Confide (band)

Years active2004–2010; 2012–2013LabelsPast membersAaron Richard Van Zutphen
Arin Ilejay
Jason Pickard
Jeffrey Helberg
John Penton
Joshua Paul
Josh Plesh
Joel Piper
Ross Michael Kenyon
Trevor Vickers
William ‘Billy’ Pruden

Confide was an American metalcore band from Anaheim, California, formed in 2004. They have released two EPs and three full-length albums. Although all the members of the group are openly Christian, they have not been marketed in the Christian market since the band is on a secular label.

The band toured across the United States, following their debut album Shout the Truth, but also toured Europe and Asia with later albums.^[6]

On October 4, 2010, Frontman Ross Kenyon announced that the band would be disbanding after their Japan tour. The band played their farewell show on November 7, 2010 in Pomona, CA. The band temporarily reformed in August 2012 to write and record their third full-length record titled "All is Calm" through Kickstarter. All is Calm was released on July 30, 2013 and a short tour was booked to promote the new record. Although Confide has stated they will not be reforming permanently, drummer Joel Piper said that there is possibility for them to play again in the future, but nothing permanent.

On November 30, 2018 Confide played at The Glasshouse in Pomona, California for the 10th anniversary of Shout The Truth. It included the lineup from the album's initial release. The show also included Secrets, Dayseeker, Noble, and Rivals.

After the breakup, some of the members joined other bands. Most notable, when drummer Arin Ilejay joined Avenged Sevenfold in 2011.^[7]

Confide was originally started in August 2004 by Aaron Van Zutphen, Jason Pickard and Josh Plesh as a deathcore act.^{[citation needed]}

They went looking for members in their youth group. Plesh was friends with Billy Pruden while both Pruden and Zutphen knew Jeff Helberg. These five made-up the original Confide line-up.^{[citation needed]}

They released two EPs at this time; Innocence Surround and Introduction.^{[citation needed]}

By the end of 2006, vocalist Josh Plesh left the band, and was replaced by Ross Michael Kenyon, putting his other band Penknifelovelife on hiatus.^{[citation needed]}

Confide's first full-length CD, titled Shout the Truth, was released on June 17, 2008 through Science Records. Shout the Truth received mixed reviews; Altsounds called the album out on its unoriginality: "[T]he whole CD is very samey and they’re not producing anything different from what many other bands have already done and are just sticking to a now-dated sound."^[8] They toured extensively in 2008 to support the album.^[6][9] In comparison to the CD review, Altsounds approved of their live shows: "Confide delivers an adrenaline-fueled live show that does not disappoint."^[9]

Shortly after the album was released, Science Records was eliminated by its parent company, Warner Bros. Records and Confide was left without a label causing founding member Aaron Van Zutphen and drummer Arin Ilejay to leave in January 2009.^{[citation needed]}

In April 2009, the band was signed to Tragic Hero Records, recruited former member, drummer Joel Piper who also took the role of clean vocalist, and guitarist Joshua Paul, and began performing all across the United States, on tours such as the "Don't Take Your Guns to Tour", alongside bands Once Nothing, Here I Come Falling, and In Fear and Faith.^[10]

The band headlined a promotional tour alongside Therefore I Am and Oceana.^{[citation needed][11]}

On July 25, 2009, the band announced that they were going to re-release their album Shout the Truth. The re-release contained two bonus songs, one of which is a cover of the song "Such Great Heights" by The Postal Service, and was released on September 8, 2009.^[12]

In January 2010, before the recording process of Confide's sophomore album started, founding bassist "Billy Pruden" left the band to pursue other endeavors. In February, they finished recording their second full-length studio album. The new album, entitled Recover, was released May 18. On April 7, Confide released a new song, entitled When Heaven Is Silent, from the new album. On April 21, they released a second song from the new album titled Now or Never. Along with their new album, they released their second full-length music video. They were planning to embark on the Band of Brothers tour.^[13]

On October 4, 2010, Confide officially announced their breakup.^[14] Confide played their final show on November 7, 2010 at the Glasshouse in Pomona, California. The event was a sold-out show, maxing out the venue's 800 person capacity.^{[citation needed]}

Confide reunited for a one-time show at the Playground Festival in Hidden Valley, California on September 4, 2011.^{[citation needed]}

Vocalist Kenyon announced via his Twitter page that he would announce a solo project sometime in 2012.^{[clarification needed]}

Singer/Drummer, Piper announced and started a new pop music project and released one online EP called The Only One which independent release charted at top 40 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart, and #11 on iTunes Pop Album Chart.^{[citation needed]}

Then later released full-length album "Dying To Live". And has only seen the stage a handful of times as solo artist as he was producing for other artists and bands.^{[citation needed]}

On August 31, 2012, Confide announced their reunion and launched their Kickstarter campaign. The band needed $30,000 by October 1, 2012 to create a new album. As of September 4, the band had reached the $30,000 they need to produce their album.^{[citation needed]}

On September 30, 2012 Confide was successfully funded and had received $38,709 in fan support for their album project. According to the band's Kickstarter page the album is set to release in early 2013. Confide is performing at several festivals since the funding of the album, small scale touring is speculated.^{[citation needed]}

The band released their first single, "Sooner or Later", from their upcoming album on March 12, 2013. On July 1, 2013 Confide announced that their new album All is Calm is finished and will be released on July 30, 2013.^{[citation needed]}

The members of Confide have gone on to take part in many other bands and projects, most notably Avenged Sevenfold and Of Mice & Men.^{[citation needed]}

Former drummer Arin Ilejay joined Avenged Sevenfold and then was fired from the band, but as of 2015 has joined the Nu-metal band Islander.^{[citation needed]}

Drummer Joel Piper started his own solo worship project after quitting Of Mice & Men. Aaron VanZutphen currently plays in the metal band Nekrogoblikon.^{[citation needed]}

Allmusic describes the band as metalcore as well as "post-hardcore with a CCM/electro/screamo-pop twist".^[2] HM described them as a "blend of screamo trying to be held back on the ankle by metalcore".^[3]

Timeline

Albums

• Shout the Truth (Science, 2008)
• Recover (Tragic Hero, 2010)
• All Is Calm (self-released, 2013)

EPs

• Innocence Surround (self-released, 2005)
• Introduction (self-released, 2006)

Demos

• Demo (self-released, 2008)

• Tighten It Up (Tragic Hero, 2010)

Year	Song	Director	Album
2007	"Zeal" (never was completed)	Ryan Wilson	Demo 2008
2008	"If We Were a Sinking Ship"	Daniel Chesnut	Shout the Truth
2009	"Such Great Heights"	Daniel Chesnut	Shout the Truth (re-issue)
2010	"I Never Saw This Coming"	Luke Rocheleau	Shout the Truth (re-issue)
2010	"The View From My Eyes"	Jon Stone	Recover

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