Erra (band)

Erra (stylized as ERRA) is an American progressive metalcore band from Birmingham, Alabama, formed in 2009.[1][2][3] The band was named after the homonymous Akkadian god of war and plague. The band has released four studio albums and three EPs to date. Their latest album, titled Neon, was released on August 10, 2018.[4] They have toured with bands such as As I Lay Dying, August Burns Red, TesseracT, Born of Osiris, Glass Cloud, Within the Ruins and Texas in July.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

Erra
Erra performing in 2018
Background information
Origin	Birmingham, Alabama, U.S.
Genres	Progressive metalcore
Years active	2009–present
Labels	UNFD Sumerian Tragic Hero
Associated acts	Ghost Atlas
Members	Alex Ballew Jesse Cash Sean Price J.T. Cavey Conor Hesse
Past members	Adam Hicks Garrison Lee Alan Rigdon Ian Eubanks

History

Early years and Impulse (2009–2011)

Erra was formed in 2009 by high school friends Alex Ballew, Jesse Cash, Adam Hicks, Garrison Lee and Alan Rigdon in Birmingham, Alabama. The band wrote and self-released two EPs: a self-titled in 2009 and Andromeda in 2010. This gained the attention of Tragic Hero Records, which had signed them in 2011.[11] Later that year, the band released their first studio album Impulse and toured with bands such as Born of Osiris and Upon a Burning Body.

Augment and line-up changes (2012–2014)

In 2012, Adam Hicks left the band to pursue other career options and the band began writing their second studio album with Cash tracking both guitar and bass for the album.[12] Augment was released and gained the band considerably more attention from touring bands, and they began touring more extensively. Hicks was replaced by guitarist Sean Price, who was included in the "Hybrid Earth" music video. The band toured the following year to promote their second release. Vocalist Garrison Lee and guitarist Alan Rigdon announced their departure from the band in 2014 and left on good terms.[13]

Moments of Clarity and Drift (2014–2017)

Following the end of their record deal with Tragic Hero, Erra signed to Sumerian Records in mid-2014. Bassist Sean Price moved to rhythm guitar and vocalist Ian Eubanks replaced Garrison Lee's position.[14] In 2014, their third EP Moments of Clarity was released through Sumerian. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[15] Throughout 2015, Erra opened up for bands such as August Burns Red on their Frozen Flame Tour and TesseracT on their 2015 Polaris album tour. In late 2015, Eubanks parted ways with the band, citing an impact on his health as the main reason.[16]

In 2016, vocalist J.T. Cavey, a former member of Texas in July, joined the band to replace Ian Eubanks's position.[17] Cavey and the band entered the studio and wrote and released their third studio album Drift. The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[15] The band toured on the Sumerian 10-year tour, along with Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, After the Burial and Bad Omens.[18]

Neon (2018–2019)

On June 12, 2018, the band issued the first single from their album Neon. The album was released on August 10, 2018, and is the band's third release on the label Sumerian Records, and the second album to feature J.T. Cavey on vocals. It peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard 200's Heatseekers Albums chart.[15] In September 2018, the band departed on tour with After the Burial and The Acacia Strain.[19]

On August 8, 2019, the band released a new single titled "Eye of God"; it was made available to pre-save.[20] In August 2019, Erra went on the Neon/Alien tour through North America with Northlane, Crystal Lake and Currents.[21] On October 10, the band released their cover of Queens of the Stone Age's "You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire" on streaming music services.[22]

Self-titled fifth album (2020–present)

On August 27, 2020, the band announced that they had parted ways with Sumerian Records and signed with UNFD, and they released a new single "Snowblood" along with a corresponding music video.[23] On November 19, the band released another single "House of Glass".[24]

On January 13, 2021, the band released the third single "Divisionary" along with an accompanying music video. That same day, the band revealed the tracklist, album's official artwork and announced that their new upcoming self-titled fifth studio album is set for release on March 19, 2021.[25] On February 3, one month and a half before the album release, the band unveiled the fourth single, "Scorpion Hymn".[26][27]

Musical style and influences

The band has been referred to as "the spearhead of the whole modern/progressive metalcore movement"[28][1][2] and have referred to their own style as "melodic-ambient."[29]

They have cited August Burns Red, Misery Signals, Born of Osiris, and Saosin as musical influences.[29] Cove Reber of Saosin and Anthony Green of Circa Survive have been noted as a particular influence on Jesse Cash's vocals.

