Senses Fail is an Americanrock band formed inRidgewood, New Jersey, in 2001. Founded by vocalist Buddy Nielsen, drummer Dan Trapp, guitarists Garrett Zablocki and Dave Miller, and bassist James Gill (replaced by Mike Glita shortly after); the band has seen many lineup changes, with Nielsen being the only consistent member. The band has released eight studio albums, twoEPs, and one live album.^{[citation needed]} Discovered by their first manager, Heath Miller of Excess dB Entertainment, booked them on a show opening for Catch 22 at Rexplex,^[1] where the owners of Drive Thru Records saw them live for the first time and offered to sign them on November 30, 2002.

Senses Fail
Senses Fail performing atWarped Tour in 2009
Background information
Origin	Ridgewood, New Jersey, U.S.
Genres	Post-hardcore emo metalcore screamo
Years active	2001–present
Labels	ECA Drive-Thru Vagrant Hassle Staple Pure Noise Roc Nation
Members	Buddy Nielsen Gavin Caswell Jason Milbank Steve Carey Daniel Wonacott
Past members	Garrett Zablocki Dan Trapp Mike Glita Dave Miller Heath Saraceno Jason Black Zack Roach Matt Smith Chris Hornbrook Greg Styliades James Gill
Website	sensesfail.com

Senses Fail's beginnings started in October 2001 after James "Buddy" Nielsen posted an advertisement on the Internet to recruit members for the band.^[2] The advertisement attracted attention from Garrett Zablocki, who then began writing with Nielsen. Later Zablocki contacted Dave Miller to join the band who also brought along his friend, James Gill. After a short time with another drummer the band came across Dan Trapp, who was only 14-years-old at the time. Before the band signed to Drive-Thru Records, James Gill was kicked out of the band due to irreconcilable differences; he was replaced by formerTokyo Rose drummerMike Glita.^[3][4][5]

Nielsen explained the band name, stating: "In Hinduism, they believe that being alive is hell, and the only way to reach Nirvana is to ultimately have no attachments to anything. So, people go out and live in the middle of the woods and they don't eat and don't drink. They just meditate because they've reached such a high level where they're not attached to love, relationships or anything. And if you want to reach the highest level of being and see God, you have to have all your senses fail."^[2]

Building a local fan base by playing any gig they could find from skate parks and clubs to churches,^[6] they soon entered the studio and started to record. Their first release,From the Depths of Dreams, was a six-trackEP that was originally released onECA Records on August 16, 2002. It originally started as two three-song demo CDs, but was later joined together to make one release by producer John Naclerio. The independent release did very well and caught the attention of some record labels. They signed toDrive-Thru Records, and reissued their EP on April 29, 2003, with two extra tracks, remastering, and new cover art. The b-side "Bastard Son" was also recorded during this time. The release saw much success, and sold enough copies to peak at No. 144 on the Billboard chart.^[7] In support of the EP, Senses Fail toured with such bands asThe Used,Millencolin,The Starting Line, and Drive-Thru labelmatesFinch.^[8]

Senses Fail started working on their debut album,Let It Enfold You in April 2003. During this time, lead singer and songwriter Buddy Nielsen was 18–19 years old.^[6] They worked with producerSteve Evetts (Saves the Day,A Static Lullaby,Every Time I Die) on their new labelVagrant Records. The lyrics were derived from a wide variety of sources. The title of the album was taken from a poem written byCharles Bukowski, the song "Irony of Dying on Your Birthday" is about the work of mythologistJoseph Campbell, and parts of the song "Slow Dance" include lines of theDao De Jing.^[9] Nielsen stated that, "We just love making music and writing good songs. I feel like I've got a lot more to say and we've got a lot more to contribute. But even if things ended tomorrow, we've gotten 10 times further than we ever expected to get and that makes us feel like we've succeeded regardless of what happens from here on."Let It Enfold You was released on September 7, 2004, on Vagrant and Drive Thru Records.^[10] The album was certified gold by the RIAA, and has sold over 600,000 copies worldwide.^[11]

Let It Enfold You saw the release of two singles: "Buried a Lie" and "Rum Is for Drinking, Not for Burning." The music video for "Buried a Lie" was filmed on the set of the soap operaGuiding Light. Nielsen's mother, who shot the video, used to act in the show.^[6] The release of the video started attracting mainstream success for the band. During this period, Senses Fail were featured in magazines such asKerrang!,Rolling Stone,Spin and appeared on the cover ofAlternative Press.^[6]

The band toured extensively in support of the release. They participated in the VansWarped Tour in 2004, 2005, and 2006, and 2009.^[6]

In 2005, the band's web site announced the departure, by mutual agreement, of guitarist Dave Miller. He was replaced byHeath Saraceno, previously the guitarist and vocalist of the bandMidtown.^[12] Miller started his own record label called DMI (Dave Miller Industries) in September 2006.^[13]

