The key to understanding Williamsport, PA based metallers MY HEART TO FEAR lies in four simple words: Family. Faith. Pride. Brotherhood.

 

Those words, which have become something of a mantra for the band, echo the members' conviction that, for as much as they believe in their own abilities, they wouldn't be where they are without the support of others, and that those four pillars have helped them push on and persevere.

 

Nowhere is that more evident than on their debut EP for Solid State Records, Lost Between Brilliance and Insanity - set to drop December 4th. The EP follows up several DIY releases that showcased the band's penchant for technical riffs, swaggering vocals and sky-high choruses, elements that helped them build the fervent fanbase that supports them today.

 

Hailing from the same geographic region and musical circles that spawned a number of metalcore successes in recent years - most notably genre giants AUGUST BURNS RED, in addition to the likes of TEXAS IN JULY (Equal Vision) and THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE (eOne Entertainment) can put pressure on a band to "borrow." While a less confident band may look to steal a page or two out of those artists' playbooks, MY HEART TO FEAR are intent on forging their own sound.

 

"When we write music we don't stick to any one formula," explains vocalist Trevor Pool. "We don't write to please a certain group of people or to fit into specific genres. Nor do we sit down with a preconceived idea of what a song should or should not sound like. Instead we allow the music itself to reveal subconscious and spiritual paths. Rather than deriving inspiration solely from music, we find influence in the world around us and aim to transpose these non-musical entities into the musical aspects of a song."

 

Those real-world influences are omnipresent on Lost Between Brilliance and Insanity, a release that the band hopes transcends being "just music" and forces the listener to do some critical thinking.

 

"We want our fans to walk away from this EP asking what they can do to make this world a better place," Pool says. "Whether that means showing love to those neglected by society or just doing a self-inventory of a sort. We are all a part of a problem or solution and it is imperative that we discover which side we find ourselves on."

 

Following years of literal blood, sweat and tears to get to where they now are, MY HEART TO FEAR stand as a sterling example of a band whose work ethic and persistence on an independent level paid off. But to hear the band talk about it, they'd be nowhere without those four simple words and all they represent: Family. Faith. Pride. Brotherhood.

 

"We want to encourage everyone to not just shoot for their dreams, but to fight relentlessly for them," says Pool. "We could not have made it this far in our journey without the endless support of those around us."