Tyson Stevens – vocals / Justin Salter – drums / DJ Wilson – bass / Chad Crawford – guitar / Pouyan Afkary – keys /
Steve Kirby – guitar /

While most young, upstart acts launch with a mission in emulating their favorite bands, the members of Scary Kids Scaring Kids — who were juniors in high school when the band formed five years ago — already had their sights set higher: they wanted to create music that was largely outside of the predictable norm from the onset.

“We wanted to start something new,” says guitarist Steve Kirby. “Something harder, not just your typical fast punk.”

It’s that quest for originality and innovation that lead the Phoenix-area six-piece through a musical journey. Their latest stop on the route: the band’s Immortal Records full-length debut, The City Sleeps In Flames.

Of course, the aforementioned journey wasn’t a simple stroll. Scary Kids Scaring Kids launched their recording career years earlier, demoing tracks at a local community college with the help of some friends. But the act’s real recording experience arrived through the sessions for their first official release, an EP titled After Dark. Working with producer Bob Hoag (The Format, Recover) in nearby Tempe, the time spent in the studio yielded an immeasurable education for the already established unit.

After Dark was the launch pad for the band’s transition to Immortal. After playing a show and impressing the Immortal staff, the band found themselves with a record deal in September 2004 and entered the studio with renowned producer Brian McTernan (Thrice, Hot Water Music) in January 2005. Just over a month later, Scary Kids Scaring Kids wrapped their sessions for The City Sleeps In Flames.

“He made our music more powerful and punchy,” Kirby says of McTernan’s input and expertise. “We usually write the music first, and then vocals after, but he helped us realize that sometimes it’s not just the music that makes the song; you’ve got to lay a good bed for the vocals.”

With The City Sleeps In Flames, Scary Kids Scaring Kids aimed for individuality amongst their tracks, and they nailed it. “We wanted to stray away from lots of random screaming stuff – we didn’t want all the songs to sound the same,” bassist DJ Wilson says. “We wanted each song to be really unique and I think it turned out like that.”

The City Sleeps In Flames proved to be an enormous hit with fans, selling over 75,000 copies in its first 18 months, including success in Japan, the UK, and Australia. The band made videos for “The Only Medicine,” “The City Sleeps in Flames,” and “My Darkest Hour” – a cult favorite that proved to be the band’s most popular. Directed by Isaac Rentz, the video featured the members of Scary Kids driving around suburban Phoenix in a van, rocking out and singing along to their own song. MTV2, MTVU, and FUSE all played the video, but it was the viral on-line plays that really generated the buzz.

“We had a lot of fun making that video,” says keyboardist Pouyan Afkary. “But I don’t think anyone thought it was going to take off the way that it did.”

Although still young, the members of Scary Kids have grown into mature road warriors, having played over 500 shows in the past three years, including the past two Warped Tours. Their live shows have grown to take on legendary status, with members of the band stage diving from rafters and floating through crowds while performing their parts flawlessly.

It’s been a long, grueling two years supporting The City Sleeps In Flames. But then again, Scary Kids Scaring Kids never sought to take the easy way out in the first place.

Look for a new album from Scary Kids Scaring Kids in July of 2007.

Immortal Records