Death By Stereo pleased with album production

Efrem Schulz said working on the new Death By Stereo album "Death for Life" was a great experience, thanks to the producers. The band worked with Fred Archambault and Bruce MacFarlane, who comprise the production team known as The Factory, and who have worked with the band Avenged Sevenfold.

"That was the first time we did anything like that," said Schulz during a phone call from his home in Southern California. "It was refreshing having someone from the outside giving us some ideas."

"Death for Life" was written, arranged and recorded by Death By Stereo, said Schulz. "We wrote all the songs in the last year and we had everything set up when we went into the studio. But we rewrote a few songs on the spot."

Drummer Todd Hennig laid his tracks in three days. The guitarists — Dan Palmer and Tito (who doesn't use a last name) — and new bassist Tyler Rebbe completed their recordings in two weeks.

"It actually took me a couple of months to do my vocals," Schulz said with a laugh. "I got sick and had to lay off the singing for a while. But once I got healthy I did it and the album finally got finished."

Having a new band member has helped Death By Stereo's enthusiasm, said Schulz. "We've known Tyler for quite some time."

Palmer was in a band before Death By Stereo. He quit and Rebbe took his place as a guitarist. When the opening for bassist was announced, Rebbe called and was offered the job.

"He came on board after we had written a few songs for the new album," said Schulz. "He had a lot of good ideas, and we worked him hard. We're actually looking forward to the next album when we can writeall the songs with him."

Death By Stereo has never pulled any punches. The band has always stayed true to its principles. Especially when politics start heating up.

The band is famous for unflinching social commentary works such as "Flag Day" and "Good Morning America" in the wake of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I remember discovering punk rock when I was a kid," said Schulz. "And I wanted to do that. I was able to see that I could do something like that. And that's what we're doing today."

Although being in a band such as Death By Stereo is hard at times, Schulz said there isn't another job he'd rather do.

"A bad tour day is better than any regular (stupid) job anywhere," he said. "None of us are getting rich. But we love playing for people. We love meeting new people, and we love seeing the world."

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If you go . . .

What: Alkaline Trio, Rise Against, Death By Stereo

Where: In the Venue, 219 S. 600 West

When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.

How much: $16

Phone: 467-8499 or 1-800-888-8499

Web: www.smithstix.com

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com