With a push of the play button, the onslaught of highly-refined rock music begins. The intense bombardment is captivating, and in an instant the listener is immersed in rock 'n' roll's timeless trio of guitars, drums and bass.
"Some secrets you never can tell, 'cause the truth will reveal your lies," Jason Kundrath, vocalist and rhythm guitarist, croons.
Right from the onset of their 2007 release, "The Deception EP," Hero Pattern inundates the listener with sophisticated rhythm and bass resonating from drummer Mike Kundrath and bassist Rob Fitzgerald. Pierre Marceau, lead guitarist, ignites the fret board as his fingers sprint and dash about the neck, gripping and bending strings high and low. Narrating the energetic arrangement with tales of loss, miscommunication and nostalgia is Jason's melodic voice.
Hero Pattern formed as the result of two merged musical endeavors. While in high school, the Kundrath brothers had formed two separate bands. Jason, who was already creating music with Fitzgerald, his longtime friend, was the principal songwriter in this early musical endeavor, "which shall remain nameless," he said. Mike served as Jason's constant collaborator while writing these early songs.
Eventually, Mike was brought in to drum with Jason and Fitzgerald; however, according to Jason, the band had yet to be completed. At the time, Marceau, known in the hometown scene as the best guitarist around, was playing for another local band. When Marceau's original band broke up, Jason described him as being in a state of mourning. Despite Marceau's loss, Jason remained persistent and was able to bring him into the band. With the addition of Marceau, described as the band's "secret weapon," utilizing a "Slash meets David Gilmore approach" to guitar, Hero Pattern was born.
"He's a virtuoso in his own right," Jason said. Marceau's virtuosity was the final element required for the creation of potent, driving rock music. "At this point, we all know exactly how to be Hero Pattern," he added.
Being Hero Patten consists of a focused approach to "the lost art of writing a good song." A Hero Pattern song has roots deep in the classic rock genre. According to Jason, The Beatles are a tremendous source of inspiration for the band.
"The Beatles were my first obsession," he said. "That's probably why the craft of songwriting is important to me. I just want to make sure that the standard of music is very high."
Jason also described the impression left on him by the grunge acts of the '90s, including Nirvana and Pearl Jam. The angst and aggression of these acts began to surface in his early attempts at songwriting. With the divorce of his parents, his music served as "a release valve for all this pent-up emotion."
Despite these influences, Jason rightfully asserted, "I do feel that Hero Pattern's sound is really hard to classify." Hero Pattern has harnessed these influences and has utilized them to create a distinct and forceful sound.
Their efforts have not gone without recognition. What would come to be referred to as "Everything You Knew" in the United States was originally intended to be a full-length record. It was recorded at Atomic Recording Company in Long Island. Jason said the band literally "moved into the studio" and recorded the record over the course of numerous marathon, 18-30 hour sessions.
When the record was finished, the band began to hunt for a record label that would pay for the release. When a tentative deal fell through, the band decided to release the record as a six-track EP. Fabtone Records, a Japanese label, released the record in Japan in its entirety. Jason said Fabtone also financed detailed liner notes, complete with lyrics, as well as cover art.
The lack of a stateside label has not prevented Hero Pattern from touring. The band spent all of April on the road, touring with River City High, Jetlag Gemini and National Fire Theory. Jason described this as "a priceless experience," where he learned the importance of "getting loose on stage" and "being as much of a showman as possible." But for a working musician, the reality of a tour hits especially hard.
"You have rent to pay; you have bills coming in every month," Jason said. "Touring is a disconnect from reality."
But in reality, the dream of a label-sponsored tour may not be that far out of reach. Hero Pattern has already spent two weeks as purevolume.com's "Pure Pick," during which the band soared up Pure Volume's rock chart to the No 1. ranking, a statistic that is sure to earn the attention of the music industry. As Hero Pattern takes to the studio to record another EP, this time with acclaimed independent producer and engineer Steve Greenwell, their big break may be soon to follow.
