As I Lay Dying

BIOGRAPHY

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As I Lay Dying (2000-2014, 2017-present): a Metalcore band from San Diego, California, USA.

merican metalcore group As I Lay Dying (a.k.a. AILD), named after the William Faulkner novel of the same name, formed in 2000 featuring Tim Lambesis (vocals), Jordan Mancino (drums) and Evan White (guitar) to soon after release their debut in the form of Beneath the Encasing of Ashes (2001). A split CD with American Tragedy (As I Lay Dying/American Tragedy) followed the next year. They would then sign to 'Metal Blade Records' to release their sophomore effort, Frail Words Collapse (2003). After the album's release, White left, with two guitarists moving in to replace him, Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa, while also recruiting bass player, Clint Norris.

Shadows Are Security (2005) followed before As I Lay Dying came next, and after, the A Long March: The First Recordings compilation arrived in May 2006, including their 2001 out-of-print debut, along with two versions of their songs from the previous 2002 split with American Tragedy.

After a tour alongside In Flames, Gwar, Trivium and Cannibal Corpse, Clint Norris left to pursue life as a family man, with Josh Gilbert replacing him on bass and backing vocals. Now with the addition of Gilbert's harmonic vocals, the band's sound became more melodic, with the new sound debuting in August 2007 on An Ocean Between Us; and album that debuted at 8 on the Billboard 200 and 1 on the Top Rock chart. Co-produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz and the band itself, and mixed by Colin Richardson, the album received generally positive reviews.

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On November 8, 2011, As I Lay Dying released a compilation, Decas, in honor of the band's ten-year anniversary. The album featured three new, original songs; four cover versions of songs by bands such as Slayer, Judas Priest and Descendents; a re-recorded medley that uses parts of several songs taken from Beneath the Encasing of Ashes; and four remixes, consisting of one song from each of their albums since Frail Words Collapse.

In May 2013, Tim Lambesis was arrested after attempting to hire a hitman who turned out to actually be an undercover detective to kill his estranged wife Meggan Lambesis. He was officially charged with solicitation of another to commit murder and two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime. Law enforcement found and arrested him at a Barnes and Noble bookstore in Oceanside, California. In February 2014, Lambesis pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years and was subsequently released from prison on parole in December 2016.

In the wake of Lambesis' arrest, rather than continue on without Lambesis, Mancino, along with former members Phil Sgrosso, Nick Hipa and Josh Gilbert, decided to focus on a different style of music under the name Wovenwar, with Shane Blay as the vocalist; this project took shape long before Lambesis' plea. although Mancino technically still remained a member of As I Lay Dying. During this period of time, Lambesis was also working on music and found time to release the third Austrian Death Machine album, Triple Brutal.

It took considerable effort on Lambesis' part to attone and apologize to his former band mates for his behavior when he was released from prison in 2016, but eventually they came around to reform the act in 2017 with him as a member to release Shaped by Fire (2019).

On May 16, 2022, it was announced that Gilbert left the band after 15 years; the band announcing Ryan Neff from Miss May I would play bass on their upcoming tour. Around the same time, it was announced Unearth guitarist Ken Susi would play guitar on the band's upcoming tour as a replacement for Hipa who had left shortly before. Susi would later leave Unearth and join As I Lay Dying as a full-time member on March 3, 2023. Back on June 9, 2022, drummer Jordan Mancino announced he will be sitting out of the band's upcoming tour dates. Drummer Nick Pierce, also formerly of Unearth, was announced as the band's live drummer for their upcoming tour. A week later, the band claimed Mancino, "ex-communicated himself from the band" and that moving forward without him "was the only option", implying he was no longer in the band. By the time the dust cleared the new membership was Lambesis and Sgrosso now with Ryan Neff (bass/vocals (clean)/songwriting (track 10)), Nick Pierce (drums) and Ken Susi (guitars) for Through Storms Ahead (2024).