Hail the Sun

Originating in Chico, California, members Donovan Melero, Shane Gann, Aric Garcia, and John Stirrat formed Hail the Sun in 2009 whilst in college.{{cite web|url=http://www.equalvision.com/artists/hail-the-sun/|title=Hail The Sun - Equal Vision Records|website=www.equalvision.com|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=June 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628115437/http://www.equalvision.com/artists/hail-the-sun/|url-status=live}} They wrote and recorded their debut full-length studio album, POW! Right In the Kisser!, over the course of three months, which was released on May 21, 2010.{{cite web|url=https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/pow-right-in-the-kisser|title=POW! Right In The Kisser!, by Hail The Sun|website=Hail The Sun|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202151632/https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/pow-right-in-the-kisser|url-status=live}}

The band released the EP album, Elephantitis, on July 3, 2012.{{cite web|url=https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/elephantitis|title=Elephantitis, by Hail The Sun|website=Hail The Sun|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=January 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110234442/https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/elephantitis|url-status=live}} The creative process was heavily influenced by other post-hardcore musical groups the Fall of Troy and Hot Cross, and was dubbed "a sort of paradigm shift in the way post-hardcore can be played, combining a progressive hammer-on-pull-off heavy style of guitar playing and more free range drumming with a huge decrease in riffage, conventional time signatures and simplistic song structures resulted in a spastic, technically savvy sound which fit right in with the high energy mood and feel post-hardcore was known for."{{Cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/55485/Hail-the-Sun-Elephantitis/|title=Hail the Sun - Elephantitis (album review ) | Sputnikmusic|website=Sputnikmusic.com|accessdate=2 October 2020|archive-date=29 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729025158/https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/55485/Hail-the-Sun-Elephantitis/|url-status=live}}

After three years of extensive touring, Hail the Sun became acquainted with Sacramento, California-based post-hardcore band Dance Gavin Dance, eventually signing to Will Swan's independent record label Blue Swan Records.{{cite web|url=http://fhntoday.com/2014/09/04/blue-swan-records-making-a-name-for-itself/|title=Blue Swan Records Making a Name for Itself|first=Ryan|last=Jensen|publisher=|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211131314/http://fhntoday.com/2014/09/04/blue-swan-records-making-a-name-for-itself/|url-status=live}} Hail the Sun released their sophomore studio album, Wake, on September 23, 2014, through the label, to critical acclaim.{{cite web|url=https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/wake|title=Wake, by Hail The Sun|website=Hail The Sun|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171202172813/https://hailthesun.bandcamp.com/album/wake|url-status=live}} Throughout 2014 and 2015, Hail the Sun toured extensively on respective tours from I the Mighty, Too Close to Touch, Dance Gavin Dance, A Lot Like Birds, the Ongoing Concept, Stolas, Polyphia, Our Last Night, Palisades, among several others. On December 3, 2015, it was revealed that the group had parted ways with Blue Swan Records and signed with record label Equal Vision Records, releasing a new demo version of the song, "Paranoia".{{cite web|url=http://www.bombshellzine.com/2015/12/hail-the-sun-join-equal-vision-premiere-paranoia/|title=Hail The Sun join Equal Vision, premiere 'Paranoia' - Bombshellzine.com|date=December 3, 2015|publisher=|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211131326/http://www.bombshellzine.com/2015/12/hail-the-sun-join-equal-vision-premiere-paranoia/|url-status=live}} On March 25, 2016, the band released the official version of the single, "Paranoia".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4dALK3RW9U|title=Hail The Sun "Paranoia" (Live Music Video)|last=Equal Vision Records|date=March 25, 2016|publisher=|accessdate=June 13, 2017|via=YouTube|archive-date=March 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330212430/https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PL-XbTEkQt3TZ9Y-i1S_FSWBryw35DGYC7&v=i4dALK3RW9U|url-status=live}} On April 27, it was announced that Hail the Sun was set to release their third studio album, Culture Scars, on June 17, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.equalvision.com/news/hail-the-sun-to-release-culture-scars-on-june-17/|title=HAIL THE SUN TO RELEASE 'CULTURE SCARS' ON JUNE 17 - Equal Vision Records|website=Equalvision.com|date=27 April 2016 |accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211131245/http://www.equalvision.com/news/hail-the-sun-to-release-culture-scars-on-june-17/|url-status=live}} The band later toured on the 2016 Vans Warped Tour.{{cite web|url=http://vanswarpedtour.com/tag/hail-the-sun/|title=Vans Warped Tour|website=Vanswarpedtour.com|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=February 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212001815/http://vanswarpedtour.com/tag/hail-the-sun/|url-status=live}}

