Defunct Local Band Profile Series: Lee Thomas Maines & When They Fall

At last, here are this month's Defunct Local Band Profiles, but be sure to check out late notice concert previews and more assorted updates in this morning's post below! Like usual, this month's installment of this feature series looks at 1-2 defunct or inactive local bands, all randomly selected, in order to profile their work, run, and successes for current readers! This month's two choices include a holdover from last month after the first act then proved to have enough info to sustain a solo profile, but we have two concise looks at intriguing though short lived projects, so here's what you should know for these profiles!
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Lee Thomas Maines

Genre: Progressive Metal

Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Members:

Lee Maines (Gates of Winter), all instruments/programming

Info/Analysis: After previously manning a short-lived solo project under the name Septicon in the late 2000s, Gates of Winter frontman Lee Maines accomplished more under under his own full name from 2008-2009, where he was working on a 5 track EP that was "loaded with crushing rhythms and futuristic themes" that he hoped would "reach a new level of diversity & technicality", as influenced by acts like Meshuggah, Ihsahn, and Samael. The solo project's main activity coincided with Gates of Winter's 2009 hiatus, but after their return at year's end, Lee's solo act has fallen inactive, and he's focused on new Gates material since. Only one full solo instrumental ("Sol") made it online, which gives fans a strong prog-metal attack that showcases his multiple talents and progressive dynamics well, but it does lack vocals and a guitar solo. Give it a listen below, but of course, give Gates of Winter's newer material a listen too to hear what Lee's been doing since!


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When They Fall

Genre: Metal/Screamo

Hometown: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Members: (This information may be incorrect concerning members' full identities, as all but Devon were credited solely by their first names. If you can correct anything, let us know!

Devon Richards, vocals
Dan Linklater (The Dirty Few, The Vertically Impaired), lead guitar
Jaime Jacques (The Boatload Killers), rhythm guitar
Tyler St. Amour (Them, Fountain of Betrayal), bass
Travis St. Amour (Bring The Fallen, Fountain of Betrayal), drums  

Audio/Video: When They Fall posted no media on their MySpace (and only online) page, but said page formerly described them as influenced by "anything that gives you a kick in the pants & makes you fall to your knees while we blow your eardrums straight out of your head." Later bands from the St. Amour brothers would likely harbour influences with When They Fall's sound, particularly the early 2010s deathcore project March Into Regression. 

Info/Analysis: A short lived hardcore metal band that only used their MySpace page from August-November 2007, When They Fall formed between friends & musical acquaintances, then all in high school, for something fun to do. While their MySpace page once noted that they played "one small gig" with an unidentified singer before Devon joined, few updates of major activity otherwise survive there, aside from photos of all band members but Tyler. When They Fall dissolved by early 2008, and members have diverged in wildly different musical paths since. With no posted media, it's hard to say how When They Fall sounded, but most members have found notable success in other later bands, so be sure to follow them to see where they went!
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I hope you guys liked this month's Defunct Local Band Profiles! Next month in this series, we'll stay in Sault Ontario, as our next random selection has given us... Ashes To Dust, a more recent local hard rock band who you may remember from the second Swampstravaganza and various Superior Heights gigs! Look for that on or around October 10th, and stay tuned for more news and notes this weekend! Thanks everyone!