Scottsdale/Cave Creek; situated north of Phoenix Arizona. Arguably one of this planet’s best kept secret tourist destinations. A tranquil paradise of immaculate sandy dessert and lush dry heat, it’s full of saguaro cactus, indie art galleries and night life dance clubs. Perhaps the most notable thing to come out of the place prior to 2003 were The Phoenix Suns basketball team and picturesque postcards, but all that changed with the spawning of Sigma.
You can count the number of bands who've stayed together for more than 8 years in Arizona on two hands, and you can use just one to count those who've consistently released quality material 8 years. This year, Sigma enter that esteemed category, and in keeping with their D.I.Y. roots, they've done it without major labels, corporate radio, MTV, or teen magazine pinups.
Picture it: 2003, an art gallery in downtown Phoenix. Jon borrows a PA system from a friend and throws down $50 to cover expenses. A bunch of sweaty high school kids gather to sneak beers and rock all night at the debut show of a band called Sigma, and a Phoenix institution is born. But the Sigma story actually begins a 6 months earlier than that historic gig. Conceived by Keith Wallace, Chris Griswold and Jon Kabir, Sigma was formed in the fall of 2003 in an attempt to create a style of music that not only rocked but also explored the beauty within darkness. After finding fellow musicians who shared their vision, the crew recorded their debut full length, Stars and Fights released February 2004, which quickly helped the band amass a strong following throughout Arizona. The band went back into the studio and released their second full length Violence Speaks Louder Than Words in May 2006. In November 2008 Sigma released their 3rd full length album Buried In Black and White. This album charted Itunes charts in Norway and Finland.
In November 2010 Sigma unveiled their latest album, The Phoenix - thirteen tumultuous tracks of punk rock and heavy metal. Combining sharp metallic riffs and soaring melodic choruses with intelligent lyrics. With this new release, Sigma has a reenergized drive which translates to their most matured and heaviest effort yet.
Sigma’s exceptional style of heavy metal punk rock and DIY work ethic is complimented by the band's remarkable live shows. For the past 8 years the band has toured with and opened for many important bands such as The Misfits, Agnostic Front, Mad Caddies, Avenged Sevenfold, Job for a Cowboy, Four year Strong, The Adolescents, Plain White T’s, Vans Warped Tour and the list goes on. The band's tight sets of intensely passionate performances have won over fans from all over.
"We went through a lot over the past couple years. Matters that really opened our eyes. This time, we got very personal" says the inimitable bassist Jon Kabir. "I think many bands today try to write music to produce a certain sound and to attract a certain audience. We did not want to do that. Keith, Chris and I decided to take a different approach. We wanted to just write whatever comes to our hearts and minds and whatever we think sounded good. We grew up listening to Nirvana, Metallica, Fugazi, Pantera, Smashing Pumpkins, AFI, Misfits, and a lot more. Many different genres and sounds. All of these bands have influenced us in our song writing. "
Blending fantasy and reality through twisted tales of death and tragedy, Keith, Chris and Jon revel in the quest to show the world the beauty inside a body covered in blood, bullet holes and stab wounds. With songs like the massive anthem "The Phoenix" the ode to the lover "Eat Your Heart" the heart wrenching tale of "Dear Annabelle, I Love You, but…" to the doom that surrounds the beauty in “They Hunt”. The Phoenix is a stake in the heart of safe, conformed music, confirming their place among the scenes most elite bands. Sigma is Arizona’s best kept secret.
