GREENVILLE — BioGenesis, a Christian heavy metal band, will represent Ohio and Darke County in front of mass audiences, next month, in California.
“This is the biggest thing that has ever happened to my family and I,” Dan Nealeigh said.
Nealeigh is owner of D.A. Music Studios, in downtown Greenville, and Bass player for BioGenesis. He and his children: Luke, Lead Guitar; Majennica, Drums and Sam, Keyboard, make up the majority of the band. The other members include: Chaz Bond, Vocals, of Columbus, and James Riggs, Rhythm Guitar, of Greenville. BioGenesis was invited by its L.A. – based record label Roxx Records, to perform several dates in early August, near Los Angeles, California. One of the performances will take place in Orange, at a huge event known as the So Cal Metal Fest. This year, the festival is a benefit for the family of the famous Christian radio DJ, Dale Huffman, who passed away earlier this year. The band will also play in Livermore, which is part of San Francisco and some other gigs.
BioGenesis started in 1996, by Bond and Riggs. According to Dan, Bond wanted the band to be comprised of Christians, not necessarily singing christian lyrics, but with good morals.
“We get to go places with others playing metal,” Dan said. “Some people feel if you play this stuff, you have to be anti-christian. That is not true. It is our way of being the light in dark places.”
While heavy metal is a good fit for their style, the band members say it is more complicated.
“We are one of those bands that fall into every category” Luke said. “I like being diverse and trying to find things people haven’t done. The diversity shows through in the style.”
Dan added that many times the sound of metal music is very similar, with guitars pounding away and someone screaming.
“When the band first started, the members instilled a lot of things, such as acoustic guitars and different rhythms,” Dan said. “Also, Chaz does a lot of operatic singing and screaming sometimes – it is not same old thing. And the Nealeighs have played all genres: country, classical, jazz, pop and everything in – between. With all of those influences, reviewers are having a hard time placing us – we are kind of this and kind of that. We are very unique.”
All talent aside, what makes the band work is what Riggs described as a smooth – running line-up. The band writes its own songs and they seem to come naturally.
“There is something magical that happens when we sit down and write,” Riggs said. “I have never been able to explain this, but it just happens. It is like flowing and flowing and flowing. What makes Biogenesis right now, is all the players in the band.”
“When James and I play, we start riffing back and forth and see what happens,” Luke said. “I don’t recall any point, especially in the making of this album (released May 26), when we were like ‘No.’ It all came together.”
“These guys write the music, and Bond comes up with something that sounds like it was always meant to be there,” Dan said. “His vocals and lyrics are very distinctive. He his a world-wide known singer from his time spent in a band Jacob’s Dream that toured in Europe. He already has a following and a huge talent for coming up with melodies.”
While the band is psyched for its California tour, Dan, could not be more proud of his children.
“My kids are all amazing technical musicians and I just play along,” he said. “I always figured at some point they would take off and play around the world somewhere. I just hoped that I was going to be able to drive the bus or something. When they were joining this band, they asked another guy to be the bass player. Jokingly, I said, ‘If that doesn’t work out, you know where I am. Luke calls me and says, ‘Well, you are in’.”
BioGenesis will play July 22, at the Courtyard Lounge, 320 National Rd #11, in Englewood, Ohio. The band will depart for California, Aug. 7. It is in need of funds. To give, visit https://www.gofundme.com/biogenesis-california-tour
To find out more about BioGenesis, visit https://www.facebook.com/BiogenesisProgressiveMetal/
