THE WORD ALIVE – BIOGRAPHY
Tyler “Telle” Smith – Vocals
Zack Hansen – Guitar/Vox
Tony Pizzuti – Guitar/Vox
Justin Salinas – Drums
Dusty Riach – Keys
Daniel Shapiro - (bass)
A full-length debut is a pivotal moment for most bands, but for Phoenix, AZ natives the Word Alive, it’s a
battle-tested triumph. Considering the countless miles the band has traveled since their 2009 EP release,
Empire, and the obstacles the six-piece has had to overcome along the way, every track of Deceiver
pulsates with the passion and fury of a conquering army, and is the very definition of “shock and awe.”
After traveling to Ocala, FL to record with up-and-coming producer Andrew Wade (A Day To Remember,
VersaEmerge), The Word Alive resurfaced from the studio armed with debut album Deceiver, a
challenging, genre-bending opus that fully showcases the considerable abilities of one of heavy music’s
true rising talents. Mastered by Alan Douches and featuring guest performances by Dave Stephens from
We Came As Romans and Levi Benton of Miss May I, the album offers fans all that they love about The
Word Alive and so much more.
The Word Alive truly made their impact in 2009 when they released their debut EP Empire, which sold
more than 15,000 copies and spent time on Billboard’s “Heatseekers” chart. Quickly winning over
listeners with its scorching musicianship and singer Tyler “Telle” Smith’s hyperkinetic vocals, the EP set
the stage for an even deeper, more innovative full-length to follow.
“On Deceiver, we wanted to take everything that we did on the EP and boost it times ten,” says Smith.
“We got to do everything that we feel represents us on this album. In some parts it sounds like you could
almost be listening to an ambient/indie band because of the electronic influences, in other parts it’s dark
and almost creepy. We spent a lot of time before writing the album thinking of how we could sample other
instruments to really add depth—either keyboard parts that Dusty [Riach, keyboardist] would do, or cello,
violins and different percussion instruments.
“One thing’s for sure,” Smith adds. “On this album, when we’re heavy, we’re way heavier.”
A major difference to note among Deceiver’s blistering instrumentation is the hefty contributions of new
drummer Justin Salinas, formerly of My Children My Bride and Scars of Tomorrow. With Salinas now in
the fold, TWA circa 2010 is ready to take on the world.
“Deceiver is not a concept album, but it’s got a lot of heavy theme stuff that goes along with the title,”
explains Smith. “Over the past year, we’ve gone through some big changes, and we poured those
experiences into this album.” The inspiration for Deceiver includes a range of personal issues, such as
“Like Father Like Son,” which deals with Smith’s relationship with his father. “The song is really, really
important to me, because it’s saying ‘thank you’ to my dad, because if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be the
person I am today,” says Smith. “I’m proud of who I am, and that’s in large part because of him.”
It’s moments such as “Like Father” that provide the crucial counterbalance for Deceiver’s more aggressive
passages; time and again, Smith’s words reveal a positive message, even amid the darkest inner turmoil. In
Deceiver’s blistering second track, “Epiphany,” Smith describes his battle to live up to expectations,
silence his critics and not let the pressure consume him in the process. “If you let people tear you down,
they will,” he says. “But if you stand strong, it’s worth it in the end.”
An unexpected creative milestone was reached with “You’re All I See,” the first-ever TWA track to
feature all melodic vocals. Smith delves into even deeper personal waters with the song’s lyrics, detailing
his struggles to maintain a relationship while living the life of a touring musician. Although the words are
intimately Smith’s, the subject certainly rings true among all listeners.
“I have always wanted to do a song like this, and wanted it to be a song that was easy to relate to. Since
everyone can understand every word, it was important to speak from the heart, but not in a cliché way,”
says Smith. “Many people deal with being away from their loved one, whether it’s because of school,
work, touring, the army… It’s never easy, but many times it’s worth it. You have to realize that you both
have to need each other a little bit, and lean on them. It takes balance and a lot of optimism.”
On a much more bombastic note, TWA also re-recorded one song from Empire: the fan favorite “Battle
Royale,” tuning it lower and adding subtle changes to both improve the song and incorporate elements of
the band’s live performance. In fact, the group kept the road ever-present in mind when writing much of
Deceiver, knowing that massive touring would be in the immediate future. Their intense touring schedule
in support of the album has included a summer run on Warped Tour 2010, as well as tours with Bleeding
Through, A Day To Remember and Underoath. 2011 is poised to be their biggest yet, with U.S. and
European tours with We Came As Romans already behind them, and a full summer on Vans Warped Tour,
a slot on Soundwave Revolution in Australia, a U.S. fall tour and return to Europe as part of the Never Say
Die tour still to come this year.
“We really wanted it to be an experience when you come to our show,” says Smith. “What I think a lot of
musicians forget is that people are paying to be entertained. With this album we definitely thought of the
live show, and how we could make every fan, or even a person who’s never heard of us, think, ‘Man, it
sounded like there were 15 people up there, and it was just awesome.’”
The Word Alive’s debut album Deceiver is available now. The Deceiver: Deluxe Edition featuring
two new tracks, remixes and videos is also available.