MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. -- A band comprised mainly of Yuma Marines was selected to compete against 13 other acts in the 6th annual Yuma Battle of the Bands May 8, 2010, at The Boneyard.
Drummer Cpl. Steven Ybarra, lead guitarist Cpl. Eddie Martinez, guitarist Cpl. Stephen Case and bassist Carlos Correa make up Earth Station Massacre, a melodic metal band that originated in 2007 as Alligator Death Roll in Okinawa, Japan, where the members were originally stationed.
Ybarra, embarkation chief for Combat Logistics Company 16, was the first to transfer to Yuma, followed by the rest of the band. “We want to keep making music,” said Ybarra. “We really want to get our name out there.”
Bassist Carlos Correa left the Marine Corps, but remained in Yuma to play with his friends. “We really like playing with each other a lot,” said Correa.
The band normally practices three or four times a week in Ybarra’s sound-proof room at his house.
The group is influenced by several bands including Protest the Hero, Avenged Sevenfold, August Burns Red, Sinister Gates and Iwrestledabearonce, said Case, Marine Air Control Squadron 1 communications technician.
Unlike other metal bands, Earth Station Massacre doesn’t rely on powerful vocals to relay a message. Instead, the music is the message, said Martinez, Marine Wing Support Squadron 371 field mess cook.
“We are instrumental because we want the people who don’t listen to metal to focus on our music,” said Ybarra.
Having recently reunited in Yuma, the group started playing together again, and only have five original songs in their current repertoire.
The band is, however, eager to show their stuff at the Battle of the Bands, whether they win or not. “If we don’t win, that’s alright,” said Correa. “We want to play and let people hear our music.”
Earth Station Massacre can be found on www.myspace.com/earthstationmassacre.
More information on the Yuma Battle of the Bands can be found at http://contests.yumasun.com/battleofthebands.