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Downtied

Biography

Downtied (2003-?): a Progressive Metal band from Denver, Colorado, USA.

D

enver's Downtied wasn't playing games when they introduced their aggressively thought-provoking and textured style on their self-titled demo.

Downtied, featuring Robert Jepsen (drums), Cameron Burris (guitar) and Dustin Griboski (bass), was a dynamic force to be reckoned with and a shear challenge to more than the local scene. Downtied would represent a dual reference to how every human being is tied down to basic instinctual emotions and societal norms. While Downtied's diverse music could be related to the varied emotions of individual entities, the band wanted people to "rise above the mundane and trite expectations that are spoon-fed like breakfast cereal".

Although Downtied was determined to put out their first full-length CD in 2006 they were suddenly not heard from again.

The seeds of Downtied were first planted in 2002, when Burris' and Jepsen's first band, Oxygen Thieves, broke up. With music coursing through their veins, the two were destined to search out a bassist and lead singer. After months of putting up flyers and advertizements, along came Griboski, who played stand up bass with the Aurora Symphony and several local universities. He also played a show with Denver-based Dotsero at Jazz@Jack's. Burris, Jepsen and Griboski formed Downtied in August of 2003 and played several shows as an "instra-metal" (heavy metal music without vocals - instrumental) trio, including three Nobody In Particular Presents (NIPP) venues in Denver: the Gothic Theater, the Ogden Theater and the BlueBird Theater.

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Downtied took inspiration from progressive rock and heavy metal bands of the '90s, including: Tool, Pantera, Deftones, Mudvayne and Rage Against the Machine. While inspired by such prominent rock and heavy metal icons, Downtied fused their inspirations with traditional genres like jazz and classical. Downtied shared the stage with other local acts like Switchpin, Ransom and Aggressive Persuasion, to name a few. They also scored the original soundtrack for Baby Hunter 2, part of Spike and Mikes Twisted Festival of Animation 2003, which was shown throughout the US, Canada and most of Europe.

In June of 2005, Downtied went live with KBPI's Uncle Nasty for an interview and airtime. Downtied then got interviewed by YourHub.com, a web site and print section of the Rocky Mountain News, and published in four of the paper's local editions - Denver, North Aurora, South Aurora and Highlands Ranch. Downtied also won two battle of the bands, even as an instra-metal band.

Several members of the band had professional leanings with Burris, who has been shredding strings for nine years, took guitar lessons from a professional jazz and classical guitarist and received direction from his father, John Burris, who owned music studios, produced many local acts and recorded Big Head Todd and the Monsters. His uncle, Kirk Burris, was in many local bands that toured nationally. Both familial influences taught him true love and appreciation of music as an art form throughout his entire life. Rather than hog the stage, Burris accentuates all the other band members so they equally stand out. His influences included Wes Borland (Black Light Burns), Adam Jones (Tool), Tim Mahoney, Dimebag Darrell (Pantera), Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), Greg Tribett (Mudvayne), Jim Root and Mick Thompson (Slipknot).

Griboski utilized his influences on bass from the likes of Justin Chancellor (Tool), Ryan Martinie (Mudvayne), Victor Wooten and Jaco Pastorius, and analyzed the guitar pieces in four-part harmony while using chordal, modal strategies to form a solid homophobic texture of sound. He also played in the top ensemble at the University of Colorado at Denver.

Jepsen has dedicated five years to playing the drums, and took inspiration from and absorbs the best aspects of high-profile drummers Danny Carey (Tool), Matt McDonough (Mudvayne) and Carter Beuford (Dave Matthews Band). He writes what he naturally feels is right for each individual song, without prodding specific formulas.

Burris, Griboski and Jepsen at the time were pursuing Bachelor's degrees in music performance at the University of Colorado at Denver.

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