The Upset Victory

Thanks Onstage Magazine for the great review! Check out their full re-cap of Bunbury Festival along with a ton of other great artist reviews here: http://www.onstagemagazine.com/reflection-bunbury-music-festival-day-1/ - Onstage Magazine

"With a head nod from Yellowcard and almost a decade under their belt, Cincinnati’s own The Upset Victory is a band not to be ignored as you’re making your schedule for this year’s Bunbury Music Festival. The alt-rock quintet–which comprises Stephen Campbell (guitar), Frank Hammonds (guitar/vocals), Eric Vice (bass), Jason Dill (vocals), and Aaron Roy (drums) caught my ears last year as they turned up to eleven and electrified the Amphitheater Stage." - Midwest Action Interview
— Amber Patrick, Midwest Action - Midwest Action

"Well they sold us! With over 9000 views on Soundcloud. The Upset Victory are on their way! Check out “Sellin’ My Soul” above and listen to them below on TRS 24/7 Radio Indie Top 10 Countdown." -CG-SpotOnMagazine - SpotOnMagazine

Their latest single “Fake This” has some amazing toe-tapping, head-banging tracks. The music is fast paced, upbeat and is generally not to be taken as overly complex. Jason Dill has the perfect voice for this kind of music. Arron Roy drums frantically and the production makes the drums loud enough for the album to maintain a more hardcore feel. Throw in the guitars with their fast power chords utilizing some variation to make some memorable and fresh sounding riffs.
- Beat On Repeat

It has been a long time since I’ve done a review on behalf of Indie Music Bus. The company has been busy with other commitments, until now. July’s ‘Band of the Month’ goes to none other than The Upset Victory, a five-man band combining a mixture of punk, metal and pop music. Stephen Campbell (guitar), Frank Hammonds (guitar/vocals), Eric Vice (bass), Jason Dill (vocals), and Aaron Roy (drums) formed The Upset Victory in 2006, beginning with their self-titled E.P. the following year. Taking cues from national acts such as Saosin, Bayside, Saves the Day and Thursday, the band create catchy, memorable songs each and every time they hit the recording studio.

The Upset Victory caught the attention of labelmates Yellowcard following their initial release - “It’s like Thrice and Iron Maiden had a bastard child with Motley Crue,” said Warren Cooke, former bass player for the violin wielding pop-punk unit. With three more E.P.s and a single under their belt, they unleashed "Before the World Ends" in May 2012 on Authentik Artists.

I decided for a change I would review the music video the band have published for their song ‘Fake This’. I really liked the introduction to this song, especially my surprise to hear a piano being played. This was unexpected to me, given the genre of the music. This introduction was supported by the close-up of the vocalist. This was a nice touch as it helped establish a focal point of the group. With regards to the musicality of the verse, a fantastic feature was the chords. These were chromatically ascending as the verse progressed, which worked really well and provided a different edge to the musical structure of the song. Another good feature of the song, and the video, was the rhythmic security. The verse ended with a very tight build up between the whole band, which was anchored by the synced cuts of the music video. This was a fantastic feature and not only showed the tightness of the band, but also the professional standard of both the band members themselves, and the video they produced. I really liked how in the chorus, the camera focused periodically on different band members, showcasing their music ability on camera for short periods of time.

I really liked the chorus of the song. There were some beautiful backing harmonies provided by the guitarists and I also liked the different feel established, it was more laid back and groove based – almost like a half-time feel. This was great in creating a new feel in the song but also creating variation with the song too. This section built fantastically. The higher notes of the vocalist were very crisp and passionate, and the vocalist also had a great tone. The best bit about this was my surprise at how the section built climactically and then dropped right back down to the original feel, which was a shock, but it sounded very tight and worked really well. As the song progressed I liked how the backing vocals in various sections were varied to include different harmonies.

Another great feature of the music video was half way through. The video cut to nothing and then immediately changed to a change of scenery. This also had almost a film-noir feel! It was in black and white. Musically, this section sounded huge and fantastic. You could clearly see the band was enjoying themselves playing the song and really feeling the groove of the song. Again, I was surprised when the instrumentation dropped to just a single guitar, where a new riff was established. This was very rhythmic and almost quite funky. This also included backing harmonies of what sounded like the public. This section built very well, with the lead vocalist improvising which sounded very.

Another great and tight cut-off from the band led to the final section of the song which, once again, sounded huge. The band looked great as the song concluded, and the song itself sounded fantastic.

I never thought I could write so much on a piece of music lasting 3 minutes and 25 seconds! Regardless, the music this band has to offer is innovative, interesting, tight, entertaining and quite frankly, a masterpiece. There is no doubt in my mind they are worthy of the Indie Music Bus Band of the Month award, and also a listen to. So go check them out; you won’t be disappointed. - Red Label Records Reviews

They have been one of the most featured bands in our magazine and once you listen to a new song, every time they release a new album, you know the reason why…

Wall Street by Cincinnati’s very own The Upset Victory returns with a new EP and one thing is clear: They are here to stay. “In Our Hands” is pure rock and roll in every sense. We have this sound that’s reminiscent of Anberlin and later The Used, with some great guitar riffs and Jason Dill’s unique voice that adds a special touch to each track.

“Sellin’ My Soul” is a powerful, fast-paced song that both vocally and musically reminded me of Fall Out Boy. It’s really groovy in the verses and the chorus has this poppy, catchy and upbeat vibe.

“Fake This” closes this record, once again following the path of the second track with vocals that recall Patrick Stump and a sound in the vein of FOB and Panic! At The Disco. It has a bit of AFI as well. The powerful guitar riffs feel almost like a punch to the stomach, although at the same time, you feel the need to sing and dance along.

In conclusion, this is definitely a new chapter for the band, but not the beginning, as this book is still missing lots of pages to be written. If they keep getting better, the sky will be their only limit. - Vents Magazine

CINCINNATI - The Upset Victory are a mix of hardcore, screamo and straight-edged rock, and after seven years and seven EPs, they’re hoping to bust out of Cincinnati soon with a full-length album and national touring.

At the 2013 Bunbury Festival , we talked to the band — vocalist Jason Dill, bassist Eric Vice, drummer Aaron Roy and founding guitarists Frank Hammonds and Stephen Campbell — about their evolution, their locally made videos and their larger aspirations.

The Upset Victory's next scheduled gig in the area is Aug. 17 at the Southgate House Revival , 111 E. Sixth St., in Newport. - WCPO-Channel 9 ABC News

The good people at Cincinnati CityBeat featured our record Before the World Ends as one of their top releases for 2012. - City Beat

The good people at Cincinnati CityBeat featured our record Before the World Ends as one of their top releases for 2012. - City Beat

The renowned Relix Magazine has featured TUV as a band ‘On the Rise’ in their July/August Anniversary Music Festival Issue. We’re honored to be apart of such a historical music magazine. - Relix Magazine

TUV is the July ‘Band of the Month’ on Indie Music Bus! See us all month long on: http://indiemusicbus.com/ - Indie Music Bus

TUV is featured in Papercut Magazine’s June Anniversary Issue!
- Papercut Magazine

If you frequent local venues, then local rockers The Upset Victory should be no unfamiliar name to you. Playing popular stages in Northern Kentucky and Ohio, the band has recently landed a spot on Cincinnati’s 2nd Annual Bunbury Music Festival among chart-topping national acts like FUN. and MGMT.

Whether you are well-versed or brand new to the music of The Upset Victory, they’ve released some new material that demands attention. For starters, check out their new music video for the track “Fake This” below.

