AS I LAY DYING BIOGRAPHY

AS I LAY DYING
Biography

As I Lay Dying is a metalcore band formed in San Diego, California, in 2000 (AP, 2014; Tim Lambesis's statement, 2024). It was started by its singer, Tim Lambesis (Theprp.com, 2014), and made its debut in 2001 with the album Beneath the Encasing of Ashes on Pluto Records (Pluto Records). From 2003 to 2012 its records came out on Metal Blade Records; An Ocean Between Us (2007) reached No. 8 on the Billboard 200, and its song "Nothing Left" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards (Billboard; grammy.com). Lambesis was arrested in May 2013, pleaded guilty in 2014 and was sentenced to six years in prison; the band went on hiatus the same year, and the other four members formed Wovenwar. In 2018 the five musicians who had made Awakened (2012) returned together, releasing Shaped By Fire on Nuclear Blast in 2019 and Through Storms Ahead on Napalm Records in 2024. In October 2024 the four members other than Lambesis announced their departures one after another, and since October 2025 the band has been Lambesis with Chris Clancy (bass, clean vocals), Bill Hudson and Don Vedda (guitars) and Tim Yeung (drums) (official website). Its first self-titled album, As I Lay Dying, has a release date of 5 February 2027 on Napalm Records (Blabbermouth, 2026; official YouTube channel).

Beginnings and Pluto Records (2000-2002)

Looking back in a statement in November 2024, Tim Lambesis wrote that more than twenty people came and went during the band's foundational years, from 2000 to 2004, and that the idea behind it had been in his head since he was nineteen (Blabbermouth, 2024). According to the band's statement of April 2014, As I Lay Dying was founded and owned by Lambesis at first, and about six years later he began to share its ownership with the drummer Jordan Mancino (Theprp.com, 2014). The Associated Press dates the band's formation to 2000 in San Diego (AP, 2014); its first label, Pluto Records, puts it in early 2001 (Pluto Records).

Pluto Records says the band signed to the label on the strength of its first demo alone and went straight into the studio to record its debut album, Beneath the Encasing of Ashes. The album came out in June 2001, and the band spent much of the rest of that year on the road; the label's own listing gives the release date as 12 June 2001 and the catalogue number as PLU007 (Pluto Records). In the spring of 2002 the band recorded five new songs, released on 18 June 2002 by Pluto Records as a split album with American Tragedy, another San Diego band (Pluto Records; MusicBrainz).

To Metal Blade: Frail Words Collapse and Shadows Are Security (2003-2006)

In 2003 the band moved to Metal Blade Records, which released Frail Words Collapse in July that year (Metal Blade Records). The guitarist Phil Sgrosso arrived in the same year; writing in 2024, Sgrosso counted 21 years that he had given to the band (Blabbermouth, 2024).

Shadows Are Security, released in June 2005, was the band's first record to enter the Billboard 200, where it peaked at No. 35 (Metal Blade Records; Billboard). In May 2006 Metal Blade released A Long March: The First Recordings, a collection of the band's earliest recordings, which reached No. 129 on the Billboard 200 (Metal Blade Records; Billboard).

In May 2007 Hipa confirmed that Norris, who had played bass and sung the clean vocals, had left the band the previous September, and that Josh Gilbert was now its bassist. Norris, Hipa explained, was getting married and wanted an ordinary life (Blabbermouth, 2007).

An Ocean Between Us and a Grammy nomination (2007-2009)

An Ocean Between Us followed in August 2007 (Metal Blade Records). It was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz, the guitarist of Killswitch Engage (Metal Blade Records). The album entered the Billboard 200 of 8 September 2007 at No. 8, still the band's highest chart position for an album (Billboard), and its song "Nothing Left" was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in 2008 (grammy.com).

In April 2009 Metal Blade released This Is Who We Are. As the label describes it, it is a DVD set with the documentary From The Beginning on the first disc, sixteen live songs under the title Now - Live Progression on the second, and music videos and bonus features on the third (Metal Blade Records). At home, the San Diego Music Awards named As I Lay Dying Artist of the Year in 2005, 2007 and 2008 (NBC 7 San Diego, 2014).

The Powerless Rise, Decas and Awakened (2010-2012)

The Powerless Rise, released in May 2010, was again produced by Adam Dutkiewicz (Metal Blade Records) and reached No. 10 on the Billboard 200 (Billboard). Decas, released in November 2011, has twelve tracks, among them a re-recorded medley titled "Beneath the Encasing (Re-Recorded Medley)" and four remixes, and peaked at No. 61 (Metal Blade Records; Billboard).

