“Just as the names of John, Paul, George and Ringo will forever remind us of their era, Scott, Dane, Zach, Matt and Dan will remind the world of theirs,” states the website for local band Twelve After. It’s a pretty ambitious statement by any means, but band members Scott Emlet (drums), Dane Youtz (bass), Zach Wilkins (vocals), Matt Brandyberry (guitar) and Dan Kecki (guitar) have no reason to not feel confident. In the short time they’ve been playing out, the musicians have performed at some of the most popular venues in the area and have cultivated a pretty large following. Twelve After is now a staple at venues like the Wheelie Bar and Tourist Inn of York and has played places like the Chameleon and the Sterling Hotel in Allentown.
While the band only began playing out last April, the germ for the project was actually planted a few years ago. Emlet and Wilkins met and began playing music together in high school. After a few member changes and a name change, the group came to its current lineup. Guitarist Brandyberry is the newest member. “When I heard them, I just knew that they were going to be something,” says Brandyberry. His enthusiasm for the band’s sound prompted him to become the band’s manager. But when an opening came up to add a second guitarist to the lineup, he took a chance and tried out. “Ever since then, man, we all just click,” Brandyberry says.
Brandyberry describes the band’s sound as nu-metal with a twist. At first listen, a hint of Korn can be heard in the band’s sound, a comparison that Brandyberry says is pretty common. “A lot of people compare us to Korn,” he says. “But we’re not aiming to sound like anybody, we’re aiming to sound like ourselves.” So, while Twelve After’s sound may have its roots in the sounds of Korn and some other progressive metal rockers, the band attempts to elevate its sound to something a little different.
Twelve After’s music is extremely effects-driven. Brandyberry assures listeners, “You will not hear any clean sounds coming from the guitars.” But where the band changes from many standard nu-metal traits is in the bridges or breakdowns in the songs. “When it comes to the bridges,” says Brandyberry, “we throw in metal. It changes to a slow, but heavy, like a Hatebreed sound.”
Brandyberry explains the reasoning behind going further than just nu-metal. Twelve After attempts to bring more people back to this style of music. The band sticks to the comfortable formula of melodic verse into melodic but distorted chorus that has made many bands popular. But for people who think those sounds may be a bit too slow or soft, Twelve After throws in the harsher sounds of bands like Static-X, Ill Nino or Hatebreed.
According to Brandyberry, much of Twelve After’s ability to take nu-metal to the next level comes from the band’s ability to change up tempos and from singer Wilkins’ vocal range. “He can go low or he can growl, or he can go high or just scream,” says Brandyberry.
But for anyone who really wants to know Twelve After, Brandyberry urges you to see the band live. “Energy, man, that’s all I can say,” says Brandyberry. “If you’ve heard the CD, you haven’t heard us live. If you might want to come see us, then you have to come see us.”
The band members are excited about how quickly things have moved along for them. Brandyberry makes sure to thank many of the other local bands that have helped Twelve After come through the ranks. “It’s just very astonishing to see how fast we’ve made it, just to see how many fans we’ve picked up,” says Brandyberry. “The best part is just partying with them.”
Will Twelve After define their era as the Beatles did theirs? Well, time will tell. But in the meantime, you can find out if the band’s brand of nu-metal with a twist is right for you.