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"In the beginning, the plan
wasn't to be a band. We just wanted to document our music."
Conceived in the summer of 2008 by Milwaukee natives and high school friends
Peter Grau and Amir Hamizadeh, The Siege Perilous originally set out to meet a
simple goal: record the songs that Peter and Amir had written in the years
previous. They had been in bands that didn't welcome acoustic music, and both
boys had notebooks full of simple chord progressions and softhearted lyrics that
they couldn't bear to ignore any longer.
Over a year after initially setting out to make the recordings, The Siege
Perilous, now rooted as an acoustic rock duo, has seen their mission
accomplished. With the help of four additional guest members, the duo was able
to write, record, produce, mix, and master their own 12-track album, "Under
Siege". The dozen tracks were handpicked from a library four times that number,
with some dating back years before the group formed, and others written as
recently as during the disc's production. Such a method allowed the songs to
ripen naturally, to eventually take courses not originally intended (an obvious
theme within the band itself.)
"Under Siege" boasts a surprising range of sounds for being masterminded by just
two teenagers. "Overflow" opens the disc with a drifting classical guitar
leading into a rhythmic flow of acoustic rock, tinged with an Iron and Wine
feel. The catchy pop-rock "Streetlight" is driven by its unique blend of guitars
and saxophones, while the haunting "Step into the Light" features an atmospheric
mix of grand piano and raspy vocals. Mid-tempo rocker "Dustface" adds a catchy
electric lead to the mix of acoustic songs, while "Call to Arms" utilizes
multi-layered guitars to capture a thoroughly upbeat feeling. "The Edge of Civil
War" very well could have been a leftover from The Joshua Tree sessions, giving
the traditional sounds of U2 a modern radio twist. Featured on the disc as a
guest vocalist, soulful alto N'Jameh Camara contributes to three tracks,
including "The Finish Line", a Goo Goo Dolls-esque rock ballad, and "What I'm
Leaving Behind", which closes the album with an excerpt from the literary figure
Oscar Wilde.
The Siege Perilous' hope-themed debut effort, "Under Siege", was released in
early September of 2009. What began as an alternative creative outlet with
little drive and direction became a full fledged project, purely of the sheer
heart that was put into the music. The songs are raw, the lyrics are honest, and
the first set of stories have been told. Mission accomplished, says the band,
but not over. Not yet.
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