According to guitarist Matt Rassa, we all feel abandoned sometimes. But, as true as that may be, when you hear the band, hopefully it doesn't trigger quite the same negative reaction.

These guys out of Baltimore have gone against the grain to produce music they really love, music that really drives them: hard rock. Although lately the resurgence of this genre is worth noting, "It's not what record companies are pushing for these days," says Rassa. "But we're going with the belief that people want good party rock - and people are eating it up because they're not hearing it on the radio, but they still want it." Rassa adds that Abandoned could probably perform modern rock with a greater potential of getting signed, but "it just wouldn't be worth doing, it's not the music we love."

Their true love for hard rock blossomed two years ago, when Abandoned first formed. Rassa is joined by older brother Tim on guitar, Aaron Shuck on lead vocals, Nick Fredericks on bass, and Joe Morrison on drums. The crew tours the club scene throughout Baltimore, York, and Washington, D.C., and they'd love to head south to the Carolinas.

Expect sets to be packed with a healthy mix of hair band covers from Poison and Mötley Crüe, as well as Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Godsmack, Buck Cherry, and Megadeth. Originals spawn from Tell the Tale, their 1999 debut album; a few tracks are gaining radio airplay on scattered college stations. Abandoned is currently creating more originals for another album to be released next year. For additional information, visit www.abandonedrocks.com.