Cipher Recording New Album

Long Beach, New York's Cipher is currently in the studio recording a new album. Here's an update from drummer, Danny:

"It's been a long time coming. It's been four years since we've been to a recording studio. I wish I could say that it's been hard to believe it's been this long since the 'Children Of God's Fire' album, but it's pretty easy to believe actually. We are not the type of band that puts out negative news or who airs their dirty laundry out on the internet. We stay positive through the trying times and come up with solutions to situations that would have destroyed weaker minded bands. But with that being said, I think you guys deserve at least a summary of what's been going on with us since we released the COF album in June 2005.

"By the time the album was released, according to the 'industry standard,' we were yet to establish ourselves as a national touring act (despite having numerous DIY national tours under our belt). So despite having a supportive record label (Uprising Records) with a major label national distribution push, as well as a national promotion/marketing/advertising push, we could not secure a booking agent that could have secured us a supporting slot on a national tour with a larger sized band. That being said, we went out on a DIY Summer tour to promote COF shortly after it's release date, into a market flooded with summer package tours, and in the midst of the mid decade corporatization/exploitation of our once beloved hardcore scene.

"We've always been a band plagued with dysfunction at all times no matter what. The opportunity to transform into a full time band finally presented itself, but did so at an inopportune time for certain members who felt like the necessary sacrifices were impossible to make when weighed against current personal life situations/responsibilities, the wavering passion for the ideology or sound of band, other career pursuits, and the dislike of the touring lifestyle. That being said, during the third trying week of our 8 week Summer mission, founding member and guitarist Chris Fry left the fold. Guitarist Mark Dollar, who joined the band as our bass player shortly after recording COF stepped into the guitarist role for the second leg of the tour and our friend Mike Signa filled in on bass. During the second leg of the tour, our other guitarist Chris Maniecki decided it would be his last run with us, shifting his goals towards the pursuit of a different passion.

"Upon our return home that Fall of 05, we had no bassist or second guitarist, hence no touring lineup. Original members, Danny and Moe, were left with no choice but to return to work and search for replacements. October 2005 saw the addition of our current bassist Dan Bianco. It took quite a while to find a second guitarist that was the right fit for the band. So during the time between October 2005 and when current guitarist Ben Yazak came into the fold in the Summer of 2006, the band began writing a few songs and played some one off shows on their downtime. Over the course of the following year sporadic writing and rocking transpired amidst random hiatuses and personal turmoil that resulted in guitarist Mark Dollar's mutual removal from the role of guitarist in Cipher in the Spring of 2007. A search for a replacement ensued but soon took a backseat to focusing on recording the new album as a four piece.

"Fast forward to October 2008 and here we are, sitting inside the engineering booth at Liberation Studios in Worcester, MA, listening to Ben lay down pre-production guitar tracks for our yet to be titled follow up to COF.

"If anything has remained a constant throughout this, aside from Moe and myself, it's the struggle, our passion and our message that breathes life into this band. We are excited for people to hear our new material. We plan on going into the studio to record the album around the New Year and are aiming for a Summer 2009 release through Uprising Records. We are currently looking for a bass player to enter the fold post-recording, as Dan will be moving to second guitar. If you or someone you know is interested, get in touch. Look for a pre-production studio blog update soon."

Source: Lambgoat