Conceptual Theory

The Emptiness marked a turning point for Alesana. Released in 2010, the LP saw Alesana truly start to branch out. The North Carolina outfit had never been a typical post-hardcore ensemble; from the outset, they've blended elements of hardcore, extreme metal and pop. Each album has seen a marked expansion. Still, The Emptiness saw them truly develop into their own entity.

Such has been the album's impact, the band are only just in the process of actually finishing it. Conceived as a concept record, The Emptiness was followed by a bona fide sequel in 2011's A Place Where the Sun Is Silent. It will soon be followed by a concluding chapter in the form of the band's fifth album. This Australian tour will showcase material from the soon-to-be-completed closer.

“I'd say we're at the pointy end of the process, yeah,” frontman and bandleader Shawn Milke says of the record's imminent completion. “We're just finishing up with the writing and getting into pre-production. It's coming out really nice so far. It's actually the conclusion of the trilogy we began with The Emptiness. I knew the way that The Emptiness ended, I really hoped it would continue.

“It wasn't until we started writing …Sun… that I actually realised that it would. I definitely didn't expect it to grow into a trilogy when I first started writing The Emptiness, though,” he reflects. “It just came from my love of reading and writing stories. I just really wanted to combine that with my love of records. I know we're in a singles-driven market now, but I will always love albums where each song is a piece of a larger experience.”

It seems a fitting time for a conclusion. In recent years, Milke and Alesana have been evolving. Not just as a musicians, either. After time spent at legendary punk imprints like Fearless and Epitaph, their next album will be self-released. And self-produced. They're navigating away from other business models and developing their own cottage industry.

“It's about being able to be creative however you want. You know, even if it's just in when we release our records. When you're with a record label, you can only put out a record when the label says you can put out a record. Now, we can put out a record every month if we want to,” Milke says. “That was probably the biggest reason for us going our own way with our next album.”

Shawn Milke, in particular, seems to be thinking of the future. He's started his own record label, Revival Recordings, and will also be working as a producer for a number of other bands. His concerns seem to mirror those of his band. He's spreading his wings and working on an array of new projects. As Alesana conclude their three-album trilogy, their key focus also seems to be one of freedom.

“One of the things we want to do after this record is to write and release a series of EPs. You know, drop an EP every two months or so for a year and have them all tie together,” Milke enthuses. “And having the freedom to pursue those kind of projects is the main reason we've decided to strike out on our own. You know, we are definitely the kind of band that would love to write music all year around and release albums more frequently.”