One of the pioneers of metalcore, the prolific As I Lay Dying garnered a swift following in the early-00s. Formed seven decades after its Faulkner novel namesake, the band's 2001 debut, BENEATH THE ENCASING OF ASHES, mixed Christian themes with a fusillade of throaty hardcore vocals and thrashing Slayer-esque guitars. The fertile combination earned As I Lay Dying a legion of fans and a contract with heralded Metal Blade Records. Starting with 2003's well-received FRAIL WORLDS COLLAPSE, the five-man band, fronted by Tim Lambesis, released roughly an album a year for the label throughout the aughts.
