For Awakened, released in September 2012, the band worked for the first time with the producer Bill Stevenson, who is also the drummer of the Descendents. Metal Blade's biography of the band says that after spending an average of two months in the studio on earlier records, this time it recorded all eleven songs in a window of three and a half weeks between tours (Metal Blade Records). Awakened reached No. 11 on the Billboard 200 (Billboard; Metal Blade Records). The line-up was Tim Lambesis, Jordan Mancino, the guitarists Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa, and Josh Gilbert on bass and vocals (Metal Blade Records).

Arrest, conviction, a hiatus and Wovenwar (2013-2014)

On 7 May 2013 Tim Lambesis was arrested in Oceanside, California. According to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, he was accused of asking another person to kill his estranged wife (Blabbermouth; Loudwire, 2013). At his arraignment on 9 May he pleaded not guilty (Blabbermouth, 2013). On 8 May, the day after the arrest, the band posted a message to its fans on Metal Blade's website: the legal process was under way, it wrote, and the band knew no more than they did (Metal Blade Records, 2013).

On 25 February 2014 Lambesis pleaded guilty to a felony count of solicitation of murder (NBC 7 San Diego; AP; Times of San Diego, 2014). On 16 May 2014, in San Diego County Superior Court, he was sentenced to six years in prison without probation (AP; NBC 7 San Diego; Blabbermouth, 2014). In court he said, "I do feel deep remorse" (Blabbermouth, 2014).

In April 2014, before the sentencing, the band announced a hiatus. Its statement, as reported by Theprp.com, said that Lambesis and Jordan Mancino were the only official members and that neither wished to move forward at that point; the band, it concluded, was "sleeping rather than dead" (Theprp.com, 2014). Nick Hipa, Phil Sgrosso, Josh Gilbert and Mancino formed a new band, Wovenwar, with Shane Blay of Oh, Sleeper as its singer, and released the albums Wovenwar in August 2014 and Honor Is Dead in October 2016 on Metal Blade Records (Metal Blade Records; Theprp.com, 2014).

Release, reunion and Shaped By Fire (2016-2021)

Tim Lambesis left prison in December 2016 and was placed under state parole supervision; the date was reported as confirmed to Alternative Press by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Blabbermouth; Rolling Stone, 2017). In December 2017 he issued a statement apologising to his former wife and his children and accepting responsibility as "the sole offender" for everything that had happened (Blabbermouth, 2018).

In June 2018 the band released a new song, "My Own Grave", with a music video. It was played by Lambesis, Jordan Mancino, Phil Sgrosso, Nick Hipa and Josh Gilbert, the same five who had made Awakened (Blabbermouth, 2018), and the video was directed by Josh Knoff (official YouTube channel). On social media the band said it understood that there were many questions and that it meant to answer them (Loudwire, 2018). On 16 June the five played their first concert since the reunion at Soma Sidestage in San Diego, and on the same day they put a 32-minute video titled "Discussion", in which they talk about the reunion, on the band's YouTube channel (Blabbermouth, 2018; official YouTube channel). In it Lambesis said that after his release he had first written to Mancino and Gilbert, and that in their first conversations he had mostly listened; Hipa said that at first he had repeatedly turned down Lambesis's requests to meet and talk (Blabbermouth, 2018).

In September 2019 the band released Shaped By Fire on Nuclear Blast; the description on the band's YouTube channel and Blabbermouth both count it as its seventh studio album (official YouTube channel; Blabbermouth, 2022). It was produced by the band, mixed by Joseph McQueen and mastered by Ted Jensen, except for "My Own Grave", which was co-produced by Drew Fulk and mixed by Adam "Nolly" Getgood; the artwork is by Corey Meyers (official YouTube channel). In a statement accompanying the album's announcement, the band said it was grateful to have found a positive resolution after the worst moments of its history, and that the years in between had led to growth, healing and reconciliation (official YouTube channel). Shaped By Fire reached No. 50 on the Billboard 200 (Billboard). The band took it to Latin America, Russia and Europe in 2019 and to India and Asia early in 2020 (official YouTube channel).

In September 2021 the band released "Roots Below", a song first written for Shaped By Fire. Sgrosso explained that it would appear on a deluxe edition of the album along with a studio version of "Destruction or Strength" and live recordings from the band's European dates in 2019 (official YouTube channel).

Departures and touring players (2020-2023)

On 31 August 2021 Nick Hipa confirmed on Instagram that he had left the band. In his statement he gave as his reason that the meaning on which the reunion had been built had worn away over time (Blabbermouth, 2021). In a statement on 20 September the band said that Hipa had left more than a year earlier and that it respected his decision; on 10 September Tim Lambesis had written that he wished Hipa the best (Loudwire, 2021).

