Fourth Estate Newspaper

Issue date: 2/4/10 Section: Entertainment

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of Like A Storm Like A Storm is opening Feb. 9 for Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd and Skillet at the Brown co. Expo Center.

Powerful fist pumping and hard rock attitudes are what Like A Storm is all about. This new up- and- coming rock band from New Zealand is making its name by touring with established rock giants such as Creed, Skillet and Saliva.
Like A Storm began their journey from their home in New Zealand. The band began with three brothers, Matt, Chris and Kent Brooks, and later, for their upcoming tour, added Thomas Karanasos on drums. The three brothers decided to pursue the dream of rock and roll outside of their native land and begin a whole new journey.
"The first time we jammed, we had this amazing chemistry, and we knew we had to take our sound to the world," said Chris Brooks, vocals, guitar, programming and didgeridoo.
In 2005, the band began it's new adventurous path and moved to Canada where it was soon discovered, after one show, by Kai Marcus. The band became friends with Marcus and he introduced the trio to multi-platinum producer, Mike Plotnikoff, in 2006.
Starting in early 2007, the band started to officially record in Calabasas, Calif., for what is now their debut album, "The End of the Beginning." The album, debuted at No. 61 on the top new artist chart, selling more than 900 records from tour sales alone.
"It's a big rock sound with a lot of different textures," said Matt Brooks, vocals, guitar and programming. "Every time you listen to it, you'll hear something new. It's a combination of all of our favorite sounds from heavy rock to electronic music."
Overall, the process of writing, recording and experimenting took more than 16 months, but in the end the band thought it was the beginning to their ongoing story.
Matt Brooks said, "We spent two years making the record, and we really lost ourselves in the recording process. We seriously evolved as artists and as writers."
While in the process of writing, recording and experimenting, the band lost someone dear to them - their grandmother. As a tribute to her, the song, "Galaxy (Rest in Peace)," was written for her funeral and put on the album.
"That experience brought us even closer together," said Chris Brooks.
Like A Storm's songs from the new album are making it out into the mainstream, ranging from TV to video games. The big hit song from the album, "Chemical Infatuation," was featured in video games, Wolfenstein and Halo, while the music video was debuted on MTV Headbangers Ball. "Lie to Me," is another song from the album that is featured as TNA wrestling's Genesis 2010 theme song. Featured in a weekly montage on ESPN's college football programming throughout the season was the song, "Enemy," which was released on the album.
Like a Storm is heading out on a U.S. tour with Shinedown, Puddle of Mudd and Skillet. The tour is coming to the Brown Co. Expo Center Complex in Green Bay on Feb. 9 with the show starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $32.
The band is always looking for support on making it big in the U.S. By becoming a street team and being an active member of their fan club, it would help the band it's name out there.
Matt Brooks said, "The album's sound is epic, surreal and ominous. That's the kind of art we want to make. I want the music to transport people away from their everyday lives and in to this world we've created."

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