Art of Dying (band)

Art of Dying
Art of Dying
	Art of Dying in 2007
Background information
Origin	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres	Alternative rock; alternative metal; hard rock; post-grunge;
Years active	2004–present
Labels	Thorny Bleeder/Intoxication; Reprise; Better Noise Music; Revolver; Vices and Virtues;
Members	Jonny Hetherington; Cody Watkins; Cale Gontier; Tavis Stanley;
Past members	Chris Witoski; Matt Rhode; Flavio Cirillo; Greg Bradley; Jeff Brown;
Website	artofdyingmusic.com

Art of Dying is a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia, formed in 2004 by lead singer Jonny Hetherington and guitarist Greg Bradley. Soon after, the duo added Chris Witoski on rhythm guitar, bassist Matt Rhode, and drummer Flavio Cirillo.^[2]

History

In 2006, Art of Dying released their first album, Art of Dying on Thorny Bleeder Records.^[3] In February 2007, Classic Rock Magazine released the compilation Classic Rock: The Bands You Need to Hear in 2007, and included the Art of Dying song "Completely".^[4] The band then supported Seether on the UK leg of their world tour.^[5]^[6]

On December 1, 2009, it was announced that the band had signed a record deal with Reprise Records and its division Intoxication Records, founded by Disturbed members David Draiman and Dan Donegan.^[7] Witoski and Rhode left the band and were replaced by bassist Cale Gontier and guitarist Tavis Stanley, both previously of the band Thornley.

Art of Dying's second album, Vices and Virtues, produced by Howard Benson and mixed by Chris Lord-Alge, was released on March 22, 2011.^[8] Art of Dying went on its 'Avalanche Tour', performing 128 concerts in 2011.^[9] In addition to headlining and co-headlining club shows, the band played some of the biggest hard rock and heavy metal festivals in the country. They played the 2011 and 2012 Avalanche Tours, headlined by Stone Sour and Shinedown, respectively,^[10]^[11] and toured on Rockstar's 2011 Uproar Festival, headlined by Avenged Sevenfold.

Let the Fire Burn, a completely acoustic album, was released on April 24, 2012.^[12] The band continued to tour heavily in the US, playing several dates with Papa Roach and Buckcherry, opening for Marilyn Manson and appearing at the Rock Vegas Festival and KUPD's first annual Desert Uprising in Phoenix.

In 2014, Art of Dying was signed to Better Noise Records (now Better Noise Music).^[13] In 2015, the band toured as the opening act for the cello-metal band Apocalyptica during the North American leg of its Shadowmaker tour. In December 2015, they released the album Rise Up. It was produced by David Bendeth at House of Loud and received excellent reviews.^[14]^[15]^[16]

In 2016, the band self-released the six-track EP Nevermore and stayed on the road.^[17]^[18]^[19]

In 2017, Art of Dying announced on Facebook that drummer Jeff Brown, who had replaced Flavio Cirillo in 2008, left the band to "pursue a different path". He was replaced by longtime drum tech and stage manager Cody Watkins.^[20]

In 2019, still without a label, the band released its fifth album, Armageddon.^[21]^[22]

In 2020, Thorny Bleeder Records released the 11-track Art of Dying Compilation album, Demos & Rarities (2003-2007).^[23]

Band members

Jonny Hetherington – lead vocals (2004–present)
Cody Watkins – drums, backing vocals (2016–present)
Cale Gontier – bass, backing vocals (2008–present)
Tavis Stanley – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2008–present), lead guitar (2015–present)

Former members

Chris Witoski – rhythm guitar (2004–2008)
Matt Rhode – bass (2004–2008)
Flavio Cirillo – drums (2004–2008)
Greg Bradley – lead guitar (2004–2015)
Jeff Brown – drums (2008–2016)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Art of Dying (2006), Thorny Bleeder Records
Vices and Virtues (2011), Reprise Records
Let the Fire Burn (2012), Thorny Bleeder Records
Rise Up (2015), Better Noise Records, Eleven Seven Music
Armageddon (2019), Vices and Virtues Music

EPs

Get Through This (2007), Revolver Records
Rise Up (2015), Better Noise Records
Nevermore (2016), Vices and Virtues Music
Nevermore Acoustic (2017), Vices and Virtues Music
Ready For a Good Time (2022), Vices and Virtues Music

Compilations

Demos & Rarities (2003-2007) (2020), Thorny Bleeder Records

Singles

Year	Song	Peak chart positions				Album
Year	Song	CAN Rock ^[24]^[25]^[26]	US Alt ^[27]	US Main ^[28]	US Rock ^[29]	Album
2007	"Get Through This"	×	×	×	×	Art of Dying
2011	"Die Trying"	18	40	6	21	Vices and Virtues
2011	"Get Thru This"	43	—	18	34
2012	"Sorry"	19	—	15	37
2013	"Raining" (featuring Adam Gontier)	31	—	—	—
2015	"Rise Up" (featuring Dan Donegan)	33	—	—	—	Rise Up
	"Tear Down the Wall"	×	×	×	×
	"Everything"	—	—	36	—
2016	"Moth to a Flame"	×	×	×	×
2016	"Torn Down"	×	×	×	×	Nevermore
2017	"All or Nothing"	×	×	×	×	Nevermore
2019	"Cut it All Away"	×	×	×	×	Armageddon
	"Do or Die"	×	×	×	×
	"Armageddon"	×	×	×	×
	"Dark Days"	×	×	×	×
	"No One Ever Wins"	×	×	×	×
2020	"Vices & Virtues"	×	×	×	×	Ready For a Good Time
2021	"Afterlife" (with The Veer Union)	×	×	×	×	—
	"That High"	×	×	×	×	Ready For a Good Time
	"Cemetery"	×	×	×	×
2022	"Stand My Ground"	×	×	×	×
	"Prisoner"	×	×	×	×
	"Sweet Emotion"	×	×	×	×
	"Ready For a Good Time"	×	×	×	×
	"Better Dayz"	×	×	×	×	—
	"Just To See You Smile"	×	×	×	×
	"Long Shot" (featuring Jason Hook)	×	×	×	×
	"Lay Down and Die"	×	×	×	×
2023	"Let's Go"	×	×	×	×
	"So Far Gone" (featuring Thousand Foot Krutch)	×	×	×	×	The End Is Where We Begin: Reignited
	"Phoenix"	×	×	×	×	—
	"All Too Real"	×	×	×	×
2024	"Best of Me"	×	×	×	×
	"Falling"	×	×	×	×
	"Way Down We Go"	×	×	×	×
	"Through You" (featuring Adelitas Way)	×	×	×	×

Music videos

List of music videos, showing year released and director
Title	Year	Director(s)
"Get Through This"	2007	Brian Adler
"Completely"	2007	Darryl Whetung, John Allan
"I Will Be There"	2008	unknown
"Die Trying"	2011	Andrew Bennet
"Get Thru This"	2011	Brian Adler
"Rise Up"	2015	Chad Archibald
"Torn Down"	2016	Davo
"All or Nothing"	2017	Davo