The song "Lady in a Blue Dress," from this album, was released as a downloadable track on theRock Band Network on March 4, 2010.^[14]

After taking a break from touring, and acquiring a new lineup, Senses Fail began to write their second studio album. The new album, titledStill Searching was produced byBrian McTernan (Thrice,Cave In) and mixed byChris Lord-Alge. This album eased up on the aggression on previous albums and showed more emotion. On the subject of the new songs, Nielsen explained, "I like my lyrics to be open to interpretation, but I didn't want to paint pictures of things no one was going to understand; I want our fans to be able to relate. At some point, we all start examining our lives. If you don't, there's something wrong with you."^[6]

In support of the new album, the band toured on the Taste of Chaos again. In 2006 they toured with the Taste of Chaos International, and in 2007 Senses Fail returned to North America for the 2007 Taste of Chaos tour. In the summer of 2007 they also participated in a few dates of theZumiez Couch Tour alongsideFrom Autumn to Ashes. They headlined in late 2006 withSaosin andBleeding Through as supporters.^[10] On October 5, 2007, Senses Fail began a 33-city co-headlining tour withNew Found Glory which started inLas Vegas,Nevada. Also on the tour wasSet Your Goals. The tour ended on November 24, 2007, inSan Diego,California.

On November 13, 2007, Senses Fail released a deluxe version ofStill Searching, which featured new art, behind-the-scenes DVD featuring footage from the band's headlining tour last fall, two new songs, three b-sides, and a cover ofThe Cranberries' song "Salvation."^[15]

On December 8, 2007, bassist Mike Glita left the band to pursue his side project Knights In Paris.^[16]Jason Black joined as a temporary replacement, though he later became a permanent member.^{[citation needed]}

The band's third full-length albumLife Is Not a Waiting Room was released on October 7, 2008 throughVagrant Records,^[17] followed by the beginning of a nationwide tour the day after.^[18]On November 21, Senses Fail did an online interview withUltimate Guitar, talking about the evolution of the band, their new bassist and the album.^[19]

On June 30, 2009, it was announced that guitaristHeath Saraceno would be leaving the band after the 2009Warped Tour, stating: "I've shared many great times with these guys over the past four years or so. We've made two records I'm very proud of, toured the world and the States countless times, and I've made friends with people I would not have met otherwise. These guys from Jersey (and Atlanta by way of Florida) have turned into some of my closest friends, and I will miss seeing them as often as I've been able to."^[20] He was replaced by Zack Roach.

The band began recording their new album, titledThe Fire, at Salad Days Studio withBrian McTernan in June 2010 hoping to release later that year.^[21]The Fire was released in the UK on October 25, 2010, through Hassle Records^[22] and elsewhere on October 26 through Vagrant Records^[23] to generally positive reviews. The album does not feature Zack Roach on guitar, replacing Heath Saraceno after leaving in 2009, but instead has Garrett Zablocki playing both guitar roles.^[24] In February 2011, Garrett Zablocki left the band to attend college; however, he will be composing music for various films and videos.

Senses Fail went on tour withStick to Your Guns,Make Do and Mend, andThe Story So Far in November 2011.^[25] The band then releasedThe Fire on vinyl through Mightier Than Sword Records.^[26]

Senses Fail played again on the2012 Vans Warped Tour. They released a greatest hits album entitledFollow Your Bliss: The Best of Senses Fail which featured music from all of their previous albums and came with an added four-track EP of new songs. The album was released on June 19, 2012, in a double-CD package and it is limited to 10,000 copies.^{[27][needs update]}

Senses stated that they would record their fifth full-length album inLos Angeles, California with producerShaun Lopez at The Airport Studio and Red Bull Studio. The resulting album,Renacer, was released on March 26, 2013. The album spawned the singles "Mi Amor"^[28] and "The Path".

Senses Fail embarked on a 10th Anniversary tour for "Let It Enfold You", playing the album in full. ex-Poison the Well drummer and currentBig Black Delta live drummerChris Hornbrook replacedDan Trapp on drums.^[29]

In 2014, on their tumblr blog^[30] the band announced they signed toPure Noise Records. Senses Fail would enter the studio in November to start recording their next full-length album which was scheduled to be released in summer 2015. It was later announced that the album would be titledPull the Thorns from Your Heart.^[31]

On February 2, 2015, the band released a tease of their split EP on their Facebook. The EP was released on March 3, 2015.Pull the Thorns from Your Heart was released on June 30, 2015. The touring cycle for the record kicked off by playing the entirety of the 2015Vans Warped Tour. The band then embarked on a winter co-headlining tour withSilverstein. On this tour, guitarist Matt Smith was absent due to the birth of his first child. Greg Styliades, who had previously toured with the band after Zack Roach returned home for the birth of his child, performed with the band on this tour. At this time, the band was classified byAbsolutePunk asscreamo and "alternative".^[9]

