name. Jay’s girlfriend’s friend is named Sherazada. She called her friend and Jay asked his girlfriend who was on the phone and she said, “Sherazada.” He threw it on the table and it stuck.

What have been your biggest music influences/ Who do you want to sound like?

Thrice, Receiving End of Sirens, August Burns Red — Those three put together.

Musical, political, intellectual influences?

The band is apolitical. We get a lot of inspiration from classical and modern literature. For example, there is a song based on “M” a German classic.

Anything else that made an impact on the music?

Going to concerts, seeing other bands, seeing how they engage the audience and the songs that they write.

Where does the inspiration for the lyrics come from?

Literature.

Biggest reward?

Hearing people sing along with you.

Biggest challenge?

Adam: Getting everything to work. We have a lot of technical difficulties. We pay out of pocket for a lot. Any attempt to rig something yourself doesn’t work.

Dan: Getting along.

Steve: We fight all the time.

What was the best thing about your EP, “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close?”

Adam: It’s not like anything you’ve heard.

Steve: The breakdowns.

I loved ‘Invitation.’ What’s the story?

Steve: That song is not on the EP, it is available to buy on our MySpace. We were searching for new members. We wrote songs to test new members. We did not get the response we wanted from that song. You are one of the few who like that song. It has a place in my heart, I really love the lyrics. Maybe we should rework it.

I also love “Let it go.” What’s the story?

Adam: That song is about the idea of hitting the road. That you learn more on the journey and not because of any destination.

Steve: We were scheduled to record it the next day. We didn’t tell the producer the song had no words. We stayed up all night and wrote it the night before. Really, the band does better under pressure. Nobody knew what it would sound like until we heard the mix. And then we felt, we have to get behind this song.

Best experience at a show?

Adam: We played at a high school show right before Van Atta High. Right before them, they pulled the curtain on us. We were playing behind the curtain for a little bit, the curtain opens. Steve says, “We’re Sherazada.” Everyone stops because they thought we were Van Atta High. We started playing, and then they went crazy during the songs. That was awesome.

Worst experience at a show?

Adam: Tenafly. We were playing with lunch tables taped together for a stage. We couldn’t fit on the stage. And it was only 10 people in the audience … bad chemistry between us.

Advice for new bands?

Steve: As eager as bands want to play. You have to have your music tight. Rehearse, get your — together, so that you aren’t polluting the scene with bad music. Wait, does that make me sound like an —-?

Me: No, it doesn’t, because you’re right. And other bands have told me that, too.

[The Bottom Line]

Each performance, you can expect a precise, powerfully emotional metal-core onslaught. This band is a combination of hard rock roots with pop metal qualities, demanding instrumental part writing, and intense vocal centric aesthetic. This is a band that should have played at Bamboozle 2008 and this is a band for people who want a band that has everything: skilled musicianship, intelligent lyrics, and a solid stage show.

-leigh silbernagel

For

pics of Sherazada: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=1&aid=2066623&l=0103d&id=24803452