Want more? We’ve got you covered! Check out a couple more tracks below off their upcoming EP titled “Wall Street” which has been signed over to Gas Can Music and was recorded at Starlight Studios in Orlando.

Still want more? Check out The Upset Victory on any of their social media pages linked below, or better yet, head out to Bunbury Music Festival and catch The Upset Victory on July 14th at 2:45 in the amphitheater. - NatiUnderground

One of the United Kingdom's great stations, Insomnia Radio, is featuring our single "Fake This" TODAY! Head over & check it out.
- Insomnia Radio

Our newest/third music video for our single "Fake This" is picking up steam everday. Another great outlet, Roxwel, is showing us some love by featuring it on their website.
- Roxwel

Our singles, "Fake This" & "Sellin' My Soul", are currently on rotation at Revolver Underground radio! - Revolver Underground

Are you at the Vans Warped Tour TODAY in Pomona, CA?? Be sure to pick up the 'New Music Apocalypse' FREE download card put out by S.L.A.M.! Magazine. Our single "Fake This" is featured on this killer compilation along w/ a ton of great bands.

The download code is: summer2013 - S.L.A.M.! Magazine

Get BIT Radio is featuring our singles - "Fake This" & "Sellin' My Soul" as well as all three music videos for their artist spotlight series. Head over & stream some tunes from this great station! - Get BIT Radio

The Upset Victory had their song "Fake This" selected by producers as part of our Mainstream Music Video Opportunity. The video is set to go into rotation at over 8,500 retail & broadcast outlets. - Pulse Records USA

Attention all you sports fans out there, be sure to listen for our song, "Sellin' My Soul", being featured on NFL AM! - NFL Network | NFL AM

Check out our latest interview and feature courtesy of Song Revelation magazine! We discuss an array of topics from our musical backgrounds, to the evolution of TUV, what we’re currently working on and what 2013 has in store. - Song Revelation

Bunbury Festival & TUV we're mentioned on USA TODAY...

Bunbury Music Festival is also ranked one of the top 10 music festivals in the country among the likes of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, & Burning Man.
- USA Today

Bunbury Festival & TUV we're mentioned on USA TODAY...

Bunbury Music Festival is also ranked one of the top 10 music festivals in the country among the likes of Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, & Burning Man.
- USA Today

One of the UK's premier music websites, One on One Music, has featured TUV on their homepage & had some great things to say!
- One on One Music [UK]

We're the featured band of the month on idobi Radio / Eddie Jason & Chris Show! Tune in hear to our latest singles, "Fake This" & "Sellin' My Soul", as well as an interview THIS Friday 7PM PST!
- idobi radio/Eddie, Jason, & Chris Show

Hey friends check out this great radio station - The Social Radio - TUV is the band of the week! They even made a custom TUV app you can check out too!

- The Social Radio

With our anniversary show right around the corner we sat down w/ our friends over at VENTS Magazine to discuss our new EP "Wall Street", recording, & much more. Check out TUV in Issue 23 available now (p.44)! - Vent's Magazine

Property Of Zack is doing an exclusive promo for our third music video "Fake This"! - Property Of Zack

Cincinnati Enquirer had some great things to say about TUV & we truly appreciate the support from such a great publication. They even selected our song "In Our Hands" as their song of the week. Thank you to Cincinnati.com & Daniele Cusentino! - Cincinnati Enquirer

Check out our latest interview and feature courtesy of Song Revelation! We discuss an array of topics from musical backgrounds, the evolution of TUV, what we’re currently working on and what 2013 has in store.

http://songrevelation.com/2012/12/featured-artists/artist-interview/artist-interview-the-upset-victory/ - Song Revelation

Check out ESPN’s NEW show UNITE airing NOW to hear our song “Sellin’ My Soul”!
- ESPN

Our single "Fake This" that we recorded at Starlight Studios is gaining more leverage everyday! Thank you to the team at IMove ILive for the homepage feature. Read the feature to find out more about the upcoming music video as well! - IMove ILive

Today’s Fresh Pick on Daily Unsigned, The Upset Victory brings us music that is very reminiscent of Panic at the Disco meets some AFI.
Poppy, hooky and big choruses!
- Rob Daily - Daily Unsigned

Earlier this month, melodic rockers The Upset Victory unveiled its music video for the song “Actions.” The clip features several Cincinnati landmarks, shot around town at places like the Bromwell’s building downtown on Fourth Street and, most notably, in several of the city’s abandoned underground tunnels and passageways (the group was given permission by the Cincinnati Brewery District to use the rarely-seen underground world).

Prior to the video’s release, The Upset Victory announced it had signed a record deal with the new Boston-based Recover Records. The label is helping promote the “Actions” video and single while the band works on its full-length debut for Recover.

The Upset Victory performs Wednesday at The Mad Hatter in Covington with Cartel, Don’t Wait Up, 21st Century Streamline and The Getaway. Click here for UV links to keep you updated on the band’s latest moves. - City Beat

The Upset Victory's genres are as layered as their sounds. At first listen, crunching metal, thundering punk and sweetened pop emerge. Combining these elements makes for ferocious ups and downs. The Cincinnati five-piece band explodes in an outcry that hails to operatic rock.

Much of The Upset Victory's work, like The Worst in Me from their self-titled 2007 album, starts at low grumbles from one grainy voice (Jason Dill). Deep tears caught in the back of his throat, he wails up high, showing off a wide range of vocals. Soon met with heavy guitars, vibrating bass and percussion, the layering churns each piece from steady drip-drop rhythms to a battle cry until it all blows up. Then their dynamic softens--and the pattern continues.

As a strongly united band, The Upset Victory's music is both epic and hypnotic. Though they number five altogether (with Frank Hammonds, Stephen Campbell, Aaron Roy and Eric Vice), with their diverse styles and ranges fused together, there could be fifty of them.

Heavy but melodic, The Upset Victory's rolling patterns drive a waterfall pace like running a marathon, especially in songs like Rise. More acoustic pieces like Holding Back rely heavily on Dill's vocals, who reaches golden heights with milky melodies out of gravelly beginnings, accompanied by strings in love letter music.

Fast and technical, big and brash, slow and bubbly,The Upset Victory is energetic, engaging and enchanting. Their complex layering in itself is mesmerizing. Here is a powerful force that will benefit the national scene. - Round Magazine

The Upset Victory's genres are as layered as their sounds. At first listen, crunching metal, thundering punk and sweetened pop emerge. Combining these elements makes for ferocious ups and downs. The Cincinnati five-piece band explodes in an outcry that hails to operatic rock.

Much of The Upset Victory's work, like The Worst in Me from their self-titled 2007 album, starts at low grumbles from one grainy voice (Jason Dill). Deep tears caught in the back of his throat, he wails up high, showing off a wide range of vocals. Soon met with heavy guitars, vibrating bass and percussion, the layering churns each piece from steady drip-drop rhythms to a battle cry until it all blows up. Then their dynamic softens--and the pattern continues.

As a strongly united band, The Upset Victory's music is both epic and hypnotic. Though they number five altogether (with Frank Hammonds, Stephen Campbell, Aaron Roy and Eric Vice), with their diverse styles and ranges fused together, there could be fifty of them.

Heavy but melodic, The Upset Victory's rolling patterns drive a waterfall pace like running a marathon, especially in songs like Rise. More acoustic pieces like Holding Back rely heavily on Dill's vocals, who reaches golden heights with milky melodies out of gravelly beginnings, accompanied by strings in love letter music.

