Oddzar
Encyclopedia
Oddzar is an American Rock
band formed in 1999 in Columbia, Maryland
. Their original line-up consisted of high school friends Russ Eckell (vocals
), David Nenner (guitar
), Travis Lockhart (bass
), and Blake Silvea (drums
).
The four were heavily influenced by funk-metal bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers
and Rage Against the Machine
, as well as Pearl Jam
. Shortly after their formation, Nenner left the group to form Truth Be Told and was replaced by Greg Jung in 2000.
The quartet reworked their style, drawing from influences such as Tool
and Muse
. "We felt a need to avoid musical trends such as pop-punk, emo
, and rap-metal," said Eckell. In 2002, the band was signed to DCide Records
of Nothingface
fame. The group began working on their self-title debut, produced and engineered by Drew Mazurek (Linkin Park
). Oddzar was released in 2004, four months after Greg Jung’s departure from the band in May. He was replaced by Greg Loman.
“Abandoned Road” and "Spell," songs from the first album were featured on MTV’s Road Rules in 2005.
In 2005, Travis Lockhart left Oddzar to pursue other interests. The band used Ellis Tinsley as a stand-in bassist before settling on University of Maryland
student Trevor Olexy as their fourth member.
On November 19, 2007, Oddzar released a demo from their then untitled second album. The song was entitled “Ready the Chariot” and explored more progressive terrain than their earlier work.
In 2008 "Until it Does" a song from Oddzar's first album was used in the soundtrack of the eighth episode of The Real World: Hollywood
, "Arrival and Departure."
Oddzar recorded their second album, tentatively entitled 'Rise' in late April 2008 at Mad Oak Studios in Boston, MA. The record was produced by Evan Anderson and engineered and mixed by Benny Grotto. The record was mastered in late September 2008 at Peerless Mastering (also in Boston, MA). It has been scheduled to be released on January 29, 2009 under the name Ready the Chariot.
On October 1, 2008, Oddzar released a track from their forthcoming records called D.O.D. (Dogs of Demikhov) on their myspace page.
Allmusic has said the band is “well worth keeping an eye on.”
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band formed in 1999 in Columbia, Maryland
Columbia, Maryland
Columbia is a planned community that consists of ten self-contained villages, located in Howard County, Maryland, United States. It began with the idea that a city could enhance its residents' quality of life. Creator and developer James W. Rouse saw the new community in terms of human values, not...
. Their original line-up consisted of high school friends Russ Eckell (vocals
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
), David Nenner (guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
), Travis Lockhart (bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
), and Blake Silvea (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
).
The four were heavily influenced by funk-metal bands such as Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Red Hot Chili Peppers is an American rock band, formed in Los Angeles in 1983. The group's musical style primarily consists of rock with an emphasis on funk, as well as elements from other genres such as punk, hip hop and psychedelic rock...
and Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine
Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...
, as well as Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
. Shortly after their formation, Nenner left the group to form Truth Be Told and was replaced by Greg Jung in 2000.
The quartet reworked their style, drawing from influences such as Tool
Tool (band)
Tool is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1990, the group's line-up has included drummer Danny Carey, guitarist Adam Jones, and vocalist Maynard James Keenan. Since 1995, Justin Chancellor has been the band's bassist, replacing their original bassist Paul D'Amour...
and Muse
Muse (band)
Muse are an English alternative rock band from Teignmouth, Devon, formed in 1994. The band consists of school friends Matthew Bellamy , Christopher Wolstenholme and Dominic Howard...
. "We felt a need to avoid musical trends such as pop-punk, emo
Emo
Emo is a style of rock music and its associated subcultureEmo may also refer to:- Businesses :* Emo , an Irish oil company and filling station chain* Emo Speedway, a racetrack in Emo, Ontario...
, and rap-metal," said Eckell. In 2002, the band was signed to DCide Records
DCide
DCide is a privately held, DC based independent record label. The label was started in summer of 1995 by founding partners Jeffrey B. Clyburn, Burton Gray and Mark Thorp. Their first act Nothingface sold over 500,000 records worldwide and is widely recognized as one of the standard-bearers for the...
of Nothingface
Nothingface
Nothingface was a four-piece metal band from Washington, D.C. noted for having graphic lyrics and occasionally using political themes in their later works, as well as polyrhythmic songs.-First Run:...
fame. The group began working on their self-title debut, produced and engineered by Drew Mazurek (Linkin Park
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album, Hybrid Theory, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries...
). Oddzar was released in 2004, four months after Greg Jung’s departure from the band in May. He was replaced by Greg Loman.
“Abandoned Road” and "Spell," songs from the first album were featured on MTV’s Road Rules in 2005.
In 2005, Travis Lockhart left Oddzar to pursue other interests. The band used Ellis Tinsley as a stand-in bassist before settling on University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
student Trevor Olexy as their fourth member.
On November 19, 2007, Oddzar released a demo from their then untitled second album. The song was entitled “Ready the Chariot” and explored more progressive terrain than their earlier work.
In 2008 "Until it Does" a song from Oddzar's first album was used in the soundtrack of the eighth episode of The Real World: Hollywood
The Real World: Hollywood
The Real World: Hollywood is the twentieth season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships. It premiered on...
, "Arrival and Departure."
Oddzar recorded their second album, tentatively entitled 'Rise' in late April 2008 at Mad Oak Studios in Boston, MA. The record was produced by Evan Anderson and engineered and mixed by Benny Grotto. The record was mastered in late September 2008 at Peerless Mastering (also in Boston, MA). It has been scheduled to be released on January 29, 2009 under the name Ready the Chariot.
On October 1, 2008, Oddzar released a track from their forthcoming records called D.O.D. (Dogs of Demikhov) on their myspace page.
Allmusic has said the band is “well worth keeping an eye on.”