First Decree

Formed by three siblings and a charismatic frontman in 2011, the classically trained Cheyenne, Wyoming, First Decree injected sounds popularized in the early aughts with some youthful energy and heart. Composed of frontman Travis James and the Lopez-Smith brothers (Dane on guitar, Zach on drums, and Isaac on bass), the foursome released their debut, Set in Stone, in 2013 and followed it with consistent touring (<a href="spotify:artist:6Ghvu1VvMGScGpOUJBAHNH">Deftones</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1UdQqCUR7RwB9YYJONwbdM">Trapt</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4jpaXieuls7LVzG1uma5Rs">Avatar</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6tbLPxj1uQ6vsRQZI2YFCT">In This Moment</a>). Their sound blended the hooks of <a href="spotify:artist:3YcBF2ttyueytpXtEzn1Za">Incubus</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2MqhkhX4npxDZ62ObR5ELO">Hoobastank</a>, the passion of <a href="spotify:artist:43sZBwHjahUvgbx1WNIkIz">Creed</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:4DWX7u8BV0vZIQSpJQQDWU">Alter Bridge</a>, and the soul of <a href="spotify:artist:35Uu85Pq33mK8x1jYqsHY2">Sevendust</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:37394IP6uhnjIpsawpMu4l">Killswitch Engage</a>. This brand of muscular modern rock and soulful vocals are combined with typical themes of distraught youth, confusion, and identity on their 2015 album, This Is Our Rise, which included head-banging singles "Phoenix" and "Lost in the Crowd." ~ Neil Z. Yeung