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Sound
Hailing from the crossroads of America, Chemcoma
busted down  the doors of their local Lafayette, Indiana music
scene in late 2007 with their genre defining EP, “You and Isolation.” The band’s debut fuses a multi-vocalist design that rises over
a heavy helping of low-end chunk and a thunderous yet dynamic
percussive pulse.
Synthetic and electronic elements are thoughtfully
woven in to the well crafted arrangements and the band’s sound
is anchored by road-seasoned guitars that fluidly alternate between
groove-laden elegance and jackhammer-like precision.
Acrobatic single and dual lead guitar detours are
the ultimate flourishes of a sound that has been described as
too progressive to be pop, too catchy to be merely heavy, and
unique enough to defy comparison.
Origin
The birth of the band came in October 2006 when
musical collaborators Chris  June, Emily
Larimer, Cody Hughes
and Matthew Groschen locked themselves into their
newly acquired rehearsal space to begin writing Chemcoma’s debut
album. The sessions were unconventional to say the least. All
of the writing and arranging of the material was done by way of
computers which allowed the group to truly focus songwriting. Another bonus was the ability for any member to step out
of their regular role to contribute some personal flavor to different
elements of the instrumentation.
The freshness of Chemcoma’s sound is largely influenced
by Chris and Cody donating additional beats and Emily supplying
extra guitar parts. Vocal duties weren’t exclusive either. Most
of the lyrics, melodies, and themes from the material originated
out of group writing sessions.
Overall this alternative approach is responsible
for the band’s memorable musical character and enables Chemcoma
to genuinely enjoy what they do.
The
four-headed, four-voiced monster
Chemcoma showcases the talents of four distinct
vocalists with a range varying from soft and  sweet to angry and
aggressive.
Trade-offs between lead and counter lines are often
exchanged during verses with group participation on choruses to
deliver a huge multi-harmony knock-out punch. This method was
devised by drawing inspiration from 70’s bands like Fleetwood
Mac and The Eagles mixed with modern groups like Sevendust and
Alice in Chains and given the ultimate Chemcoma twist.
The result is fully realized in the live environment
with benefits including distribution of the spotlight and work
amongst the group, members having “rock out” time by not being
tied to the microphone for every part of every song, and the absence
of a lead singer ego.
Synth
from thin air
When experiencing Chemcoma’s live show some will
be curious about the source of synth and electronics when there
isn’t a dj or keyboard player on stage. They don’t need them.
The band makes use of available technology and a well-developed
sense of timing.
Chemcoma near you
When original bassist, Groschen, departed in early 2008, Chemcoma welcomed Steve Schrimsher to fill the role. His energy and enthusiam has helped Chemcoma perform nearly sixty (60) shows in the span of a year in cities across the midwest. With the a newly inked promotional deal with Tinderbox Music to back it up, You and Isolation is now being played on radio stations across the country. Chemcoma will continue to tour in 2009 and has plans to release an accoustic album in the spring. A follow-up to the debut EP is slated for release late next summer.
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