Fast and technical, big and brash, slow and bubbly,The Upset Victory is energetic, engaging and enchanting. Their complex layering in itself is mesmerizing. Here is a powerful force that will benefit the national scene. - Round Magazine

The Upset Victory might as well be considered veterans of the music industry at this point. Forming a millennium ago (okay, it was back in 2005, but hey, Fall Out Boy was still a band then…seems forever ago), the Cincinnati quintet have seven releases and countless shows under their collective belts. Yet, that does not mean they are planning on toning down their fast-paced pop-rock attack any time soon. No, The Upset Victory are too busy planning their world takeover and everything they have experienced so far only aids them in their quest. - Property of Zack

This is not a scene from an upcoming action flick starring Jason Statham. It does look like it could be, right? Although the picture may not depict the latest box office gem, it is an accurate symbolic depiction of the band that enters the New Band Palace today. Like the image of the band depicted above, The Upset Victory is a high-energy rock outfit that punches the listener with edgy vocals, speedy riffs, robust percussion, and stout guitars. The group has quickly sped out of the parking garage and onto radio stations throughout their home base of Cincinnati.

The Upset Victory was founded in 2006 by Stephen Campbell (guitar), Frank Hammonds (guitar/vocals), Eric Vice (bass), Jason Dill (vocals), and Aaron Roy (drums). They released a self-titled EP on Takeover Records. After a few more EP releases, The Upset Victory released their first full length, Before the World Ends, in May of this year.

So why should you spend your time reading about and listening to the Upset Victory (besides from the band photo above). There is a refreshing quality to their music. The tunes invoke memories of heavy punk/rock bands from the early 2000s, but, the band does not lose sight of melody and lyric, putting great care into impressive harmonies and a dual-guitar attack. The Upset Victory employs effects skillfully. Besides from the clear talent of the musicians, the music itself is tightly arranged and recorded. Every vocal shriek, mini-riff, and drum fill, is organized. The vocals are most impressive. They thrive in the music, taking on the guitar riffs like a prize-fighter.

“The Worst in Me,” track two of Before the World Ends (which you can buy here), initially gives off a Living Colour impression, but quickly separates itself from funk/metal and enters into straightforward, hard-hitting, toe-tapping rock. If you like the brand of rock that you can move to, this is the band for you. Listen to some more of their material at their Soundcloud page. Check out their website and Facebook. - Music Court Blog

Upset Victory, The – The Awakening EP
Record Label: Recover Records
Release Date: February 15, 2011

The Upset Victory have not gotten a whole lot of attention mainly due to their lack of exposure by a major record label. They have been featured in AMP magazine as one of the “Top 8 Bands You Should Be Blastin'!” as well other publications. Their third release The Awakening is a very aggressive EP with driving guitars and beautiful melodies, regrettably only including 2 songs.

The First song “Actions” showcases the band's talents. The guitar riffs remind you a bit of early Saosin and the aggression is all there. Vocalist Joseph Dill puts up a very admirable performance through the entire track to balance the guitarwork. Dill is not afraid to use the falsetto as he uses it throughout the chorus of the song and at tasteful points in the song. On “Actions” the band does a very good job of crafting a very good single top to bottom, all the pieces fit together never letting the song stagnate even as it comes to a dramatic slow down in the latter half of the song before picking it back up for the ending.

The second song “Iron Sights” starts very aggressive and with lots of promise through the first verse. However, the song shifts completely at the chorus. The band choose to use a very poppy chorus that seems very much out of place with the style of the song. Dill cries “No, no, no don't leave me in the dark" and the melody is very beautiful, but just seems not to fit. Perhaps in an acoustic version it would have a better home. As with “Actions” the song slows down around the 2 minute mark before bringing the chorus back and closing with a very aggressive last few seconds. The last minute of the song is very well done, despite the chorus, and it closes as heavy as it starts.

The Upset Victory shows a lot of promise throughout the EP as both songs are musically very well done. The only weak points are the chorus of “Iron Sights”, which regrettably stays with you from that song, and some small production imperfections (the screaming at the end of said song). For a band with only a few short releases under their belt there is a lot to look forward to from them. - Absolute Punk

I recently had a chance to speak with Stephen Campbell, guitarist for the punk/rock band The Upset Victory, about the gear he used when the band was recording their newest release, Before The World Ends. Here's how the conversation went.

What was the most important piece of gear you used when recording Before The World Ends? What about it makes it so important to you?
Stephen: I think for us it's always the guitars. They tend to be the heart and soul of the "gear world". Amps, pedals, etc. come and go, but a great guitar is unique in and of itself. Frank utilizes an array of guitars. On Before The World Ends we used his Gibson Studio for leads, Gibson V for rhythms and Fender Strat for a few leads and clean tones. We also used a Gibson Custom for some leads running through an ENGL Powerball head.

I used my two Paul Reed Smith CE 22s for a majority of my guitar parts. However, what's great about recording is we've always been fortunate to have an arsenal of gear to cherry pick from. One of our best friends is a gear nut like us so he dropped off the ENGL Powerball that I mentioned earlier to the studio as well as a '90's Mesa Boogie black face duel rectifier. We also utilized my Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier as well as Frank's Peavey 6505+ head. We ran all these heads through a Mesa Boogie oversized slant 4 x 12 cabinet and a Marshall straight cabinet.What are the major pros and cons?
Stephen: I've always had an affinity for Paul Reed Smith guitars. I have a blue CE 22 re-fitted with EMGs wired for 18 volts and custom maple wood blocks in the back. It's a unique spin on a PRS guitar. I enjoy the 3 way toggle switch that was put in for the pickup selector. The 5 way rotatory switch is slightly cumbersome live when I need to switch pickups on the fly. It's a great guitar for rock, but with the EMGs in it, it's somewhat limited with different styles. That's why I have my other main, which is a PRS black CE 22 that has Dragon II's and a 5 way rotary pick up selector in it. So I have the best of my both worlds for my playing.

How long have you had it, how do you use it, would you ever change it?
Stephen: I've had my blue PRS since 2002 and the black one since 2007. Frank has had his Strat as long as I've known him and he's utilized it in other projects prior to TUV. He's done some custom modification work to it as well. His Gibson V and Gibson Studio are somewhat newer additions to the family. Currently live I'm using my black PRS as my main guitar live, but Frank and I tend to switch it up fairly routinely. We've dialed in various EQ settings for our amps to cater to each guitar. We'll mark these settings with a sharpie and some gaff tape.

Any final thoughts or comments on the gear?
Stephen: Find an instrument that speaks to you and all the rest will follow and come together. - PureGrainAudio.com

Cincinnati rockers The Upset Victory know exactly what they’re doing. Since their inception in 2006 the band has been featured on the Vans Warped Tour and in AMP magazine, producing 2 well-received EPs and touring with a host of national acts. With the release of Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep, The Upset Victory proved they were ready to play with the big boys. The Upset Victory are working on a full length album due in summer of 2010.

After the odd sound collage of A Galaxy Untamed, The Upset Victory kicks things off with The Genius Of Water. Featuring heavy, clockwork style guitar play overlaid with big melodic riffs and heavy rhythms, The Genius Of Water is a treat for Progressive and Hard Rock fans. Both Frank Hammonds (lead) and Frank Harrison Jr. (harmony) fare well on shared vocals, and this carries over into The Small Space Between You And The Sun. If it wasn't apparent in The Genius Of Water, The Small Space Between You And The Sun will give you an appreciation of the level of intricacy in The Upset Victory's guitar work (someone listened to a lot of Iron Maiden growing up). Signals is more of a big rock anthem, fit for the stadium nearest you. For a change of pace you might hear elements of Steve Howe's work with Asia in the guitar line of Signals, and the big harmonies are a definite throwback. The Upset Victory closes out with The Will, growing from synth and quickly crescendoing into a full onslaught of guitar-driven melodic metal. The Will relates to the resilience of the human spirit, which seems to multiply at times in the face of additional barricades.

