“ The saviours of British progressive metal” and “The English Evergrey” are just some of the things the reviewers are saying about Awake right now. With their 2nd Album “Illumination” set for release later in 2007, they are ever more so being referred to as “the ones to watch”. A strong mix of melodic vocal melodies and powerful song arrangements, they are set to be one of the next great bands on the metal circuit…

In the beginning:-
Awake began in the summer of 2000, in their home town of Cambridge, England. At that time and until June of 2006 they were known as HUMANITY. Formed by the original six members Simon Shedwell, Steve Wallace, Richard Hall, Craig Burkett , Alex Townsend and bassist John Neil. John continued to be in the band only three more months, being replaced by current bass player and close friend, Chris Le Mottee. With their big live sound and energetic stage show they quickly gained a reputation on the local circuit for being a very professional live act - a reputation they constantly strive to improve on. After two demos and two years of playing around the country, they decided that if they were to move on in a market which at the time was not geared for metal bands, they were going to need help. In the spring of 2003 they came across local band manager Keith Bryant of Killin Time Management. After sending him the two early demos, Keith saw a raw potential in the band and quickly decided to represent the boys. A brave move for any manager being that the band’s average age was still only 18. With Keith’s enthusiasm and love for the music, Humanity were starting to move...

When Silence Calls you on!
It was time for the band to record there first album and after looking at a number of studios, Keith took them to Mastertone studios in Cheshire, England and it was there that the band recorded their debut album “When Silence Calls” which was recorded and mixed by legendry engineer Pete ‘Pee-Wee’ Coleman who had previously worked with AC/DC, Napalm Death and Paradise Lost. It was whilst recording that studio owners Andy Bramhall and Graham Woodcock were amazed by the maturity of their music and decided to sign them to to their newly formed record label “Carbon 13 Records”. “When Silence Calls” was released in 2004 to a great response in Europe and
the UK, receiving a solid 8/10 across the board from reviewers. After a tour of the UK and festival appearances at home and in Germany, people were starting to listen. Disaster struck in 2005 when their record label managers sent the company into liquidation, leaving them without a record deal!

Its off to Sweden then...

So its off to Sweden then…
For many bands this would have been a fatal blow, but at still only 20 years old there was much more work to be done!
In the Summer of 2005 Humanity played at the first Bloodstock Open Air, billed with the likes of Masterplan, Paradise Lost, Breed 77 and Children of Bodem. Also on the bill that day were Swedish Metal giants Evergrey, a contact they would later find very useful. In order to get the band a new deal, manager Keith Bryant knew they would first have to record a new album and sell it to a label, so when it came to deciding where to record they went to the top of the list. After meeting Evergrey Singer/Guitarist Tom Englund at BOA, Keith contacted Division One Studios in Gothenburg, Sweden with an aim to recording the new album there. Tom not only agreed to record but offered to produce the album and as vocalist Simon Shedwell said in a recent interview, “ I tell you nothing is better than that!” - so in Spring 2006 Humanity were off to Sweden. Produced by Tom Englund and engineered by their own Arnold Lindburg, they recorded “Illumination" - an album of 11 exciting new tracks which sees them moving away from the progressive licks of the 1st album, to a more direct, heavier sound, much to the pleasure of the band. “We've all grown as musicians and song writers and this is a much more commercial album” guitarist Richard Hall comments. With Tom contributing backing vocals and Evergrey guitarist Hendrik Danhage lending a solo to the track “Forgiven now Forever.” “illumination” will certainty gain them a wider audience.
However there would be one more bump in the road to come. Over the 8 months leading to recording the new album, relations with long term guitarist Steve Wallace began to break down. In March of 2006, Steve was asked to leave the band…

Time for Rebirth!
Humanity saw Steve’s exit from the band as the right time for rebirth, which would become the theme for the new album. By changing their name and continuing on as a five piece, they would start afresh. Now known as AWAKE, with Tom Englund’s help they are working to secure a new record deal and release the new album on the world.

Source : http://www.killintime.co.uk/