From Central Ohio, Shores of Elysium is a death metal band formed in 2011. The band's music is fast paced featuring technically savvy guitar work, hammering drums, and incredibly intense vocals. The band will keep you on your heart pumping, right before it gets ripped out of your chest! The band also made our list of Top 5 Metal Bands In Ohio.

Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.

1. Jon Misich - Bass
2. Sean Parsons - Vocals
3. Neal Petcavage - Drums 
4. Jason Harris aka Slayson Von Doomshred - Guitar 
5. Michael Giannakos - Guitar/Horn Bleeder

For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Shores of Elysium? How long has the band been around?  

Jon used to be in a band called Kill The Envious. Jason has played in multiple bands such as Catharsis, When All Else Fails, and Youth Hostile. Neal is still currently playing in The Party.

What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?  

Our name is still somewhat of a mystery to most of us haha. Jon is the only original member left and he isn't even 100% on it. However the consensus is there was a drunken hangout long ago with an encyclopedia present for some reason (lol). Either a past member was interested in Greek Mythology or it was randomly brought up. The Shores Of Elysium came into topic, and apparently were deemed forkin "metal" enough for our name naw mean. 

Who writes your songs? What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?  

For the most part Jason has been the creative force behind our songs. Through the many member changes that have occurred over the last 5 years the dynamics have changed slightly with different members contributing in their respective positions. Lyrically I don't think there are any boxes we put ourselves in. We have songs that range topically from a hatred of math & smoking a never ending blunt, to our distaste for religion or massacring a class of children with power tools. We don't take ourselves too seriously, and I don't see the general "feel" of that changing. 

What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making? 

For us influence is drawn from just about every corner of the metal world. Within The Ruins, The Black Dahlia Murder, All Shall Perish, Protest The Hero, Slayer, Pantera... Each just as relevant to our upcoming album as they were to our last album 

Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?  

For me (Michael) it was definitely Children Of Bodom. Alexi Laiho is the first guitarist I listened to/saw live that made me want to learn how to play. ... no one else really had an answer. 

What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …  

I (Michael) have carpel tunnel in both of my wrists so warming up is a must for me. I usually spend the last 30 minutes prior to the set switching between right hand warm ups (alternate picking to a metronome and gradually increase; I call it the Meshugga (tee hee) but then I go from just normal alternate picking to triplets and quads to a metronome. For my left hand I do a few different things, a "1-2-3-4" walk from low to high E and with each change in direction changing the finger you use to start the pattern on the next string. For ex it's 1-2-3-4 up and 2-3-4-1 back down. 

What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?

Biggest highlight in my mind was the little tour we did last year with From Another Planet. It was unbelievable. 10 days of unadulterated fun. Tasting new foods, seeing new places, and playing for new people...and doing it all with a fuckin awesome group of dudes (FAP) .

If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?  

We'd like to tour with The Black Dahlia Murder for sure. I feel like that's a pretty unanimous feeling in the band. They seem like they always have fun on tour, and it would be cool to be able to learn from them. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

For any fans we do have that are reading this...THANK YOU for your support...we love you all, four eels. If you're just hearing of us thank you for giving us a chance, and if you don't think we suck... TELL A FRIEND :D  Be kind to one another, and horn bleed.