Based in New Haven, Connecticut and offering a blend of pop punk and metal, Cometa was formed in 2006 by twin brothers Grant [lead vocals, guitar] and Gareth Cometa [lead guitar, vocals]. Originally hailing from Manitoba, Canada, the brothers moved to the states in the late 90s and would begin writing songs together during college.

"I was fronting my own band and Gareth started playing guitar," says Grant. "My band had a falling-out and Gareth and I started writing together; naturally, we had good musical chemistry." The twins would email each other song ideas and edit each others work. The result was, as Grant says, "a collection of some pretty bitchin' songs."

After grabbing up roommate Haroon Ramzan [bass/vocals], the band sent song samples to Wes Long [drums/vocals], who quickly joined the project after being found through Facebook. "I got an instant message from a complete stranger. Then I heard the riffs, the chugging, the ...