The Upset Victory are a highly pleasant surprise, taking a Progressive Metal sound and making it lyric and melodic. Frank Hammonds serves the vocal material well, and guitarists Hammond and Stephen Campbell remember that it was like when Rock Guitar reigned supreme. Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep is certain to intrigue fans old and new. - Wildy's World

In 2006, Stephen Campbell, guitarist, Frank Hammonds, guitarist/vocalist, Eric Vice, bassist, Jason Dill, Lead Vocals, and Aaron Roy, drummer, of The Upset Victory have been providing an intoxicating blend of punk, metal, and pop in their unique sound. From Cincinnati, Ohio, The Upset Victory has a reputation of electrifying their audience with live performances and capturing the audience with top-notch professional recordings.

Since their start, The Upset Victory has released EPs such as a self-titled in 2007, which was immediately followed by “Between the Walls and the Worlds that Sleep,” and “The Awakening” which featured two tracks. Now, the five-some have released “Before The World Ends,” which was available as of May 22nd.

The Upset Victory has shared the stage with bands such as Bayside, Story of the Year, MxPx, We Came As Romans and Beneath the Sky. They have also been described as possessing a sound similar to bands Saosin, Saves the Day, and Thursday. Over the last few years, the five-some received recognition from AMP’S Magazine, label-mates Yellowcard and David Adam Monroe, President of Recover Records and Time Bomb Studios. It is clear that The Upset Victory has made a name for themselves and their latest release is proof of why.

Their eight-track EP begins with a Veda, a brief but interesting intro setting a tone for a world-ending storyline.

The Worst In Me is an amazing track. With the blending of heavy guitar, intensely hard-hitting chord progression and amazing vocals from vocals from Frank Hammonds this track is a strong beginning piece. The chant at the end gives a great unique quality to the track and makes for an all-together memorable few minutes.

Skeletons, track 3, has a beautiful blend of heavy metal and electronica. Frank proves yet again to be a strong and diverse vocalist while the rest of the guys prove they are far from inexperienced with their individual instruments. The form of the track was thoughtfully and elegantly executed.

Revelation 6:17 is a beautifully written and delivered instrumental piece that showcases their diversity as artists to deliver something meaningful. It is definitely a short but impressive track.

Track 5, Flee The Scene, proved that they band has great chemistry and harmony. Flee The Scene is definitely one of their edgier tracks. With more of a metal feel, I felt Bart from The Used being channeled as I listened. The vibrato for this song was interesting and alluring to listen to from start to finish. The lyrics were strong and well delivered.

On Surviving has a great tone. It is a slower track but the harmony is impressive. It lasted just under a minute but definitely left an impression on me as to the bands ability to present more than just one sound or one kind of track. It precedes all expectations of a heavy metal band.

A World Outside, Track 7, presents yet another hard-hitting and sharp track from the five-some. The tone and varying degrees of pitch as well as chanting incorporated just after the chorus made for a great piece. The lyrics were entertaining and blended well with the rest of the tracks heard thus far.

Track 8 and finale On The Scent of Your Intent was a sensational way to end the album. The movement of the track was strong and edgy. The lyrics were impactful and showcased a lot of passion and importance based on the delivery. On The Scent Of Your Intent proves me to that this band was meant to be creating music. The flow of the track was so memorable I can still hear the succession of chords beating in my head. Not only is the track well written and delivered but it was a longer track at that. I love long songs and was happy to see them provide something more than a 1:30 song as found throughout the EP.

The Upset Victory creates a great storyline throughout their EP “Before The World Ends.” I was thoroughly impressed by their varying tone and use of vibrato. I am still thinking about the tracks individually after an extended time as passed since my first listen. This five-some has a lot of talent, a lot of creative edge, and a lot to say. You would be silly not to take a minute of your day to check out this band. I foresee a long of greatness in their future. - Vent's Magazine

In 2006, Stephen Campbell, guitarist, Frank Hammonds, guitarist/vocalist, Eric Vice, bassist, Jason Dill, Lead Vocals, and Aaron Roy, drummer, of The Upset Victory have been providing an intoxicating blend of punk, metal, and pop in their unique sound. From Cincinnati, Ohio, The Upset Victory has a reputation of electrifying their audience with live performances and capturing the audience with top-notch professional recordings.

Since their start, The Upset Victory has released EPs such as a self-titled in 2007, which was immediately followed by “Between the Walls and the Worlds that Sleep,” and “The Awakening” which featured two tracks. Now, the five-some have released “Before The World Ends,” which was available as of May 22nd.

The Upset Victory has shared the stage with bands such as Bayside, Story of the Year, MxPx, We Came As Romans and Beneath the Sky. They have also been described as possessing a sound similar to bands Saosin, Saves the Day, and Thursday. Over the last few years, the five-some received recognition from AMP’S Magazine, label-mates Yellowcard and David Adam Monroe, President of Recover Records and Time Bomb Studios. It is clear that The Upset Victory has made a name for themselves and their latest release is proof of why.

Their eight-track EP begins with a Veda, a brief but interesting intro setting a tone for a world-ending storyline.

The Worst In Me is an amazing track. With the blending of heavy guitar, intensely hard-hitting chord progression and amazing vocals from vocals from Frank Hammonds this track is a strong beginning piece. The chant at the end gives a great unique quality to the track and makes for an all-together memorable few minutes.

Skeletons, track 3, has a beautiful blend of heavy metal and electronica. Frank proves yet again to be a strong and diverse vocalist while the rest of the guys prove they are far from inexperienced with their individual instruments. The form of the track was thoughtfully and elegantly executed.

Revelation 6:17 is a beautifully written and delivered instrumental piece that showcases their diversity as artists to deliver something meaningful. It is definitely a short but impressive track.

Track 5, Flee The Scene, proved that they band has great chemistry and harmony. Flee The Scene is definitely one of their edgier tracks. With more of a metal feel, I felt Bart from The Used being channeled as I listened. The vibrato for this song was interesting and alluring to listen to from start to finish. The lyrics were strong and well delivered.

On Surviving has a great tone. It is a slower track but the harmony is impressive. It lasted just under a minute but definitely left an impression on me as to the bands ability to present more than just one sound or one kind of track. It precedes all expectations of a heavy metal band.

A World Outside, Track 7, presents yet another hard-hitting and sharp track from the five-some. The tone and varying degrees of pitch as well as chanting incorporated just after the chorus made for a great piece. The lyrics were entertaining and blended well with the rest of the tracks heard thus far.

Track 8 and finale On The Scent of Your Intent was a sensational way to end the album. The movement of the track was strong and edgy. The lyrics were impactful and showcased a lot of passion and importance based on the delivery. On The Scent Of Your Intent proves me to that this band was meant to be creating music. The flow of the track was so memorable I can still hear the succession of chords beating in my head. Not only is the track well written and delivered but it was a longer track at that. I love long songs and was happy to see them provide something more than a 1:30 song as found throughout the EP.

