NJ Metal Outfit Julius Seizure Wants to Live The Dream…and Isn’t Afraid to Work for It
By Craig Lindberg
From the moment a novice musician picks up his or her instrument of choice, there is one universal belief coursing through each one’s veins: “I’m going to be a Rock Star.”
Those of us who have pursued a life in the music industry to any extent have learned one, unequivocally painful lesson…this shit is HARD!
There are no fat men smoking cigars in limos waiting outside your rehearsal space with lucrative recording deals begging you to let them make you “The Next Big Thing.” We learn that ~ and I can’t believe I’m actually quoting this lyric ~ “It’s a long way to the top if you want to Rock and Roll,” and the fact of the matter is, most musicians/bands lack one vital element (other than, too often, talent) that is key to achieving ANY success within the music industry:
Commitment.
It’s this commitment that landed Julius Seizure, whose songs, according to guitarist Anthony Smeragliuolo, “…have something for everyone… memorable, catchy hooks, both vocally and instrumentally, while maintaining the heaviness that defines us…speed, brutality, groove, and melody,” a management deal with brass ring powerhouse Adrenaline PR (of, along with a roster that reads like a who’s who in the hard rock/metal scene, Rockstar Mayhem Fest fame) and finds them playing the first day of the annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival Thursday, April 17th at The Palladium in Worcester, MA with the likes of All That Remains, Bleeding Through, Broken Hope, Cop Problemm Darkest Hour, Death Rattle, Emmure, Enabler, Gideon, InDirections, Kublai Khan, Lorna Shore, Oceano, Rivers of Nihil, Scars of Tomorrow, The Last Ten Seconds of Life, Wilson and Years Since The Storm.
“Everyone’s real excited for this show,” said JS frontman Yosef El when we talked earlier this week.
“We’ve played in MA a few times but this is by far our biggest show.”
Still technically unsigned, Julius Seizure spend a great deal of their own time, energy and, yes, money on promotions and shows. There is no fancy, label-paid-for tour bus driving the band from their hometown in Clifton, NJ to NEHMF; the boys will be packing up and driving the almost 200 miles themselves, playing their set, and in some of their cases, turning around and heading back the next day.
“I need to be back at work on Saturday,” stated Yosef somewhat matter-of-factly. “I wish I could stay the whole weekend, but I have to work.”
Yes, even the members of this up and coming metal band ~ with heavy-hitting promotion behind them, 2 albums to their credit already (check out our article here to learn more about the band’s history and to hear a couple of tracks), extensive airplay via Sirius/XM Liquid Metal, debuts on MetalInsider.net, and a great slot on an internationally recognized festival ~ need to maintain day jobs just to keep their dream alive…but somehow, out of sheer determination to make their mark on the music world, they make the time to dedicate themselves to relentless gigging, writing, rehearsing, promoting, and recording.
“It’s a commitment by all members of the band,” Yosef explained. “We all have jobs but each of us is 100% committed to what we do. We pay for the recordings, videos, gas to and from the shows…that’s just the way it is and we all understand that. It wouldn’t work any other way.”
So for those of you ~ especially the fledgling musicians out there ~ attending any or all of the NEMHF April 17-19, or any local or national show for that matter, when you look up at the stage from the pit, know that what you are witnessing is more just some guys and gals who caught a lucky break in the industry. And when you see Julius Seizure live, understand that what you are looking at can only exist because it contains one essential, non-negotiable ingredient: Commitment.
And don’t be surprised if you catch Yosef manning the band’s merch table after their set…it’s all in a day’s work…
facebook.com/JuliusSeizureBand
YouTube.com/JuliusSeizureBand (make sure to check out their new video for “Sixth and Falling” here!)