After years of touring and performing around the world with various bands, vocalist Jerry Roush finally has a band to call his own. The former frontman for Sky Eats Airplane and Of Mice & Men has joined forces with 8-string guitarist Joshua Travis [The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza], bassist Travis Sykes and drummer Chad Hasty to create Glass Cloud. The Hampton, VA-based band released their debut full-length album, The Royal Thousand, in July 2012 through Equal Vision Records.
Musically, Glass Cloud offers a sense of controlled chaos fueled by Roush's deep, ferocious growls and distinct, gritty cleans. Travis' phenomenal guitarwork and ability to constantly surprise listeners stands out as he displays the perfect balance between energetic, driving intricacies and calmer progressions that carry a dark, eerie tone. Sykes and Hasty, who have been friends since age 16 and both attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, rule the rhythm section contributing unique cadences and swinging, jazzy grooves interlaced with softer symphonic touches. Glass Cloud shines as the members deliver some of their heaviest and most technical compositions to date.
Excitement and enthusiasm simply radiates out of the band as they discuss working together in the studio and developing a sound that is all their own. “The collective musicianship and talent level in this band is unbelievable,” explains Travis. “…and to top it off, the guys are all down-to-earth people too. Working on this record has been a lot of fun. We are trying to introduce something organic and ambient into heavy music. Not the typical breakdown heavy, but darker chords upon layers and layers.”
Roush also boasts unabashedly about the remarkable caliber of musical proficiency within the band, and specifically about the creative connection between himself and Travis stating, “From the moment he became involved in this band, he was sending me fully finished tracks left and right, songs that were blowing my mind. Musically, Josh is a beast…the dude is a musical machine. We meshed so well, right from the start, making tracks that had no limits to them. I couldn’t have asked for a better and more prolific guitarist to accompany me in this new musical endeavor. And with Josh being the producer of the debut Glass Cloud record, we know that we are making the exact album that we want to make.”