The Upset Victory creates a great storyline throughout their EP “Before The World Ends.” I was thoroughly impressed by their varying tone and use of vibrato. I am still thinking about the tracks individually after an extended time as passed since my first listen. This five-some has a lot of talent, a lot of creative edge, and a lot to say. You would be silly not to take a minute of your day to check out this band. I foresee a long of greatness in their future. - Vent's Magazine

The Upset Victory are the kind of band that hit on multiple genres and emotions with each song they offer up. Their new EP, Before The World Ends, is an incredible mix of in-your-face alt rock, driving punk melodies, emotive vocals, and powerful instrumentation. They'll knock you out with first single "The Worst In Me", will have you singing along with "Skeletons", and will send you on a roller coaster of emotions with EP closer "On The Scent of Your Intent". The whole effort is loaded with raw emotion, yet thoughtfully executed, and there's no way you'll be able to spin it just once. Enjoy its exclusive premiere right here, and be sure to grab it for your collection when it drops May 22 via Authentik Artists - Purevolume.com

I admit, I am no expert when it comes to the Cincinnati music scene. Bands like Over the Rhine, The National, and Walk the Moon pretty much cover the depth of my knowledge. Most recently, however, I met with the five piece rock band known as the The Upset Victory. Think 30 Seconds to Mars mixed with Taking Back Sunday and throw in a dash of the Motley Crew to get an idea, but, of course, these guys, comprised of Stephen Campbell – guitar, Jason Dill – vocals, Frank Hammonds – guitar/vocals, Aaron Roy – drums, and Eric Vice – bass, have developed their own unique sound.
In early 2006 Campbell and Hammonds, who had both recently broken up with their bands, discussed the possibility of joining forces. “It was an interweaving of other bands, basically a melting pot of Cincinnati’s local music groups,” said Campbell. Born out of the ashes came a new creation. Since that time they’ve added Dill, Roy, and Vice to the crew. Vice is the most recent member, just a month into the group and he has already mastered about 13 songs and been in the recording studio. Training wheels needed? I don’t think so.

When I asked the band how they got their name Hammonds was the first to speak up. “I’d been watching a lot of Bravehart at the time and I’ve always been thought of as an underdog so it just kind of stuck,” he said. And from the little I’ve known about them, I’d say the name is no coincidence. Being in a band is not as glamorous or “rock star” status as everyone assumes. It takes hustle.

The most common misconception about being in a rock band is the constant self-promotion. “Even something like picking out the format to save a picture file, just all those things you don’t think about, but they take time” added Roy. Especially for a band that hasn’t been signed by a major music label. Nevertheless, it hasn’t stopped The Upset Victory from churning out new songs, music videos, and booking tours.
“Our trip to Boston (about a year and a half ago) was really eye opening in helping us focus on what is it that we are trying to do,” said Dill. “Initially everyone was kind of trying to do their own thing, and now, on a whole, we have a much more put together sound.” This is obvious from listening to their latest track “Actions.”
And they show no signs of slowing down. They just released a Christmas song, “Slay Bells,” that can be found digitally on iTunes, Rhapsody, Amazon, and the list goes on. Plus, they are currently in the studio working on a five song EP titled “Before the World Ends,” set for an early 2012 release, along with an upcoming music video, and then they’ll head to Orlando for another five song release.
During the interview I pleaded ignorance and just had to ask, what does EP stand for and how does that compare to just calling something an album? This launched into a ten minute discussion on the difference between a single, EP (extended play), which is comprised of 3-6 songs, and LP (long play), which is comprised of 8-12 songs. “We don’t have the luxury of fans anticipating our next album,” said Dill. “But I think even if we did, we prefer to keep pushing things out there, like the underground rap circuit.” The hope, with the continual production of fresh music, is that it will one day catch on, and with the amount of dedication and passion they pour into their work I’m confident it will. “An international tour on an actual tour bus, that would be making it,” they all unequivocally agreed, in response to my question about what is at the top of their professional bucket list.

They’ve played at Riverbend, the MidPoint Music Festival, and the Vans Warped Tour, along with a long list of other top venues, so catching their next local show should be top among your (yes you dear reader) YOUR musical bucket list. The hard work is in their court, but celebrating the talented local music scene is up to us. Do your part and show them some love. - iSPYCINCY

Taylor Dungjen | The News Record

Published: Sunday, October 12, 2008
Updated: Sunday, October 12, 2008

Tight pants. Tight shirts. Tight hair. All three parts generally fulfill the recipe for success for many local pretty boy rock bands. All three parts combined, however, don’t equate to a tight sound; the ingredients come from vanity rather than talent.

The Upset Victory, however, is doing things a little differently.

The Cincinnati-based rock band recently released their newest EP, Between the Walls and the Worlds that Sleep. The sound is a mix of Anberlin and Between Home and Serenity – smooth, bold and loud.

The five-song EP is nostalgic of the scene that was big five years ago. What separates The Upset Victory from the kids in circle pits with bandannas and raccoon-tail hair is a more mature sound and lyrics that aren’t about slitting wrists and blacking eyes.
Most songs contain more poetic and mature lyrics.

“If I studied the chemistry of the sea/ With steadfast resolve/ Has “god” been solved?” writes The Upset Victory in “The Genius of Water.”

Still interspersed within the songs are lyrics such as, “My lungs are bursting/ With things we should have said,” that detract from and keep the song “Signals” in limbo between adolescence and puberty.

Even the more predictable lyrics aren’t as offensive as other Hawthorne Heights or A Static Lullaby lyrics. It’s not all blatantly about heartaches, heartbreaks and the girl next door. It’s about time local talent figures that out.

Unfortunately, most everything sounds the same.

Seamless transitions between songs and a lack of dead air are usually great when listening to an album the whole way through. With that said, songs should still differentiate themselves from one another. When the CD ends, you shouldn’t have to ask, “Wait, is that the end? That was like one really long song.”

It’s unusual that the last song on an album be the favorite. Generally, when that’s the case, it means the rest of the album was terrible and the end of the album can’t come soon enough.

Again, it’s not that simple.

It isn’t until the fifth and final song, “The Will,” that the EP really takes off. The song starts with a techno-bop-like sound that integrates an echo before becoming a full-out rock song. It’s diverse, catchy; it’s not what you would expect at first listen. The somberness of the intro is replaced by heavy guitar and passion-filled vocals.

Finally, a song to look forward to.

There is real progression within the album. Things start out slow and similar. The intro is nothing terribly new, and the first few songs, while good, still don’t stand out from the other songs on the album.

The same-sound songs progress into something better, something bigger, than what The Upset Victory was able to accomplish before. The last song makes purchasing the entire album worth it.

The greatest thing about the CD is the potential. The Upset Victory’s sound has grown substantially since their first meeting; the band is young and has only been playing together for about two years.

What happens next for The Upset Victory is unknown. As the EP stands now, there is room for an upgrade or downgrade. Listeners will have to stay tuned. - The News Record

The Upset Victory
Taylor Dungjen

The News Record

Published: Wednesday, February 25, 2009


Keeping busy hasn’t really been much of an issue for The Upset Victory, a Cincinnati-based rock band.

Several of its members are full-time students at the University of Cincinnati and are working to pursue most boys’ ultimate dream: the life of a rock star.

And they’re getting close… Really close, actually. Signing to TakeOver Records, a label based out of Long Beach, Calif., in mid-2008, the quartet recently booked a summer tour throughout the East and Midwest, an important string of gigs for the
young band.

If planning a long-ranging tour might not be stressful enough, the guys recently landed a distribution deal with Hot Topic, which will put their CDs in regional stores.
Last November, Amp Magazine named The Upset Victory as one of eight bands “you should be blasting.”

“Things are taking off more and more with the new year,” said Stephen Campbell, a fourth-year electronic media student and guitarist.

“We’ve accomplished a lot in the last two months and we have a lot of things that are tentative and in the works, but I don’t want to jinx them. We’re just hoping they work out.”

Currently, the band is working on writing its first full-length CD. Its first EP, Between the Walls and the Worlds that Sleep, was released October 2008.

