Closure In Moscow is a progressive rock band based in Australia. The band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2006, comprising lead vocalist Chris De Cinque, drummer Beau McKee, guitarist and backup vocalist Manny Zennelli, bassist Brad Kimber and guitarist Michael Barrett. Only 18 months after first forming, they signed to Taperjean Records and released their debut EP (self-proclaimed 'albumette') on April 19, 2008, titled The Penance and the Patience. They have established a name for themselves with an array of shows in their home country alongside international acts such as Saosin, Coheed and Cambria, Aiden, A Static Lullaby and Street Drum Corps.

History

Formation

Closure In Moscow formed in 2006, in Melbourne, Australia. The formation is said to have comprised of "high school friends, one guy stolen from another band and a dude from a hair salon". In August 2007, the band's drummer Beau McKee stated Saosin as a major influence in the formation, saying "[Saosin] were one of the reasons we started playing... We still remember jamming "Seven Years" in rehearsal less than a year ago."

After progressively growing their reputation, in mid-2007 they were chosen to share the stage with American band, Saosin. They caught the eye of the band and word reportedly got out to American magazine Alternative Press, eventuating in a small feature on the band in issue #229. The band signed to Australian label Taperjean Records in early 2008. Along side label-mates Fifty Sixx, Limbeck, Stealing O'Neal, As Tall As Lions and Copeland, they received added support. With "solid" radio airplay internationally, and increasing pressure to head overseas to the United States and Europe, to tend to large fan bases.

Debut release

On April 19, 2008, Closure In Moscow released their debut EP, The Penance and the Patience. The band advertised it as an 'albumette'. Upon the release of the EP, the band members were an average age of only 21, and the complete line up had only been together a few months. They went to extreme lengths to record The Penance and the Patience, lead vocalist Chris De Cinque spent three to four months straight writing or doing pre-prouction, as well as quiting a job to go on tour. It was eventually recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, with each of the band members selling their cars to get American music producer and engineer Kris Crummett out to do the album. Crummett had previously worked on albums with Drop Dead Gorgeous, The Devil Wears Prada, Fear Before The March Of Flames, Kaddisfly and Dance Gavin Dance. The albumette was completed in July 2007, nine months before its release.

The Penance and the Patience was originally only released in Australia, through Taperjean Records. It was also available for import to overseas countries through Fist2Face, and through the iTunes Music Store as a worldwide digital download. The albumette debuted at #13 on the Australian Independent Record (AIR) album charts.

United States independent record label, Science Records, signed Closure on June 26, 2008. The label plans a digital-only release of the debut across the US on August 5, 2008. Science also has the band heading to the United States in September 2008 to begin writing songs for and work on their debut studio album, set for tentative release in late 2008 to early 2009. A US tour for September-November 2008 is also being planned.

Musical style and influences

One of the instigating factors in Closure In Moscow's initial formation was the influence of Saosin, with drummer Beau McKee saying to Alternative Press, "[Saosin] were one of the reasons we started playing... We still remember jamming "Seven Years" in rehearsal less than a year ago." The band's debut release, The Penance and the Patience has since been touted reminiscent of Saosin's debut EP, Translating the Name. They've also been compared to other massive experimental and progressive rock acts The Mars Volta and Circa Survive by renowned music website, Absolute Punk. Additionally, they have been likened to post-hardcore band Chiodos, and defined as having "more in common with complex, seasoned bands like Rush and Tool than they do with fellow Aussie rockers AC/DC".

Their style has been described as a "catchy, yet melodic, brand of progressive, avant-garde rock", by Kill Your Stereo. However, the rise of similar bands that have already entered popular culture, has all but delinquished the meaning of the saying. Avant-garde describes "those artists, writers, or musicians, whose techniques and ideas are in advance of those generally accepted, indicating Closure In Moscow cannot be categorised in this style, because of the style of previous bands such as Coheed & Cambria.

Personnel

• Manny Zennelli - Guitar, vocals
• Beau McKee - Drums
• Chris De Cinque - Lead vocals
• Brad Kimber - Bass
• Michael Barrett- Guitar

Discography

Extended play

References

External links

• Official [[MySpace] page]
• Official [[Purevolume] page]