Every Time I Die is a southern metalcore band that was formed in 1998 by brothers Keith and Jordan Buckley. Metalcore is a genre that combines elements of heavy metal and hardcore punk rock. They will play at Newport Music Hall Tuesday with Norma Jean and Cancer Bats.
In 2006, the band’s song “The New Black” was featured as a bonus track in Guitar Hero 2. In 2007, the band was in need of a bassist to replace Keller Harbin.
That same year, Josh Newton was touring the U.K. playing bass guitar for metalcore band From Autumn to Ashes.
“We had an awesome last two shows, but after the last one I had been drinking and I decided that I just did not feel at home playing with those guys anymore,” Newton said.
Newton returned home to find that he had received a voicemail from the members of Every Time I Die, asking him to join them on tour with Underoath.
“I only got to practice with the guys for two or three days before tour started. I just have not really looked back since,” Newton said with a laugh.
Newton, 36, currently plays bass and screams for Every Time I Die.
Newton said that although the band discourages violence at its shows, it fully encourages fans being themselves and having a great time.
“Being friends with the guys in those bands definitely makes the whole touring thing easier,” Newton said. “We aren’t always concerned with headlining tours though, I don’t really understand that. We just enjoy playing for our fans. It doesn’t really matter what order we play in.”
Newton got his start musically when he was 11 and continuously quit and restarted guitar lessons. He said he had an ear for music and a good knowledge of musical theory, which helped him pick up bass guitar rather quickly.
He has played bass and guitar for nine other bands including Shiner, Biology, Unsane and Reggie and the Full Effect.
“New Junk Aesthetic” is the fifth studio album from Every Time I Die, and the first for Newton with the band.
The abstract album artwork was created by guitarist Jordan Buckley, who also created a lot of the art for the band’s merchandise. The album features Greg Puciato of Dillinger Escape Plan and Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy.
After spending much of the first half of the year on tour in Australia, the band will tour through the end of May in the U.S. before taking a short break in June. Following the break, it will play a festival in the Netherlands with Them Crooked Vultures.
The band will wrap up the summer playing at The Vans Warped Tour as well as a European tour before putting together new material. Newton said they are always fiddling around with new material that could wind up on an album in the future.
Keith Buckley will also be recording vocals in 2010 for the debut album of his new side project Damned Thing, which features members of Fall Out Boy and Anthrax.