Alex's Diner SUX: An Evening with Metalcore Band "A Dying Vision"

Two of the Hudson Valley's up and coming musicians Devon Benson and Ian Cahil the drummer and lead guitarist for A Dying Vision. Even though the other two members Brett Laffin, a.k.a. "the man known to make a bass his bitch like no other". And Jamie Scott who does all the vocals for the group. Not to mention that each member does their own writing as they work together as one huge unit of the song writing process.

A Dying Vision has been around for nearly a year now, and prove their worth as being one of the hardest playing, working and touring bands around. "We get a lot of jealousy amongst other bands that have been around for years and haven't done much," quotes Devon on his band's status of moving up the ranks in the local concert circuits as they have been opening for major headlining bands. Vision will be alongside talent such as Mindless Self Indulgence, 25 To Life, and a huge local band that you'll find at Ozzfest this year, SHADOWS FALL.

For the most part the band has become a very welcomed member in the music community. Their fan base grows (along with the amount of pins, patches and CD's they sell at their website), the fact they got rid of their former asshole of a lead singer, and that lot's of other singers and members of the other local bands enjoy flirting with Ian. "Yeah, it's really hard," says Ian. "No, I don't mean their COCKS," when he was asked by me. "It's hard dealing with all these weirdos from the other bands that are so strictly straight and all they do is grab my ass and blow kisses to me. How am I supposed to work in those conditions?"

Ian speaks very highly of the equipment he uses for the band. He says his guitar is one in a kind and the way he plays it is even more rare and sick. No one will even go near him when he's playing it, it's just that insane. It's a BC Rich. NJ Beast. 6 string. H&K amp and head and D'Addairo strings. Wow, say that seven times fast. But lot's not forget Devon's orchestrated masterpiece of a five piece drum set consisting of the following: (ok brace yourselves) Tama Iron Cobra Double Bass Pedal. Sabian, Paiste and Zildjian cymbals, gibraltar hardware, roc n' soc throne, zildjian sticks and a mapex snare. Holy shit Devon.

The boys like to get lots of their shit off the internet and shops such as Imperial Music and Soundworks and Let's Jam. These guys can put on a truly great show with all this fucking equipment; the balls of energy that Ian and Jamie are; and the raw power that they give off to their fans. Empowering them to beat the shit out of each other in the pit while they play one breakdown after another. A breakdown, for those like myself, who didn't know what it was. Is, as quoted by Ian as this: "Ok, picture the beat of a breakdown the same beat you want a girl to have when she's giving you a blowjob." Devon insisted that was wrong but he probably only said that because his girlfriend was sitting next to him.

The boys hopefully see themselves on tour in a year from now. Thus, if they were on tour it'd mean more time in studio to record great innovative shit. With the help from lots of local bands around the area, they're sure to get the push into the public eye they need to succeed. They truly wanted to thank Juan and Frank at the Chance Complex for getting them started with their first couple of shows. All the support and love from their fellow metalcore bands such as Like A Memory, It Fades; My Bitter End; and Crime Lab. And also, huge respect out to bands that helped inspire them to get into music and create for this industry like Metallica, Marilyn Manson, Nirvana, Pantera, On Earth, Kill Switch and Gauge; Sky Came Falling; Nine Inch Nails, and Poison The Well.

After Devon discovered a piece of plastic in his salad at Alex's Diner, we discussed the band's plans for the future. ADV is planning to have a new full length album out at the end of August. That's a lot to say considering all the touring they're doing this summer. Mostly playing anywhere from The Crisis Zone in Middletown to The Chance in Poughkeepsie or even Cabaloosas in New Paltz. For all the information on where ADV will be playing this summer, you can check out their website: www.adyingvision.com. Or the fact that Devon works for a booking and promoting company Fetal Position Promoting (contact Pete or Devon at advbooking@aol.com or crimelabnyhc@aol.com if interested) which is just perfect for any local bands wanting to get started and be amongst such fine metal and hardcore talent like these fuckers.