Enemy Camp is one of the most inspiring bands to contribute to Seattle's plethora of music, not only because of the sound they produce, but the group's attitude and outlook on it all. Their syncopated rhythms and unexpected beats make it hard to lock them into a single genre and is what sets them apart from others in the heavy metal scene. According to guitarist Mica Crisp, 32, the music "explores the landscapes of loud, fast, hardcore-inspired metal music."

The band has existed since 2007, but has gone through a rotation of musicians, starting with Crisp, vocalist Ryan Flaherty and Dick Rhee on bass. After losing Rhee to his successful career in architecture and eventually Flaherty to the sunshine of California, Crisp began looking for new inspiration and bandmates who could share his passion. He found his musical counterparts in drummer Tyler Keen, 29, vocalist Justin Sclafani, 29, and bassist Travis Brenden, 34, whose style and experience trumps many, including being one of the founders of the band He Whose Ox is Gored.

Once the current members found each other, the music just started flowing, according to Crisp. Only a month of practice later, Enemy Camp recorded their first six-song EP, promising a future and tours.

In 2010, the band revamped their sound and dropped other side projects to concentrate on recording new albums with Brenden's help and knowledge of recording engineering. As far as audience responses goes, "it's a matter of getting in front of the right audience," Keen said. Enemy Camp is definitely not for those with gentle ears and has been nicknamed the baby of Converge and Burnt by the Sun, both heavy, hardcore metal bands with some influences of punk.

Enemy Camp is looking forward to the summer West Coast tour and to the discovery of new venues similar to the Comet Tavern and Blacklodge, as the intimacy and genuine audience connection is what inspires the band to keep going. Playing music most of their lives, the bandmates have realized that writing and performing is not about trying to "make it" by Hollywood standards; it's about having an artistic outlet and watching the audience enjoy themselves. "I will never stop playing, no matter where I live or who I'm playing with," Crisp said.

To younger bands out there, Enemy Camp advised to just play what sounds good and not worry about anything else. According to Brenden, many of the famous musicians they've looked up to their entire lives are just "dudes with day jobs who get to get out and tour when they get the chance…[and] put their heart and soul into it."

The group's perseverance and pure joy of performing has not gone unnoticed. Tad Doyle, grunge era legend and "rock lord and master," as Crisp said, recorded and is now mixing their latest EP, which is scheduled to release this year. It will be available on vinyl and download cards.

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