New Years Day (band)

Early years

New Year's Day formed in late 2005 after bassist Adam Lohrbach left the band Home Grown. Home Grown's final EP, 2004's When it All Comes Down, had diverged from the band's previous style of humorous pop punk and incorporated many emotional elements that Lohrbach carried over into New Year's Day. Meeting with vocalist Ashley Costello and guitarist/keyboardist Keith Drover, the three friends began rehearsing songs that Costello and Lohrbach had written. These songs were heavily influenced by the members' shared emotional experiences, as all three had recently been through difficult relationship break-ups. Soon after, the group produced a two-song demo and added Eric Seilo, a mutual friend of the three, to play bass during their 2005 tours. Ultimately, Eric had to leave New Year's Day in 2005 to return to college. The group soon added guitarist Mike Schoolden (formerly of Wakefield) and drummer Russell Dixon and took the name New Year's Day. They chose the name on New Year's Day of 2005, feeling that the name symbolized the fresh start that they all desired.

Razor EP and My Dear (2006–10)

The band began building a reputation through promotion, shows, and posting songs on the MySpace social networking website, and were featured on the MySpace Records, Volume 1 compilation CD and in the soundtrack of the video game Saints Row. After considering an offer from the Pete Wentz-run Decaydance Records label, the band signed to TVT Records and released a self-titled EP in 2006. Originally referred to as the Razor EP, it was primarily a digital release made available through download services such as iTunes, though CD copies were also available at the band's performances. They also performed at the South by Southwest music festival that same year.

From 2006–2007 New Year's Day self-financed and self-produced their debut album My Dear, recorded over an eight-month period at the home of friend and producer Eugene Perreras. The album was released on May 8, 2007 and includes collaborations with members of Reel Big Fish and Motion City Soundtrack. During this period of time, the band toured with such groups as The Fall of Troy, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Ozma, Hawthorne Heights, and many others. The band's debut music video for the lead single "I Was Right" was directed by Shane Drake and won an MTVU "Freshman Face" poll and was added to the channel's playlist. Guitarist Keith Drover left the band and moved to Sweden after Warped Tour.

In 2008, TVT went bankrupt and sold its recording assets to The Orchard. TVT did not drop the band before selling its assets. My Dear never got the promotion it needed and it fell to the side. Schoolden and Lohrbach both left soon after the label went bankrupt.

Despite this, the remaining members decided to continue, and began writing new material in early 2009. Around September 2009, NYD posted two new songs on their MySpace page. When asked about a new EP, vocalist Ashley Costello said, "The EP is in its demo phase right now and we are still writing for it and recording it at the same time. The EP should be out in the spring of 2010."

The Mechanical Heart EP (2010–12)

On March 12, 2010, Alternative Press announced that New Year's Day have been added on the Warped Tour's summer dates. New Year's Day released their Japanese debut album called "Headlines & Headstones" on July 2, 2010 under Spinning Inc. The album contains music from their first EP, their first LP "My Dear," a Lady Gaga cover and new songs from their upcoming sophomore US album.

NYD announced Matthew Lindblad as their newest member on January 31, 2011. He replaced former guitarist Dan Arnold, although Arnold's departure was never formally or publicly announced. Soon after Matthew joined, the band also introduced Jake Jones as an additional guitarist.

On May 15, 2011, Hollywood Waste announced that New Year's Day had joined their new record label. The band's new EP, entitled "The Mechanical Heart," was released on June 21, 2011, and has received many positive reviews and responses from both fans and fellow musicians. They supported Blood On The Dance Floor on their "All the Rage Tour" from October to December. Nikki Misery officially became the new guitarist during this tour, replacing Matthew Lindblad. Lindblad has since been pursuing a solo career, using the moniker "Rebel Revive". Nikki Misery a recent Musicians Institute graduate hailed from Santa Ana California with roots in New Orleans, LA. His imposing looks and fierce chops made him an immediate fan favorite with dramatic stage performances and a unique make-up style.

Victim to Villain (2013–14)

After much anticipation, New Year's Day released their second album, Victim to Villain, on June 11, 2013 through Century Media Records. They were then a part of Vans Warped Tour 2013, playing all dates. New Year's Day was on a fall tour with Otep and Stolen Babies, and joined William Control and Combichrist in spring 2014.

In early 2014, Nick Turner left New Year's Day and was replaced by Nick Rossi. The band embarked on a European tour in October 2014 with Escape the Fate and Glamour of the Kill. Just before the tour, Jake Jones left New Year's Day, with guitarist Tyler Burgess taking his place. The band then released a new single off their upcoming EP Epidemic titled "Other Side". The EP was released through Grey Area Records on November 18, 2014. The band quietly departed from their previous label, Century Media Records. Of the EP, lead vocalist Costello said in an interview with Alternative Press, "We've taken what we have experienced in the past year and a half and poured it all into these new songs... It’s something we know everyone can relate to on their own level. The world can infect us with its negativity, and it’s ok to struggle with it. That’s truly what Epidemic is about. Owning the diseased parts of us and turning it into a strength." The band followed up the release of Epidemic by joining The Birthday Massacre on their "Superstition" tour, along with The Red Paintings. On December 22, 2014, New Year's Day announced that they would be the special guests on the upcoming "Beyond the Barricade" tour with Motionless in White, For Today and Ice Nine Kills during February and March 2015. Just before the tour, Anthony Barro left to pursue a career as a sound engineer. In turn, Tyler moved from guitar to fill the bass position, with Jeremy Valentyne joining the band on guitar.

Malevolence (2015–present)

In February 2015, New Year's Day announced that they would once again play the Vans Warped Tour on the Journey's Left Foot Stage. The band played the Warped Tour kickoff party in Los Angeles on April 7 alongside Metro Station, Crossfaith, As It Is, and more. Tyler left the band soon after the kickoff party, and Chris Khaos filled in on bass guitar for Warped Tour.

The band announced they would be releasing a new album during the fall of 2015. They debuted new song "Kill or be Killed" while on Warped Tour. The band later announced that the single would be released on June 26, 2015. The day the single was released, the band announced that pre-orders for their upcoming third album, Malevolence, would be available at the band's merch tent while on Warped Tour.

On August 12, 2015, the band announced that they will be doing their first ever headlining tour that fall, naming it "The Other Side Tour." Other bands on the tour included Get Scared, Eyes Set to Kill, The Relapse Symphony, and Darksiderz. On the eve of the album release, the band held a YouNow streaming chat with fans to celebrate the release of Malevolence. During this chat, the band introduced Brandon Wolfe as the new bassist and Trixx as the new drummer.

In 2016, New Years Day covered the My Chemical Romance song "Sleep" for a Rock Sound tribute CD.