Local band Forever in Effigy releases album, contends for 2006 Warped Tour

While most people soaked up the rays on warm, sunny beaches during spring break, members from the band Forever in Effigy found themselves in Bloomington all week, recording. If everything goes as planned, the result of their efforts will be a 12-track album titled "From Sleep and Shadows."\nThe four musicians of Forever in Effigy include freshman Spencer Luzwick on vocals and guitar, sophomore TJ Martin on guitar, senior CJ Page on bass and sophomore Dave Chale on drums. Their sound is inspired by bands like Thrice, Coheed and Cambria, Underoath and Metallica, and the musical talents of all four create a dramatic and captivating sound, enough to make any listener do more than just tap their toes. \n"We aim for different genres," Chale said, "and we play a little bit of everything for everyone." \nFIE was created in early 2005 and has made leaps and bounds in progress since then, practicing at least three times a week and playing one show after another for a growing crowd. Long-time friend and fan of FIE, freshman Curtis Grace calls their sound unique and intense. \n"I'm really anxious to see how well the album does," Grace said. \nAnyone in the audience at a FIE performance witnesses the band's impeccable chemistry and their ability to shock and please by hanging from rafters and inviting fans on-stage to sing along.\nWhen these guys aren't practicing or tearing up the stage, most of them are studying. \n"Our grades show that we could afford to try harder in school,"Page said , "but (the band) is what we want to do."\nLuzwick, who is double majoring in psychology and criminal justice, finds himself with little or no spare time.\n"I spend pretty much all my time either on school or on band stuff," he said. "My grades have suffered this semester a bit, but nothing too bad."\nThe upcoming album will be released May 5 at Rhino's Youth Center. Most of the songs featured were composed by Martin and Chale, while lyrics come from Martin and Luzwick. \n"For lyrics, I just write streams of consciousness about moods or characters in my head," Martin said. "Spencer refines them and adds things to make them work to the music. Words just come to me."\nFIE has previously released tracks that will be included in the album, but the majority of the songs are new and highly anticipated by fans. Martin said, the song "Avaritia," for which they already have a music video, will be the biggest hit. \n"I think 'Avaritia' is going to be the overall favorite," he said, "People already like it a lot, and it's catchy enough to get the pop kids while interesting enough to get more serious listeners into it." \nWith the release of "From Sleep and Shadows," Forever in Effigy hopes the word about their sound will spread and that they will turn heads nationally. The band will be touring from May 10 to June 11, and is currently in the running to play on this summer's Warped Tour. Whether or not it makes the cut depends on online voting from fans, to whom the band expresses great gratitude.\n"I love them all," Martin said. "I truly do appreciate every one of them"