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With Conviction, without a doubt
Friday August 22 2008
By KATE DAVIS For The Banner
 
In the dark recesses of Orangeville’s music scene resides a group that appreciates the art of uniting crushing guitar, driving accompaniment and epic vocals to create the dynamic sound known as metal.
For With Conviction, this music not only defines their preferred style of play, but encompasses a lifestyle that transcends beyond the stage.  
For bandmates Sean Ryan on vocals, guitarists Jamie Bryan and Trevor McBride, bassist Angelo Di Nanno, and drummer Luke Ryan, hard-hitting, heavy music was in their collective blood from a young age.
“For me, it was the first live show I ever went to when I was a kid,” Di Nanno recalls. “I was like ‘wow, this is what I want to do’ and I started playing bass the next day.”
Their influences range from established metal acts such as Slayer and Pantera, to more personal connections via family members.
“I’d have to say my brother has be a huge influence,” McBride cites, while Ryan notes his father’s drumming in local cover band Jumper as an inspirational element to his playing.
The boys, evolving as musicians separately in a range of different bands, cite the past few years as a rocky, and often frustrating, process to find the right fit with players.
“We went on tour in June of last year, and that was kind of the test of the lineup at that time,” says Bryan, adding that each member’s dedication to the band was challenged through financial and collaborative stresses during this time.
Ultimately, the With Conviction of today seems to have hit its stride with the right bandmate combination.
“This is the best it’s ever been,” Ryan says. “It’s like that point in the relationship with the girlfriend, where you’re like ‘Okay, I think it’s good.’”
Creatively, With Conviction works together to bring the instrumentals to fruition, and then Ryan adds his creative flare lyrically.
“I’ve written songs about religion, I’ve written songs about personal things,” Ryan notes. “And we have one song about a soldier going to war and why he’s there, and that’s as far into politics as I have got so far.”
Aside from a full-length album to be released by February 2009, the band has many ongoing projects, including an anticipated “extravaganza” at the Orangeville Skate Park next year.
“There’s going to be balloons and everything,” Ryan jokes. “We want to get local businesses and artists involved. If everybody puts in a little they’ll get back a lot.”
In planning the festival, With Conviction hopes to encourage the Orangeville community at large to recognize the need for venues as a solid foundation for aspiring musicians.
“There definitely needs to be more exposure and interest here,” Ryan says. “The kids are bored, they need something to do.”
The band sees a bright future in the Orangeville music scene, and great potential and talent in young Orangeville musicians.
“Shawn’s nephew is in a band called Mortal Fate, and is going to be a drummer to watch in this town for sure,” Bryan adds. “That kind of stuff is inspirational for other area kids hoping to get into a band.”