The Upset Victory will be featured on Bearcast Radio, 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 27. The interview and acoustic performance can be streamed live and for free at www.bearcastradio.com.

Following the radio show, the band is set to play at the Mad Frog, starting at 9 p.m.
Additional acts include A Decade to Die For, Arapyma and Audio Logic. The cost to attend is $5.

http://www.newsrecord.org/sections/entertainment/the_upset_victory-1.1574006
- The News Record

The Upset Victory was recently signed to Takeover Records.

The Upset Victory takes over world

By: Taylor Dungjen
Posted: 5/19/08

With the ink barely dry on a new contract with Takeover Records, a label based out of Long Beach, Calif., The Upset Victory, a Cincinnati-based rock band, is rapidly gaining popularity on a worldwide scale.

"We are definitely excited to work with them," said Warren Cooke, former bassist of Yellowcard and co-owner of Takeover, about The Upset Victory. "We came across their stuff on the internet and instantly got in touch with them."

Only playing together for little more than a year and a half, The Upset Victory already played the Cincinnati Warped Tour in 2007 and is hoping to play Cincinnati and Cleveland Warped Tours in the coming months, if it can win the online Battle of the Bands competition.

"Playing Warped Tour was pretty sweet," said Stephen Campbell, the band's guitarist and a third-year electronic media student at the University of Cincinnati. "It was good to kind of rub elbows with bands you wouldn't normally come in contact with. We opened for MxPx."

At first listen, The Upset Victory sounds like something you may find next to Fall Out Boy and The Academy Is on the iPod of a tight shirt, tight pants, bandanna-around-the-neck 15-year-old, but the guys are trying to set themselves apart from a tired and overplayed scene.

"We try to bring a lot of contrast to our songs and to not write the same song over and over again," said Frank Hammonds, former UC student and lead vocalist of The Upset Victory. "I think our lyrics are really in-depth. We bring a good mixture of technical music with melodic vocals; it's a good blend."

On the band's Myspace page, where it does a lot of its promoting, it has a map that tracks hits to its page. It has received a wide range of local hits from Pennsylvania to Pasadena, Calif., and then abroad from places like Australia, Austria, Japan, Slovenia and Norway. And those hits are just since May 13.

"We get all kinds of messages and e-mails from people all over, our music is definitely getting out there," said Frank Harris, drummer and a third-year communication major at UC. "Some girl sent us a picture of her holding a The Upset Victory poster that she had made and she was standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. It's pretty cool."

Also on its page is an opportunity for fans to take pictures of themselves tagging buildings, trains, overpasses or signs with "TUV" using spray paint or sharpie. While the band does not condone defacing public property, they have received several pictures from fans, according to Campbell.

Short-term, the band is working with Takeover to produce and release an EP. Long-term, the band is expanding its fan base as wide as it will go.

"We don't know if we're global yet, but we're going to try to get there," Campbell said.

Aside from Hammonds, Harris and Campbell, The Upset Victory also owes its success to band members Jeremiah Kramer who plays guitar and Spencer Vanderzee who plays bass.

The Upset Victory is set to play May 23 at The Mad Hatter in Covington, Ky.

© Copyright 2008 The News Record

- The News Record

Wednesday, January 7,2009
The Upset Victory
Forging a Punk/Metal sound from three guitars, contemplative lyrics and broad influences
By Brian Baker
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When the subject of a band’s influences is broached, virtually anything is open to discussion. Influence can be gleaned from an endless supply of sources, from the obvious (other bands’ music) to the pervasive (love, hate, substance binges) to the subtle (good book, good meal, good dream).
For the material on their new five-song EP, Between the Walls and the Worlds That Sleep, local band The Upset Victory drew on the broad spectrum of their lives and musical experiences. 

“I’m influenced by literally anything, from acoustic acts to full on Rock bands, in whatever genre of music it is,” says guitarist Stephen Campbell, one of three string stranglers in the group. “I grew up listening to Iron Maiden and to a degree you can hear some of that, at least with the guitars. Older Punk bands like The Clash and older Metal bands like Black Sabbath and Maiden and Randy Rhodes, that’s what got me into music. Lyrically, my influence stems from novels and television and culture in general.” 

“Steve and I grew up listening to Punk and Metal, and everybody loves Slayer and the Dead Kennedys, but our one uniting factor is Skate Punk,” says bassist Spencer Vanderzee. “Lyrically, I like getting out there a little more. Pink Floyd and David Gilmour are big influences. As much as I love NOFX, we don’t really write songs about dick and fart jokes. We want to get a little deeper.”
The Upset Victory grew, like many bands, out of a jam opportunity. Campbell and Vanderzee, veterans of several local Punk bands, contacted vocalist/guitarist Frank Hammonds after the demise of his previous band, Better Luck Next Year, with the intention of doing some impromptu jamming. Hammonds invited his former drummer Frank Harrison, and the Prog/Punk/Metal outfit played their debut gig on New Year’s Day 2007.
The quartet didn’t stay that way for long. Within months, The Upset Victory welcomed former Better Luck Next Year guitarist Jeremy Kramer to the fold, enabling the band to actualize the approach they had originally envisioned.

“That’s when we came into our own and our sound really came together,” Campbell says. “We weren’t a complete band until then.”
While the group built on the foundation of their Punk and Metal experiences, Kramer’s addition broadened and deepened their guitar sound substantially. 

“We had a distinct sound already, but he added a whole different element,” Vanderzee says. “It didn’t change our sound too drastically, but it definitely took us in a different direction.” 

The band’s three-guitar lineup is both an advantage and a challenge. Each guitarist’s role changes from song to song, which presents an interesting conundrum for the rhythm section, namely providing a pulse that complements the band’s shifting dynamic while keeping it anchored. 

“A lot of times, bands can’t play every studio guitar part live because there’s so many overdubs, but this way we have the freedom to do whatever we want,” Campbell says. “With our full-length, we’re definitely going to experiment with strings and keys, and with that fifth member, when someone’s not playing guitar or bass, they can do those kinds of interesting things.” 

After coalescing in 2006, the original quartet had written the material that formed the basis of their self-released eponymous EP, which came out just after Kramer joined in 2007. The EP resulted in two major benchmarks for The Upset Victory: their slot on the 2007 Warped Tour in Cincinnati and getting signed to Takeover Digital, a wide-ranging indie label out of Philadelphia. 

Although The Upset Victory didn’t alter their sound to any great degree between the first EP and Between the Walls — both feature a relentless guitar attack, a fluid rhythm section and Hammonds’ emotive vocal style — they do cite a couple of fundamental shifts between the two releases. 

“There’s a little more technicality guitar-wise on the new one,” Vanderzee says. “Both EPs have a strong emphasis on lyrics, but on the first one, the lyrics were more grounded. On the new EP, we got a little more abstract and started talking about philosophy and writing stories. We were listening to a lot of concept bands, and we tried to get back to our roots. Although we couldn’t sound less like bands like Pink Floyd and some of those older bands, I like the idea of a concept album where the lyrics were out there but you could still relate to it personally.” 

The Upset Victory’s vigorous work ethic will serve them well in the new year, as they continue writing new material for their full-length album debut and plan local shows and spring and summer tours. Considering all they’ve accomplished in the past two years, they’re definitely looking forward to their next - City Beat

LOCAL WATCH
The Upset Victory practices in drummer Frank Harrison's Newport home. His parents have the pleasure of hearing a successful band rattle the basement with three-guitar-driven rock.

"His dad's a firemen, so he always has his drunk buddies over there jamming to us, begging us to play Lynyrd Skynyrd covers," says bassist Spencer Vanderzee. "We have yet to fold on that."

