Skyliner (band)

Skyliner
Skyliner at the DeLand Rock & Metal Festival in 2014.
Background information
Origin	Jacksonville, Florida
Genres	Power metal, Progressive metal
Years active	2000 (2000)–present
Labels	Limb Music
Website	http://skylinermusic.com/
Members	Jake Becker Ben Brenner Nathaniel Curtis

Skyliner is an American heavy metal band hailing from Jacksonville, Florida. The band was formed in 2000 by guitarist and vocalist Jake Becker and drummer Benjamin Brenner. Since the band formed, they have released two demos, one EP, and one full-length studio album. The band is currently signed on an international recording contract with Limb Music, based in Hamburg, Germany.^[1]

Skyliner's main genres are typically considered to be power metal and progressive metal. Turning away from the fantasy-based lyrics of typical power metal, Skyliner's lyrics focus on topics such as rebellion, depression, society, and spirituality.^[1] Becker writes the musical score around his lyrics, while often lyrics are the final addition.^[2] Each song is based on Becker's own experience, especially in dealing with pain and alienation.^[3]

In February, 2014, the band released their first studio album Outsiders, which contains nine tracks and is 70 minutes long. The album was released on the Limb Music record label and contained a mix of songs that appeared on earlier recordings as well as new material.

History

Formation

Jake Becker and Ben Brenner are the founding members of Skyliner.

Jake Becker and Ben Brenner met at a church youth group in 2000 at ages 14 and 15, respectively. The two were mutually interested in one another because neither quite fit in with the other children. Both were new to their instruments and over the next couple years the two developed with each other, a relationship that would prove priceless as time progressed. Despite Becker's songwriting becoming significantly more focused, the two still had trouble finding talented and serious musicians who wanted to play their style of music, leading to a long roster of bassists and other members.^[3]

Early recordings

In 2005, the band assembled the demo CD Light Comes Out of Black. All of the tracks were recorded live in the studio with the exception on Becker's vocals. Kyle Sweeney joined the band as the bassist for the recording of this demo, but left later on in 2006. This release opened the door for local shows and got the band some minor publicity in the area, but during the time the album was being promoted, Becker was already working on and correcting a new batch of songs.^[3]

Four years later, the self-titled demo Skyliner was released. Compared to the first CD, the new record showed a more specific identity for the band, including the addition of a keyboard, played by Cody Lewis, as well as new artwork. Bassist David Lee Redding joined for this album, and would stay with the band until 2013. During this first decade of its existence, Skyliner struggled to maintain a permanent line-up and also had difficulties putting in enough time and money to keep the band moving forward at the rate desired. However, the releases provided many lessons to the band and allowed the core synergy between Becker and Brenner to grow even stronger.^[3]

Skyliner at the Murray Hill Theatre in February 2015.

Setting aside the two demos' shortcomings, the band released the first EP The Alchemist in 2011. Joining with engineers Andrew Perlowich and Jamie King, the band sought to release songs that truly reflected their own style. Ashley Flynn replaced Cody Lewis on the keyboard, thus completing the line-up for the first studio album. While the songs do not differ greatly from the second demo in terms of style, the mistakes made during the recording and mastering were addressed while the demos were largely unaltered.^[3]

Signed with Limb Music

The band's first full-length studio album Outsiders was recorded in 2013 and released in February 2014. Skyliner maintained its recording line-up from the EP and again sought out Jamie King for mixing and mastering. The songs "Symphony in Black", "Undying Wings", "Aria of the Waters", and "The Alchemist" appeared in the band's previous releases and were revised to Becker's specifications before being recorded for the new album. The songs "Time" and "Outsiders" from the 2005 demo Light Comes Out of Black also make a reappearance not as songs themselves, but movements in the 21-minute finale "Worlds of Conflict".^[3]

Just as the band was looking for a label with which to release Outsiders, Flynn and Redding both left the band. Shortly after their departure, Nathaniel Curtis became the band's new bassist. In autumn of 2013, Skyliner signed a contract with Limb Music. The album released worldwide on February 28, 2014, and celebrated the North American release on April 15.^[4] Described by Limb as "the symbiosis of classy, sophisticated song writing characteristic for the US and the traditional heavy metal values and virtues of Europe," the album was met with positive reviews despite its risk-taking progressive mindset.^[5] Support of the album grew while more online reviews and magazine articles were beginning to call Skyliner "one of the breakout progressive power metal bands of 2014." ^[6]

Discography

• Light Comes Out of Black (Demo, 2005)
• Skyliner (Demo, 2009)
• The Alchemist (EP, 2011)
• Outsiders (2014)
• Condition Black (2016)

Members

Present members

• Jake Becker - Guitar, vocals
• Ben Brenner - Drums, percussion
• Nathaniel Curtis - Bass, backing vocals

Former members

Bass

• David Lee Redding (2007–2013)
• Code Cochran (2006–2007)
• Jake Alessandrini (2005–2006)
• Kyle Sweeney (2004)
• Donnie Back (2000–2001)

Keyboard

• Ashley Flynn (2010–2013)
• Cody Lewis (2007–2009)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Skyliner (band).