A distinctly progressive, experimental take on the guitar-less metal band, taking full advantage of the strengths of the strings while pushing the sound in unexpected directions....
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A distinctly progressive, experimental take on the guitar-less metal band, taking full advantage of the strengths of the strings while pushing the sound in unexpected directions.
- The Bay Bridged
Anton and Lewis Patzner grew up in a family of classical musicians in Oakland, California. Anton studied composition and violin and Lewis studied cello. After spending their childhoods relentlessly practicing and perfecting classical music the brothers decided it was time to start a band. They named it “Judgement Day”, using the Old English spelling of “Judgement” to coincide with the dark, epic nature of their sound. What began as a two-piece street act on the corners of Berkeley and San Francisco quickly became an experimental powerhouse with the addition of hard-hitting drummer Jon Bush.
Judgement Day’s cinematic 2004 debut album Dark Opus proved that the Patzner Brothers’ violin and cello could hang with any shredding guitar. It also grabbed the attention of acclaimed Omaha indie-rocker Conor Oberst, after fellow Nebraskans Cursive discovered the brothers on the streets of San Francisco. Oberst recruited Anton to tour and record with his band Bright Eyes. For the next four years Judgement Day was put on the back burner as Anton toured the world with Bright Eyes and The Faint and Lewis completed a music degree at the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore.
In 2008 Judgement Day returned. This time they would go national. After releasing a new acoustic EP titled Opus 3: Acoustic and a frightening zombie music video, the band began searching for tours to jump on. Their pitch: A free string section for any headliner who would have Judgement Day open. The plan worked even better than they had hoped. By the end of the year the string metaliers had three US tours under their belt, supporting indie-rock acts Mates of State and Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s as well as the heavier progressive rock ensemble dredg. In under a year Judgement Day had built the foundation for a strong, grass roots national following, all without the support of a label, manager or booking agent.
2009 has already been an exciting year for Judgement Day, as they have just wrapped up tours with Mates of State/Black Kids and Dredg/Torche. On July 1st they’ll be releasing a 7” entitled Out of the Abyss: Live on Tape on San Francisco based label, Third Culture Records. The title track “Out of the Abyss” which is recorded on tape, in a vintage studio in one take, captures the raw energy and spontaneity of the band’s live show and gives a taste of their psychedelic upcoming full-length record titled Peacocks/Pink Monsters, due out later this year. The B-side “Etude” is a 3-minute live take of Lewis on cello. The 7” will come with a digital download of the two songs as well as a bonus track and an insert of the sheet music for “Etude”. “Out of the Abyss: Live on Tape” will be sure to satisfy the appetite any music fan looking for real musicianship or for something fresh and different.
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