And they probably won't anytime soon. The Upset Victory releases an EP, Between the Walls and the Worlds that Sleep, under Take Over Records on Saturday. The record label, founded by members of the Grammy Award-winning emo-punk band Yellowcard, has exclusive online distribution rights, but the band can release physical copies through other means. It signed a two-year, digital-only agreement with the label in March.

"If you look at eight-tracks and records in the past there's a niche market for everything," Vanderzee says. "It seems like CDs are going the way of the buffalo and are going to be non-existent eventually."

"I think CDs are still important," adds guitarist Steve Campbell. "It would be cool if they were just as important as downloads."

Between the Walls is a quick offering. Fifteen minutes long, it calls on the rock gods that blessed the likes of Iron Maiden and Hawthorne Heights.

The band is working on a follow-up album - 11 songs - in hopes of releasing it by 2009. Four months to perfect an album?

"We feed off of pressure," Vanderzee argues.

"It always comes down to the wire," Campbell says, "but we get it done."

DON'T MISS: The Upset Victory with Holcomb and Morning Star. 7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at The Mad Frog, 1 E. McMillan St., Mt. Auburn. $8-$10. 513-784-9119, www.themadfrog.net or www.myspace.com/theupsetvictory.

- CiN Weekly

- Sound Collective - http://www.soundcollectivezine.com -
The Upset Victory
Posted By Steve On Wednesday, September 17, 2008 @ 3:41 pm In Interviews | -1 Comments

Interview with Spencer van der Zee
Give me an update on the happenings of The Upset Victory?
Spencer - Just finished putting out our brand new E.P., Between the Walls and the Worlds that Sleep, on Take Over Digital. Now we’re designing a lot of merchandise and planning a few mini-tours.
What are some of your upcoming tour plans looking like?
Spencer - We’ll be hitting Pennsylvania Septemeber 26th - 28th. You can get more info for that on our myspace but we also have a lot of other things up other sleeves this fall including tour, recording, and rehearsal videos.
How did you guys become the band you are today?
Spencer - Frank Hammonds, Frank Harrison, and Jeremy Kramer were in the band Better Luck Next Year together. Stephen Campbell and I were in bands together prior to TUV as well. All five of us knew each-other through the local Cincinnati music scene and came together out of the ashes of our previous bands.
How was the recording experience for this new E.P. you have out?
Spencer - Recording is always a great experience, but it can be a little frustrating. Frustrating in a good way. We have so many ideas that by the time we get one down, we have 50 alternative ideas floating around. We always push ourselves. We never want to compromise.
Is there one thing that just sticks in your mind from recording that you will never forget?
Spencer - Hanging out in the bell tower of the two hundred year old church we recorded at.
How did you guys come up with the name Upset Victory?
Spencer - We like to think of ourselves as an upset victory.
What were some of the runner up names?
Spencer - Frankie and His Fantastic Fig Newtons.
What inspires you guys to play the music you play?
Spencer - Other bands that we look up to, life experiences, friends, legends, etc.
What’s the weirdest thing that has happened at one of your shows?
Spencer - Some drunk lady was convinced that we had a horse in our trailer. We told her “Yeah , we have a horse in there lady” and just kept messing with her. When she saw that it was just amps and guitars she looked at us and said “What’s yall’s name….cause I don’t give a fuck!” and stumbled into the middle of the street.
Give five reasons our readers should go out and see you guys live?
Spencer - Intensity, care in respect to the record (we play all of the songs exactly as they are on the CD), soaring leads, chanting, jumping, crowd surfing…on and on.
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard of you?
Spencer - We have 3 lead guitar players.
Is the band a full time job for you guys or do you have to work jobs on the side to make ends meet?
Spencer - Unfortunately, we work. Got’s to pay the bills.
What’s the story on how you guys got hooked up with Takeover Digital?
Spencer - Frank, the drummer, contacted Warren from Takeover. They really liked us and we love the label.
Five reasons to convince our readers that they need to check out The Upset Victory?
Spencer - 3 guitars over innovative rhthyms. We are intense, subtle, and dynamic. Vocals range from extremely melodic to extremely intense. Music is our lives and we give ourselves completely to the songs we write.
Links: [1] Myspace | [2] Label

Article printed from Sound Collective: http://www.soundcollectivezine.com
URL to article: http://www.soundcollectivezine.com/interviews/the-upset-victory/
URLs in this post:
[1] Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theupsetvictory
[2] Label: http://www.takeoverrock.com

- Sound Collective Zine

http://www.uberproaudio.com/content/view/602/27/

In just a few short years, Cincinnati’s own The Upset Victory, has done a lot. They’ve played the Vans Warped Tour, released two EP’s, and signed with Take Over Digital – a label that has had the likes of Yellowcard in its stable. We sat down with Stephen Campbell, one of the bands three guitar players to discuss his gear, the Cincinnati music scene, and what The Upset Victory has been up to.

UberProAudio: Thanks for the interview Stephen. What has The Upset Victory been up to lately?

Stephen Campbell: Not a problem at all, happy to do it. I've referred to UberProAudio.com on several occasions in regards to gear, rigs, and other guitarist's setups. As of late, I've been doing a lot of writing and playing of course - pre-production etc.



UberProAudio: You played in some punk bands before starting The Upset Victory. How would you describe the differences between the punk genre, and what you are doing with your band now? Did any of the styles/techniques from punk carry over into your new music?

Stephen Campbell: Punk music has always been an integral part of my playing. Having been the singer/guitarist of a few back in the day punk has always spoken to me regardless of the time frame or era. Growing up and listening to bands like NOFX, The Descendents, and Lagwagon really helped lay the ground work in my mind on songwriting, dynamics, guitar riffs, and lyrics. I think there's a definite correlation between The Upset Victory and some of the early punk stuff I was doing. There's fast beats and complex drums, up tempo guitar riffs, and killer bass lines. And, the lyrics are centered around existential themes and what the purpose of all this is. The Upset Victory also has that DIY mentality that was so great about punk. Getting out there, playing the shows, hounding people afterwards to get some merch., basically be your own promoter and work your ass off. A lot of my technique I think comes from punk but also metal and rock as well. That hybrid and eclectic mix of artists from the late '70's to the mid '90's really helped me hone in on a "sound".



UberProAudio: The Upset Victory has three guitar players. How do you guys sort out who is going to play what parts?

Stephen Campbell: As far as dividing up guitar parts among the three of us, it's typically whoever writes the riff will play it. If a riff is better suited for one guitarist's style or technique then we'll dish them out accordingly. We do a lot of harmonies and duel riffs which are somewhat difficult to execute while singing so J and I will pick those up and Frank will hold down the rhythm. However, on songs like "The Genius of Water" Frank and J will handle the solos.



UberProAudio: Do the guitar players in the band try to have similar guitar tones to each other or different tones?

Stephen Campbell: What's interesting about the three tones is that they're all a slight deviation from one another. Our singer, Frank Hammonds, plays through Marshall heads and cabs and it has that great diving rhythm crunch and feel that Marshall heads pack. Along with his classic Strat and Gibson V's it fits really well sonically with Spence's bass rig (Ampeg SVT-4 Pro w/ Ampeg 8 x10 cabinet) to round out the rhythm section. J and I play Mesa Rectifier heads and are positioned on the outside of the stage set up, so our dueling leads really blend nicely. All our heads are tube heads with JJ tubes in them and we all play with EMG actives in our stage guitars so there's a common thread. We try and emulate the record as best as we possibly can.



UberProAudio: What pieces of gear do you use in your guitar arsenal that are most responsible for the “Stephen Campbell guitar sound”? What pieces are your favorites?