On 16 May 2022 Josh Gilbert announced on social media that he was leaving the band after fifteen years, almost half his life. The band's statement the same day said that he was leaving to pursue other musical opportunities, and that on the Two Decades of Destruction tour of the United States, from 10 June to 17 July, and at the European festivals in August, Ryan Neff of Miss May I would play bass and sing and Ken Susi of Unearth would play second guitar (Blabbermouth, 2022).

In June 2022 Jordan Mancino said on social media that, because internal issues within the band had not been resolved, he would not perform on any tour dates until further notice. On 10 June the band announced that the former Unearth drummer Nick Pierce would play the tour, and the new touring line-up played its first show that night at the House of Blues in Las Vegas. On 17 June Lambesis issued a statement saying that the remaining members would find a way to carry on without Mancino (Blabbermouth, 2022). In the summer of 2023 the band toured Europe (official YouTube channel).

Through Storms Ahead and four departures (2024)

In 2024 the band released "Burden" and "The Cave We Fear To Enter", its first new music in five years. On 12 September it announced the album Through Storms Ahead on Napalm Records and released "We Are The Dead", with the guest singers Alex Terrible of Slaughter to Prevail and Tom Barber of Chelsea Grin. The line-up named in the announcement was Tim Lambesis and Phil Sgrosso with Ryan Neff (bass, clean vocals), Nick Pierce (drums) and Ken Susi (guitar). The album was produced by Sgrosso and Hiram Hernandez, mixed by Aaron Chaparian and mastered by Ted Jensen, with artwork again by Corey Meyers, and the announcement called it the band's eighth studio album (Blabbermouth, 2024).

Neff announced his departure on social media on 18 October, and Susi and Pierce announced theirs on 24 October; Pierce wrote that he was proud of having written and recorded the drums for the new album (Blabbermouth; Loudwire, 2024). The band's European Through Storms Ahead tour, which had been set to open in Würzburg, Germany, on 15 November, was cancelled, and the promoters of its Helsinki date said that it would not be rescheduled (Blabbermouth, 2024).

On 30 October Phil Sgrosso announced his departure too. In his statement he said that As I Lay Dying no longer offered a healthy or safe environment for anyone involved (Blabbermouth, 2024). On 4 November Lambesis replied in a statement on Instagram, agreeing that there had been an unhealthy environment that made it unrealistic to go on tour with the previous line-up. He wrote that he and Sgrosso no longer saw eye to eye personally, creatively or financially, that Sgrosso had decided to leave first and the touring members had followed, and that Through Storms Ahead would still come out on 15 November (Blabbermouth, 2024). Napalm Records released the album on that date (Blabbermouth, 2024; MusicBrainz).

A new line-up and a self-titled album (2025-2027)

In July 2025 the band announced An Evening With As I Lay Dying, a tour marking twenty years of Shadows Are Security (official YouTube channel). On 8 October 2025 it introduced a new line-up with the song "Echoes": Chris Clancy on bass and clean vocals, Bill Hudson and Don Vedda on guitar and Tim Yeung on drums, alongside Tim Lambesis (official website; Blabbermouth, 2025; official YouTube channel). Lambesis said he was grateful for his new bandmates, and Hudson recalled that he had met Lambesis almost twenty years earlier and had played in several bands with Yeung (Blabbermouth, 2025). "Echoes" was produced by Clancy and Jack Daniels, and its video was directed by Tom Flynn. A tour of Russia and Europe opening in Moscow on 30 October was announced with it, and "If I Fall" followed on 19 November (official YouTube channel).

On 8 September 2026 Lambesis said in a video message that the band had finished recording its new album, twelve songs from which it meant to keep ten (Blabbermouth, 2026). On 15 September the band announced its first self-titled album, As I Lay Dying, on Napalm Records, and released "Polarized" and "Retribution". The band said the record felt like "both a continuation and a reset". It was produced by Clancy and Lambesis, except for "No Way Out", which was produced by Dusten Boles and features the guest singer CJ McCreery of Immortal Disfigurement; the artwork is by Corey Meyers, who has shaped the band's visual identity since "My Own Grave" (Blabbermouth, 2026). The video for "The Cost To Stay" followed on 3 November (official YouTube channel). The band announced North American dates with The Curse Within for November and December 2026 as the last of its Shadows Are Security anniversary shows, and a North American tour with Immortal Disfigurement for February and March 2027 (Blabbermouth, 2026). As I Lay Dying has a release date of 5 February 2027 (Blabbermouth, 2026; official YouTube channel).

Side project

Tim Lambesis also played guitar, drums and bass in Austrian Death Machine, a thrash metal project inspired by the actor and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger (NBC 7 San Diego, 2014).

Members

The current line-up is the following five (official website, 2025).

