Another Tragedy

Another Tragedy formed in the Cincinnati, Ohio area in 2003, when four musicians who had been playing in other local acts crossed paths after their previous projects dissolved. In 2003, the two bands ran their natural courses and the four musicians found themselves band-less and available, and it all fell into place when Menard and Campbell crossed paths at a gas station. Within days, Another Tragedy was rehearsing, writing original music and developing their sound. The seeds of the band were sewn when all four members were playing together in other bands, as Dixon and drummer Caleb Campbell were members of the band Fetish, while Menard and vocalist/guitarist Johnathan Cha rounded out the lineup. Rather than build a set list of covers like many young bands, Another Tragedy wood-shedded on original material for five months before hitting an area stage, and it was a wise choice. The quartet quickly became known for a heavier, more progressive sound. Their debut album was a marvel of metal power and attitude while exhibiting the subtlety and elegance of the best prog rock, balancing pummeling tracks like "Broken" and "Ten" with more introspective material such as "The Healing" and "In Too Deep," songs fueled by emotional upheaval early in the band's history, including a couple of divorces. The sophisticated Prog/Metal quartet became a local sensation, largely on the basis of their amazing original repertoire. Their growing regional reputation led to wider opportunities, as all of this buzz attracted the interest of that year's edition of the Zippo Hot Tour, which held its Cincinnati competition in September at the Mad Frog. The band's sound was frequently compared to a blend of established acts, described as a hybrid of modern rock acts such as A Perfect Circle, Sevendust, The Foo Fighters, and Tool melded with the bombast, rawness, and groove of classic bands like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and Deep Purple. As the band's momentum built, Another Tragedy expanded beyond the Cincinnati club circuit. After building up a solid local following, the band began expanding into regional shows and short mini-tours of the surrounding Midwest, establishing solid and loyal audiences regionally. Their international profile grew as well, thanks to a deal with England's Zebra 3 Records that brought their new album to an international audience , and the band planned to travel to Europe for a tour before returning home to promote the album. Bassist and vocalist Matt "Mutt" Menard spoke to the band's dedication to original songwriting from the outset, noting "from playing back in the day and seeing what the other members were capable of, we were intent on playing nothing but originals." Another Tragedy's activity in recent years has quieted considerably, with current listings showing the band without scheduled touring, as Another Tragedy is currently not on tour, with no upcoming tour dates listed. Even so, the band's legacy endures in Cincinnati's rock scene as a defining example of the region's early 2000s prog-metal underground, remembered for the intensity of its live shows and the ambition of its songwriting.