Speaking about the band's third album, Culture Scars, guitarist Shane Gann said "Culture Scars is a term we came up with to refer to those scars, both physical and emotional, that come about due to certain things that society deems as normal and acceptable. We don’t normally put much thought into the amount of pain that may be caused by dirty politics, found within a family with a 'problem child', or existing behind the scenes of an adult entertainment shoot. These themes are so commonplace in the world, and yet there is often so much trauma and hurt that is brought about by all these scenarios. We wanted to shed some light on the darker side of what we think of as normalcy."{{cite web|url=http://www.equalvision.com/news/hail-the-sun-to-release-culture-scars-on-june-17|title=HAIL THE SUN TO RELEASE 'CULTURE SCARS' ON JUNE 17 - Equal Vision Records|website=Equalvision.com|date=27 April 2016 |accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211131245/http://www.equalvision.com/news/hail-the-sun-to-release-culture-scars-on-june-17/|url-status=live}}

On November 8, 2017, Hail the Sun released the single "1109" and announced their extended play (EP), Secret Wars, which was released on November 10, 2017.{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/hail_the_sun_1109/|title=Hail The Sun announce surprise EP, debut lead single, "1109|first=Kaitlyn|last=Ulrich|website=Altpress.com|date=8 November 2017|accessdate=2 October 2020|archive-date=2 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502015154/https://www.altpress.com/features/hail_the_sun_1109/|url-status=live}}

On January 2, 2018, Hail the Sun published a statement confirming that they were recording their upcoming fourth studio album with producer Beau Burchell of American post-hardcore band Saosin.{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/hailthesun/status/948288489652674565 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2018-01-09 |archive-date=2020-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041544/https://twitter.com/hailthesun/status/948288489652674565 |url-status=dead }} The band released two new songs from the album on June 20, 2018, with the entirety of Mental Knife later releasing on September 28, 2018.

On September 4, 2019, Hail the Sun posted an announcement of their new single and video on their Facebook page.{{Citation|title=New Music video for "Devastate and Recalibrate"|url=https://en-gb.facebook.com/hailthesun/videos/484185032141339|language=en|access-date=2020-01-07|archive-date=2022-05-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502015154/https://en-gb.facebook.com/hailthesun/videos/484185032141339|url-status=live}} The band later announced re-entering the studio to record their next studio album New Age Filth. On April 16, 2021, their fifth studio album was released.{{Cite web|url=https://en-gb.facebook.com/hailthesun/posts/10156524834651556|title=Hail The Sun|website=en-gb.facebook.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-07|archive-date=2022-07-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729025158/https://en-gb.facebook.com/hailthesun/posts/10156524834651556|url-status=live}}

On January 5, 2023, Hail the Sun released a new song and music video "Mind Rider".{{cite web | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CnC1pnjPGJS/ | title=Hail the Sun on Instagram: ""Mind Rider" video and single out now. What's your move?" }} They later released their sixth studio album Divine Inner Tension on August 11, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Hail the Sun |title=Our new album 'Divine Inner Tension" is out August 11 on Equal Vision Records |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CsbqzDzrmE1/ |website=Instagram}} This is the first release by the band where the drums were not tracked in studio by Melero.{{Cite web | url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-donovan-melero-of-hail-the-sun-talks-divine-inner-tension| title=Interview: Donovan Melero of Hail the Sun Talks 'Divine Inner Tension'}}

Donovan Melero's vocal style has been often compared to that of recording artist Anthony Green of Circa Survive and Saosin's vocal style.{{cite web|url=http://underthegunreview.net/2013/04/17/utg-interview-donovan-melero-of-hail-the-sun/|title=UTG INTERVIEW: Donovan Melero of Hail The Sun - Under the Gun Review|website=underthegunreview.net|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=February 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211131223/http://underthegunreview.net/2013/04/17/utg-interview-donovan-melero-of-hail-the-sun/|url-status=live}} Hail the Sun has been labelled as a post-hardcore band using elements of progressive rock, math rock, screamo, and emo in its music.{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8868|title=HAIL THE SUN|website=Progarchives.com|accessdate=June 13, 2017|archive-date=July 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714080915/http://progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=8868|url-status=live}}

;Current members

• Donovan Melero - lead vocals, drums, percussion (2009–present)
• Shane Gann - guitar, backing vocals (2009–present)
• Aric Garcia - guitar (2009–present)
• John Stirrat - bass (2009–present)
• Allen Casillas - drums (2016–present; touring and studio)

;Studio albums

• POW! Right In the Kisser! (2010)
• Wake (Blue Swan Records, 2014)
• Culture Scars (Equal Vision, 2016)
• Mental Knife (Equal Vision / Rude, 2018)
• New Age Filth (Equal Vision / Rude, 2021)
• Divine Inner Tension (Equal Vision / Rude, 2023)

;EPs

• Elephantitis (2012)
• Secret Wars (Equal Vision, 2017)
• Reimagined (Equal Vision / Rude, 2021)

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Category:Chico, California

Category:American post-hardcore musical groups

Category:Musical groups from Chico, California

Category:Equal Vision Records artists

Category:American screamo musical groups

Category:Emo musical groups from California