Members

Current

• Alex Ballew – drums, percussion (2009–present)
• Jesse Cash – guitars, clean vocals (2009–present); bass (2014–2016)
• Sean Price – guitars (2014–present); bass (2012–2016)
• J.T. Cavey – unclean vocals, backing clean vocals (2016–present)
• Conor Hesse – bass (2016–present)

Touring

• Blakeley Townson – bass (2015–2016)

Former

• Adam Hicks – bass (2009–2012)
• Garrison Lee – unclean vocals (2009–2014)
• Alan Rigdon – guitars, backing vocals (2009–2014)
• Ian Eubanks – unclean vocals (2014–2015)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

List of studio albums

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		US [30]	US Heat [15]
Impulse	Released: November 30, 2011 Label: Tragic Hero Format: CD, digital download	–	–
Augment	Released: October 29, 2013 Label: Tragic Hero Format: CD, digital download	117	1
Drift	Released: April 8, 2016 Label: Sumerian Format: CD, digital download	101	1
Neon	Released: August 10, 2018 Label: Sumerian Format: CD, digital download	152	1
Erra	Released: March 19, 2021 Label: UNFD Format: CD, digital download	To be released
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Extended plays

List of extended plays

Title	EP details	Peak chart positions
		US Heat [15]
Erra	Released: May 4, 2009 Label: Self-released Format: Digital download	–
Andromeda	Released: December 21, 2010 Label: Self-released Format: CD, digital download	–
Moments of Clarity	Released: November 10, 2014 Label: Sumerian Format: CD, digital download	4
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Singles

Title	Year	Album
"White Noise"	2011	Impulse
"Pulse"	2013	Augment
"Hybrid Earth"
"Dreamcatcher"	2014	Moments of Clarity
"Luminesce"	2016	Drift
"Drift"
"Orchid"
"Hourglass"
"Disarray"	2018	Neon
"Breach"
"Eye of God"	2019	Non-album singles
"You Think I Ain't Worth a Dollar, But I Feel Like a Millionaire" (Queens of the Stone Age cover)
"Snowblood"	2020	Erra
"House of Glass"
"Divisionary"	2021
"Scorpion Hymn"

References

1. "Erra | Biography & History | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved May 29, 2017. Precise and adventurous progressive metalcore from ambitious Alabama-based five-piece." ... " Erra are a progressive technical metalcore band from Birmingham, Alabama.
2. "REVIEW: ERRA – 'Augment' | Under the Gun Review". Under the Gun Review. Retrieved May 29, 2017. They are a five piece progressive metalcore outfit hailing from Birmingham, Alabama.
3. Mark Deming. "ERRA - Awards - AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
4. "Erra - Chart history". Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
5. Tyler Sharp. "August Burns Red announce winter headlining tour with Miss May I, Northlane, Erra". Alternative Press. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
6. Greg Kennelty. "TESSERACT To Tour North America With THE CONTORTIONIST, ERRA And SKYHARBOR!". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
7. Robert Pasbani. "BORN OF OSIRIS, VEIL OF MAYA, AFTER THE BURIAL Headline Sumerian 10 Year Tour, Dates Announced". Metal Injection. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
8. Matt Crane. "Glass Cloud, Scale The Summit announce co-headlining tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
9. Brian Kraus. "Born Of Osiris announce fall tour with Thy Art Is Murder, Betraying The Martyrs, Within The Ruins". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
10. "Texas in July U.S. headline tour announced". Equal Vision Records. Retrieved April 10, 2016.
11. "Tragic Hero Records - Erra". Tragic Hero. Archived from the original on January 12, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
12. "Erra part ways with bassist Adam Hicks". Got Djent. Archived from the original on September 23, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
13. "Alan Rigdon Leaves ERRA". New Transcendence. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
14. "Erra announces new lineup, records new EP". Lambgoat. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
15. "Erra Chart History". Billboard 200. Billboard magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
16. "Erra to part ways with vocalist". Alternative Press. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
17. "Ex-Texas In July Frontman JT Cavey Joins ERRA, New Song "Luminesce" Available". ThePRP News. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
18. "Born of Osiris, Veil of Maya, After the Burial Headline Sumerian 10 Year Tour, Dates Announced". Metal Injection. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
19. "After The Burial and the Acacia Strain announce North American tour". Alternative Press. July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
20. "ERRA on Instagram: "Eye of God • pre-save now via the link in our bio"". Instagram. July 26, 2019. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
21. "Northlane, ERRA, Currents & Crystal Lake Tour Rumored". The PRP. April 28, 2019. Retrieved October 2, 2019.
22. "NEWS: ERRA cover 'You Think I Ain't Worth A Dollar…' by Queens Of The Stone Age!". Dead Press!. October 12, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
23. "ERRA Sign With UNFD Records, Debut "Snowblood" Music Video". ThePRP. August 27, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
24. "ERRA Premiere New Song "House Of Glass"". ThePRP. November 19, 2020. Retrieved November 19, 2020.
25. "This Is Everything You Need To Know About ERRA's New Self-Titled Album". Rock Sound. January 13, 2021. Retrieved January 13, 2021.
26. "ERRA Premiere "Scorpion Hymn"". ThePRP. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
27. "ERRA Drop New Song 'Scorpion Hymn'". Wall of Sound. February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
28. "12 Reasons Why Metalcore Isn't Dying". www.itdjents.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
29. Dodderidge, Tim (February 11, 2015). "Interview: Erra". Mind Equals Blown. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
30. "Erra History". Billboard 200. Billboard magazine. Retrieved July 3, 2019.