Abused Romance >

ABUSED ROMANCE thrives on extremes…
Whether its gnashing guttural guitar grooves or hypnotic hooks, the Los Angeles quartet can swing from ethereal to abrasive often within the space of the same song. On their full-length debut SHINE (due out in 2011), Abused Romance--MEIR YANIV (Vocals, Guitar), AMIT OFIR (Guitar), AETAM JAKOB (Bass) and ROY CHEN (Drums)--deliver intricately elegant hard rock. First single “Vaporize” radiates with a catchy darkness, rising from an airtight chorus and vibrant riffs. Meanwhile, “The Sound of Violence” bristles with metallic bombast driven via a pulverizing bass and drum steamroll. Daring and deadly, this is everything rock ‘n’ roll should be.

For Meir, Abused Romance stretches back to his childhood in Israel. “Amit and I have been writing and playing together since we were 12-years-old,” recalls the singer. “In 2006, we seriously started creating music for Abused Romance.”

That magic comes from the four unique individuals comprising Abused Romance. After graduating the Musician’s Institute together in Los Angeles, Meir and Amit headed back home to Israel to find the rest of the band. Luckily, the duo didn’t have to look far for a bass player.

Aetam laughs, “Meir’s dad was actually my mom’s boss. He mentioned that Meir needed a bass player for his band, so she gave him my number. Meir called me immediately.”

After that stroke of serendipity, the lineup was solidified with the addition of Roy. The four moved back to Los Angeles, pounding the Sunset Strip with constant gigging and street promotion. At the same time, they began penning the songs that would eventually become Shine. The band carved out a sound that was decidedly invigorating and incendiary in the process.

Meir encapsulates that sound best. “We can be super melodic or we can be crushingly heavy. The name ‘Abused Romance’ really represents our style because the songs have melodies, but they’re also extremely aggressive in terms of playing. We grew up on very heavy music, but we also love the whole spectrum of pop. We play what’s the most natural for us, which is a hybrid of everything."

Abused Romance dropped The Sound of Violence EP in late 2010 on iTunes and other digital retailers, and it’s a fitting prelude of what’s to come, featuring five songs from Shine. Produced by Justin Gray (Joss Stone, INXS) and mixed by Randy Staub (Metallica, U2), these songs careen from chaotic to cathartic. The band is set to release Shine in stores everywhere next through Freeway Entertainment/Universal Music Group Distribution.

Their first single, “Vaporize,” is an undeniable anthem about the dissolution of a relationship. Nodding to Incubus and Alice In Chains, Abused Romance perfectly balance dark verses and an unforgettable chorus.

About the song, Meir goes on, "It's about the moment that you break up with someone you shouldn’t be with. You’re basically vaporizing that person from your life. It's not negative though. You’re deleting the person, but you're enjoying the breakup."

That bittersweet mentality colors the rest of the EP and the album. A myriad of experiences in the band’s young lives make for quite the aural journey. Three-out-of- the-four members served in the Israeli army (as part of the country mandatory program), and their experience impacted the lyrics immensely.
"Anything that I experienced in my life is reflected in our music,” Meir reveals.  “Obviously, growing up in a country that is always in war, you feel it. From the moment you become conscious, you know you're going to serve in the army. We ended up in some extreme situations, and that’s a part of what we write about. We have songs that directly talk about it like ‘The Sound of Violence’ and the title track. The struggle has been there since the country has existed."

Abused Romance remain unwaveringly honest, and it’s crucial to their overall approach. Aetam adds, " We put a lot of thought into every note, and there are a lot of interesting melodic treasures hidden throughout the album because we leave no stone unturned."

Live, the band has decimated stages on tour with the likes of Trapt and Nonpoint. Aetam continues, "We have our own delivery. Live, you really get the essence of the band. We're being ourselves to the fullest, we don’t hold back. It's as real as it gets."

Being real is their main goal, and that’s what fans will ultimately take away from Abused Romance on tape or on stage. Meir concludes, "Shine represents two years of feelings, ideas and experiences of the four members of this band. We write about situations where something beautiful, like romance, can be devastating. The song ‘Shine’ is about restarting the planet. It’s a scary, but hopeful idea. In that aspect, it represents two sides of the coin. That’s life. We’re not hiding behind any walls; we’re very exposed on this album. This is who we are.”

Ultimately, Abused Romance’s integrity is an inspiration. Aetam concurs, “We want to show people there is hope out there. Be open-minded, be positive and you can do everything you want in this life--if you put your heart into it.” Abused Romance have put their hearts into Shine, making extreme art that stands alone.

For ABUSED ROMANCE publicity, contact:
Libby Coffey/MSO PR

LCoffey@msopr.com