Member	Role	Years
Tim Lambesis	Vocals	2000- (hiatus 2014-2018)
Chris Clancy	Bass, clean vocals	2025-
Bill Hudson	Guitar	2025-
Don Vedda	Guitar	2025-
Tim Yeung	Drums	2025-

Former members include the following. The years come from the members' and the band's statements, the album credits, and Blabbermouth and Loudwire. Ryan Neff, Ken Susi and Nick Pierce were announced by the band in 2022 as players for its tours, and took part in the making of Through Storms Ahead.

Member	Role	Years
Jordan Mancino	Drums	2001-2014, 2018-2022
Phil Sgrosso	Guitar	2003-2014, 2018-2024
Clint Norris	Bass, clean vocals	until 2006
Nick Hipa	Guitar	until 2014; 2018-2020
Josh Gilbert	Bass, vocals	2007-2014, 2018-2022
Ryan Neff	Bass, clean vocals	2022-2024
Ken Susi	Guitar	2022-2024
Nick Pierce	Drums	2022-2024

Concerts in Japan

In the 2000s the band's records came out in Japan on Metal Blade Records Japan, which in May 2006 released A Long March: The First Recordings, a collection of the earliest recordings, as a souvenir of that month's visit (BARKS, 2006). Howling Bull issued the Japanese editions of the tenth-anniversary release Decas on 9 November 2011 and of Awakened in September 2012, the latter announced with a bonus track for Japan (Gekirock, 2011 and 2012; HMV). Ward Records released Shaped By Fire in Japan in September 2019 with Japanese liner notes and translated lyrics, and Marquee's Avalon label issued Through Storms Ahead on 20 November 2024 (Ward Records; Marquee Avalon).

The band first came to Japan in February 2005, supporting Shadows Fall on the Extreme the Dojo Vol. 12 tour together with Every Time I Die. The dates announced were Tokyo on the 7th, Osaka on the 9th and Nagoya on the 10th, each at a Club Quattro, with Hatebreed joining the bill in Osaka and Nagoya (Blabbermouth, 2004; BARKS, 2006).

The second visit came in May 2006, when the band was the special guest on Story of the Year's Japanese tour: five shows from Big Cat in Osaka on the 23rd, through Drum Be-1 in Fukuoka and the Club Quattro halls of Hiroshima and Nagoya, to Shibuya-AX in Tokyo on the 29th, with Smash taking enquiries (BARKS, 2006).

On 15 October that year the band played the second day of LOUD PARK 06, put on by Creativeman and Howling Bull Entertainment in Halls 9 to 11 of Makuhari Messe in Chiba, opening the Big Rock Stage at 11:00, the moment the day's music began. Slayer, In Flames, Children of Bodom, Killswitch Engage, Lamb of God, Dio and Hatebreed were on the same day's bill (the LOUD PARK 06 website).

On 20 October 2007 the band returned for the first day of LOUD PARK 07 at Saitama Super Arena, promoted by Creativeman Productions, and went on at 15:35; Heaven and Hell, Blind Guardian, Trivium, Machine Head and Still Remains played the same day (the LOUD PARK 07 website).

From 10 to 12 November 2008 the band played all three nights of the Japanese edition of the Rockstar Taste of Chaos tour at Shinkiba Studio Coast in Tokyo, alongside MUCC and Story of the Year, with acid android, Oblivion Dust and Holstein as the guest act on successive nights and Disk Garage taking enquiries. On the first night the band followed the opening act Head Phones President and drew its set mainly from An Ocean Between Us (BARKS, 2008); on the second it played directly before the closing act, MUCC, and on the third it was second on the bill (Gekirock, 2008).

Date	City	Venue	Show
15 October 2006	Chiba	Makuhari Messe, Halls 9-11	LOUD PARK 06, day two (Creativeman / Howling Bull Entertainment)
20 October 2007	Saitama	Saitama Super Arena	LOUD PARK 07, day one (Creativeman Productions)

About the sources

The sources are As I Lay Dying's official website and official YouTube channel (its videos and their descriptions); the artist pages, release pages and announcements of Pluto Records, Metal Blade Records, Nuclear Blast and Napalm Records; Billboard's chart history; grammy.com; the Associated Press as carried by CBS, NBC 7 San Diego, Times of San Diego, Rolling Stone, Loudwire, Theprp.com and Blabbermouth; and, for Japan, the LOUD PARK 06 and LOUD PARK 07 websites (their line-up and timetable pages), BARKS, Gekirock, the release pages of Ward Records and Marquee Avalon, HMV and the National Diet Library's catalogue. The date of the 2002 split album and some singles' years were checked against MusicBrainz. The English Wikipedia was used only as a pointer. Where sources disagree, as on the year of the band's formation, the text says so. The account of the arrest, the plea and the sentence rests on the Associated Press, the San Diego news outlets and the reports of the Sheriff's Department's statement; each member's departure is told only as the member and the band stated it.