On November 15, 2016, the band announced that in celebration of its upcoming fifteenth anniversary, they would be embarking on the Quince Años Tour in March and April 2017, with support fromCounterparts,Movements, andLike Pacific. To commemorate the event, the band performed its 2006 albumStill Searching in full, alongside a collection of career spanning songs.^[32]

On the same day, the band announced the release of their long teasedacoustic EP,In Your Absence.^[33]

The band entered the studio withSaosin guitarist Beau Burchell, who also handled recording duties onIn Your Absence, to begin recording their seventh full-length album on June 27, 2017, to be titledIf There Is Light, It Will Find You.^[34] Nielsen commented that the album would feature a style more akin to earlier releases, such asLet It Enfold You.^[35] The album was written entirely by Nielsen.^[36]

On August 2, it was revealed that former drummer Dan Trapp would be performing drums on the album, although current drummer Chris Hornbrook would still be performing and touring with the band. However, on January 8, 2018, Hornbrook announced his departure from the band. Hornbrook had been touring withDhani Harrison during the recording sessions.^[37][38] On February 1, 2018, Steve Carey ofThe Color Morale was announced as the band's new drummer, following the announcement that The Color Morale would be entering a hiatus.^[39]

On November 30, the lead single "Double Cross" was released. A second single, "Gold Jacket, Green Jacket..." was released on January 11, 2018.^[40] On February 1, 2018, a third single, "New Jersey Makes, the World Takes" was released.^[41] The album was released on February 16, 2018.^[42]

In January 2020, Senses Fail announced that they had begun recording their eighth record, tentatively titledHell Is In Your Head, and that it would follow the character fromStill Searching after the events of the song "The Priest and the Matador."^[43] In March, they updated the working title toWhat the Thunder Said, Hell Is in Your Head.^[44]

On February 17, 2021, the band released "Lush Rimbaugh," coinciding with the death ofconservative news punditRush Limbaugh.^[45] On August 18, a second single titled "Death by Water" was released alongside a music video, and featuredIce Nine Kills vocalist Spencer Charnas. On November 4, 2021, another new single was released alongside a music video titled "I'm Sorry I'm Leaving." The release of the song also saw the official announcement thatHell Is in Your Head would be released on July 15, 2022.^[46]

Senses Fail were listed as a band to watch on day 1 of the2023 Aftershock Festival byThe State Hornet.^[47]

Senses Fail's traditional sound is characterized by "a slick amalgam ofpost-hardcore muscle andemo heartbreak," along with "unusually esoteric" lyrics.^[48] In addition to post-hardcore^[49][50][51] and emo,^{[52][50][53][51]} the band has also been categorized asscreamo,^{[54][55][56][57]}metalcore,^[58][59][60]pop punk,^[61][55] andhardcore punk.^[62][63]

The band have citedJimmy Eat World,The Get Up Kids,The Promise Ring,Appleseed Cast,Saves the Day,Thursday,The Casket Lottery,Lifetime,Metallica,Megadeth andDeftones as their influences.^{[64][65][66][67][68]}

Current

• James "Buddy" Nielsen – lead vocals, piano,programming, additional percussion (2002–present)
• Gavin Caswell – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2016–present); bass (2013–2016)
• Jason Milbank – lead guitar, backing vocals (2016–present)
• Steve Carey – drums (2018–present)
• Daniel Wonacott – bass, backing vocals, part-time guitars (2022–present)

Former

• Garrett Zablocki – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–2011)
• Dan Trapp – drums, percussion (2002–2014, official; 2017–present, session)
• Mike Glita – bass,backing screamed vocals (2002–2008)
• Dave Miller – rhythm guitar (2002–2005)
• Heath Saraceno – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2005–2009)
• Jason Black – bass (2008–2012)
• Zack Roach – rhythm guitar (2009–2011); lead guitar (2011–2016); backing vocals (2009–2016); bass (2012–2013)
• Matt Smith – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2011–2016)
• Chris Hornbrook – drums (2014–2018)
• Greg Styliades – bass (2016–2022, part-time/touring 2022–present); guitars (touring 2015)
• James Gill – bass (2002)

Touring musicians

• Etay Pisano – guitars (2009–2010)
• Jeremy Comitas – bass, backing vocals (2012)

Timeline

Studio albums

• Let It Enfold You (2004)
• Still Searching (2006)
• Life Is Not a Waiting Room (2008)
• The Fire (2010)
• Renacer (2013)
• Pull the Thorns from Your Heart (2015)
• If There Is Light, It Will Find You (2018)
• Hell Is in Your Head (2022)

• Official tumblr blog / Website
• Website
• Senses Fail discography atDiscogs
• Senses Fail atIMDb