Denison Marrs

Denison Marrs was formed in Lakeland, Florida in 1996, but early fans know that they previously performed under the name of Divine Child, with a single album release, "Every Seven Minutes". Although it represents their earlier days in music, tracks like "Blatantly" and "Everyday" still command attention from the then aspiring band. As Denison Marrs, they crafted their sound primarily from 90's rock with a bit of 80's sheen thrown in - comparisons can be made to early Smashing Pumpkins, the Cure, Radiohead, etc. Denison Marrs took these influeces and ran with them, creating a unique space rock soundscape that pulsed with sheer power. However, the band was also able to utilize elements of delicacy, primarily through the lyrics of frontman Eric Collins. Denison Marrs was also important for their contribution to Christian music, carrying the torch of the underground movement began by the Prayer Chain, Stavesacre, and Starflyer 59 - the latter two being bands that Denison Marrs were able to tour with. Their first album, "Holding Hands @ 35,000 Ft.", set the stage for a successful run as a band with a serious cult following. Taking all of the typical traits of the emo/space rock genre and tweaking them just a bit, Denison Marrs presented a sound full of melodic hooks and firmamental lyrics, backed by solid drum beats, innovative bass lines, and elegant guitar work. "World Renown for Romance" remains their most popular record, and is arguably their best. The songwriting is cohesive - it's a concept album about love, for starters - and the quality of the arrangements and performances are consistent from one song to the next. For the third record, entitled "Then is the New Now", the band chose to proceed in a different direction. There is more of an effort to bring a brighter, pop production to the songs, and while some of the tracks suffer because of this, the successes ("What Life Has", "This Must Be Love") are certainly noticeable. The final release from Denison Marrs was an eponymous record that moved back towards darker territory, albeit without long-time drummer Jon Bucklew, who had left the band to join Copeland. His drum seat was a very difficult one to fill, but Dean Lorenz did an excellent job. Long-time fans began reinvesting in the band when they announced their break-up earlier in 2006.