Having a heart for what you do is something not learned, but felt, and Louisiana born As Cities Burn show their unwavering benevolence with such authenticity that fans will surely not miss theirs. “Emotionally, we just want to stay passionate, humble, and real,” explains drummer Aaron Lunsford. “Our desire is to give something to kids that they can really connect to and feel. To us, these songs aren’t just songs, they are an experience emotionally and spiritually.”

Though goals of spiritual fortitude through song might seem lofty for a band just making their mark, the fluidity of their success may have you thinking otherwise. It was just three years ago that As Cities Burn was birthed while most of the band was attending Louisiana State University in Baton Rough. Quickly releasing 2 EP’s and a 3 song demo that collectively sold over 4,000 copies, the band was off to a great start and began touring full-time in the fall of 2003. Without help from a label or booking agent, As Cities Burn went on to book and play over 200 shows nationwide with everyone from As I Lay Dying to Underoath and Norma Jean.

It’s no wonder, with such an explosive live show and solid work ethic established, labels dually began taking notice, “There are a lot of bands that have been able to sign without really doing anything, which is fine,” Lunsford elaborates, “but we are thankful that we have experienced doing things on our own. Our experience has helped us to stay humble, remembering where we have been, and where we came from. It’s a constant reminder of how we had nothing when we started.”

That experience has also helped develop the talents of As Cities Burn’s five members. Whereas their initial EPs were spent searching for their sound, this summer’s full-length Solid State debut, “Son I Loved You at Your Darkest,” displays all the confidence of a veteran band, with the music to back it up. Running from the explosive opener, “Thus From My Lips, By Yours, My Sin is Purged,” to a fragile plea from an abandoned son in “The Widow,” each track does not only contain abounding passion with each measure, but keeps the listener guessing which direction the album will take next, making each turn even better than the last.

With Matt Goldman (The Chariot, Copeland) taking production credits along with the creativity of Josh Scogin (Lead vocalist of The Chariot, former Norma Jean) as Assistant Producer, the culmination creates a perfect harmony between dynamics. “The reason we wanted to go with Matt Goldman was because he doesn’t usually record bands like us, and we knew that fact would bring something totally different to this record,” Lunsford continues. “It was good to have an outside opinion with Josh too, especially from someone with so much experience. His ideas were fresh, and added a very raw and passionate feeling to the songs.”

The final project qualifies as one of Solid State’s most promising debuts to date, with equal parts fervency and talent, As Cities Burn flawlessly prove just why they are a band on the rise. “We hope that in a year, or 10 years from now, even if people don’t like the record, that we will still be proud of what it is,” Lunsford concludes. “This album is basically the story of our lives over the past couple of years. It is honest and hopefully inspirational. We are excited to share it with the world.”