Stephen Campbell: I'd definitely have to say Paul Reed Smith guitars have helped me harness my sound. My whale blue CE 22 has been my main guitar since the early days. Since then I've modified it tremendously - it now has EMG 81/85 active pick up configuration which is wired for 18 volts w/ two 9 volts in the back, Graphtech saddles, ebony tuner locks, custom pine wood blocks embedded in the back for better acoustics, and a 3-way toggle. It's a little "Frankenstein-ish" but I love it. The second piece of gear I really love is the MXR 10-Band EQ which really just tightens up my rigs overall sound. That pedal combined with my Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier head and the Mesa 4 x 12 cab and its vintage 30 speakers really completes my rig.



UberProAudio: You have two PRS CE22 guitars. The one with EMG’s (81/85) is your main guitar. How would you compare the EMG’s to the Dragon II pickups?

Stephen Campbell: The PRS EMG active versus the PRS stoptail with Dragon II's...where to begin… For starters both are amazing pieces of equipment. As I've mentioned before both are CE 22s and both fit perfectly in my aresnal. As far as the difference goes I'd say that's all perspective. The EMGs - Uber Pro Audio

E-mail Interview with The Upset Victory
Interview with Spencer VanderZee (bass) and Stephen Campbell (guitar)
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> So you recently signed to Take Over Records, how was that?!
> Signing with TakeOver was extremely exciting and were looking forward to being a part of the TakeOver family. It's just another avenue for getting our music out there!
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> In your blog, you said your second EP will be pressed & finished in about a week or two. What can the fans be looking forward to on this EP?
> The new EP is very different than our old material. You can definitely tell it's an Upset Victory record, but we raised the bar quite a bit both lyrically and musically.
>
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> This summer, you're actually heading in the studio to start recording a full length record. How will the album be different or similar to the EP?
> With a full length we're pushing ourselves to write the absolute best material possible. On an EP, fans get four or five songs. With a full length, we are making an "album," in the truest sense of the word. We want it to be one, cohesive masterwork as opposed to a bunch of songs slapped together.
>
>
> Alright, here comes the dreaded batch of cliché questions…
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> What made you want to be in a band? Was there one instant in particular that any of you remember that made you want to play the instrument you do now and/or sing?
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> Steve and I can't speak for everyone else in the band, but basically, we grew up listening to punk and heavy metal. One day we said "hey dude, lets start a band." Not very romantic, but that's how it went.
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> How did you guys meet to form the band? Did you know each other previously?
> We all knew each other through previous bands, playing around Cincinnati. When our old band broke up in 2006, Steve called Frank Hammonds and Frank Harrison to set up our first band practice. Jeremy Kramer joined the group in March of 2007.
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> How long have you been a band together?
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> About two years.
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> How did you come up with your name?
> Our singer, Frank, came up with the name. We all love it.
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> When it comes to writing, where do you gather inspiration from? Is writing a group process or does one of you in particular write the lyrics?
> As far as lyrics go, we draw inspiration from personal experience, literature, philosophy and everything in between. Steve, our singer, and myself Frank Hammonds write the lyrics and present them to the rest of the band.
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> Do you ever get writer's block? If so, what do you do to overcome it?
> We rarely get writers block. If we get stuck, we keep pushing.
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> Who are your influences, and how have they influenced your sound?
> Everyone in the band has really diverse tastes; from strung out to Brian Wilson to iron maiden to the rx bandits and everything in between.
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> How has the scene in Ohio had an influence on your musical style?
> There's a lot of country and bluegrass around here. We don't really listen to that too much.
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> How would you describe your sound?
> As far as our new cd, Warren Cooke (co-owner of Takeover records) said we sound like " a bastard child of motley crue and iron maiden" or something like that. That’s a bit of a stretch, but we'll take it. We are extremely proud of the first EP, but it was recorded two years ago without Jeremy. The new one is a more accurate and current representation of our sound.
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> What does your live show consist of? You have great vocals and awesome guitar riffs; I can imagine it would be real energetic!
> Our live show is generally pretty explosive. We pour all we have into the show.
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> There are a lot of bands out there, and with the help of MySpace and other networking sites; their music has become more accessible to fans. Do you think sites like these hurt or help bands due to the large inventory of music it creates for the listener?
> By and large, myspace helps bands. But It does take away some of the mystery. Back in the day, bands like black Sabbath and iron maiden were like gods. You couldn't just go to a website and find out what Bruce Dickinson’s favorite color was.
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> What do you feel sets you apart from other bands?
> We utilize three guitars, which most bands don't do. Our lyrics are incredibly thoughtful.
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> What do you think is the hardest part about being in a band that most people don't realize?
> Funding. Paying for stuff out of pocket is really our only obstacle.
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> What's been on your playlist lately?
> Spencer - Skeletonwitch, total fury, sigur ros, arsis, a Wilhelm scream
Steve - protest the hero (fortress), children of bodom (blooddrunk), story of the year (the black swan).
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> What's your guilty pleasure song?
> Your love - the outfield
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> So, can you give SUR readers a peek into the not-so-distant future of The Upset Victory?
> By fall, The Upset Victory will have three releases under our belt. We plan on touring in January! August 22nd is our cd release show so i - Straight Up Random

http://musicliberation.blogspot.com/2009/05/featured-artist-upset-victory.html

Compared to other music genres, I've always felt that the heavier end of the rock spectrum endures a pretty raw deal when it comes to the blogging community. A visit to the Hype Machine generally shows top lists dominated by electronic and indie tunes, with little attention given to the alternative posse. But why is this? Is this due to the quality not being there and so therefore PR companies and labels are not willing to promote the artists? Are people done with Rock bands dominating the internet ala Myspace? Is it merely due to the other genres being more popular and hence there being more blogs covering those? Well to be honest i think it's a mixture of all of those things and more, and certainly worth a debate at some point. However once in a while a band will break through and stand out to me from the mass crowd. Today that band is The Upset Victory.

Cincinnati punk-rockers TheUpsetVictory (FrankHammonds (vocals/guitar),Jeremiah Kramer (guitar/vocals), StephenCampbell (guitar/vocals), SpencerVanDerzee(bass/vocals), have been together since 2006. They have recently put out their second E.P "Between The Walls And The Worlds That Sleep", and have also began work on the first full length offering. Their sound oozes energy and is tight, with frentic drums littering most tracks, melodic yet not over the top vocals, and a nice balance of guitars blending from crushing riffs to small but perfectly formed solos. Stateside comparisons can be made with Thursday, Thrice and early Aiden, whereas us Brits are reminded of a young Funeral For A Friend. - Music Liberation

· It's Warped Tour time again in Cincinnati next Wednesday, Aug. 1, as the traveling road show of Punk, Emo and every form of "somethingCore" you can imagine, comes to Riverbend. As has usually been the case, a few local bands are making an appearance at the concert. Close to Home and Upset Victory are slated to perform on the Ernie Ball Stage (Dayton bands Simply Waiting and Ebew also made the cut). The bands were nominated by fans and then a panel of judges picked the lucky few who would get a time slot. "We're looking forward to playing in front of a completely new audience," Stephen Campbell, guitarist for The Upset Victory, is quoted as saying in a press release. "We also can't wait to rub elbows with the bands we've grown up listening to." Cool, just be sure to wash those elbows afterwards. The performing bands are also entered into a separate contest; the 180 bands chosen to play Warped around the country will be whittled down to four acts that will get to play a major showcase for labels in Hollywood. (myspace.com/cth; myspace.com/theupsetvictory) - City Beat