While I’m not one for listening to a lot of Metal/Screamo, there was something about Ahimsa Sunrise that grabbed my attention. Composed of Brian Caine (bass), Seth Cooper (vocals/guitar), Jarrod Currin (guitar), and Patrick Gallagher (drums), the Pennsylvania quartet possesses an atypical and electrifyingly striking sound that reaches beyond the parameters of the genre.
Since forming in 2004, Ahimsa Sunrise has many accomplishments under their belt. The band has played extensively taking part in major tours like the Vans Warped Tour 2005, Taste of Chaos Tour 2008, and shared the stage with a multitude of national acts such as Avenged Sevenfold, Atreyu, Circa Survive, Bullets for My Valentine, Bless the Fall, Receiving End of Sirens, Darkest Hour, Emmure, God Forbid, Unwritten Law, and Amber Pacific. In 2007, they appeared on FUSE TV for winning the Bodog Battle of the Bands in Washington, D.C. Out of 7,000 unsigned bands in the US, they were 1 of the 17 chosen to perform at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of the battle. The band was also awarded honors being named on of the Top 20 Unsigned Metal Bands on MySpace, one of the Top 10 Unsigned Bands on MySpace, and one of the Top 100 Unsigned Bands on PureVolume. Ahimsa Sunrise has released two EPs and an album: The Viceroy and the Monarch in 2005, The Unseen Realm EP in 2008, and most recently Save It which was released this past March.
Sometimes referred to as a mix of Coheed and Cambria and Saosin, Ahimsa Sunrise’s music is a fusion of somber melodies and grinding metal guitars juxtaposed against the beautiful lyricism so eloquently sang and screamed by Seth Cooper. Their latest single “Save It” creates a smooth and beautiful balance of light and dark with its highs and lows of raging, speedy metal. Cooper has a kicking vocal range with the ability to switch from a scream on a dime, making you think there are two singers.
We caught up with the band earlier this year at SXSW where we chatted about the meaning behind their band name, Cooper’s amazing vocal range, their “Save It“ video, and the experience on FUSE’s battle of the bands. Watch below and for more information on the band check out MySpace. Their EP Save It is available on 
now!