As the release date of their third album draws near, the members of Downstream said the material they’re creating is even better equipped to compete on the airwaves.
Writing for radio wasn’t the local alt-metal band’s intent, but as work progresses on the as-yet-untitled project, drummer Wes Hartman said there has been a shift toward producing more compact, catchier songs.
“We’re writing shorter and sweeter and leaving the crowd and the fans wanting more,” he said. “It’s ridiculous how much it reminds me of stuff that could be on the radio.
“There are a lot of hits in there, and I feel like it’s just got to get in the right hands.”
Fans eager to hear Downstream’s latest can see the band tonight at Rhythm & Brews alongside Black Betty and Birmingham’s Dangerous New Machine. Hartman said the set will include at least four new tracks they recorded in Orlando, Fla., with producer Brett Hestla, formerly of Creed, now with Dark New Day.
After the band formed in 2004, Downstream’s first release, 2007’s “Forsaken,” sold thousands of copies through grassroots marketing and at-show sales. Their sophomore release, 2009’s “Darkest Day,” performed equally well, with increased emphasis on digital distribution, Hartman said.
For their third album, Hartman said the band has benefited not only from higher production values but from increased maturity as songwriters, which has enabled them to trim the fat without losing lyrical depth or emotional resonance.
Downstream spent about a year playing a slew of shows, saving as much as possible in order to foot the bill for their recording sessions with Hestla. With a late-spring release date in sight, the chance to play their own music again is a welcome break, Hartman said.
“This show is going to be major,” he said of tonight’s show. “Hopefully, with the footwork we’ve been doing, maybe we’ll get some new faces. They’ll get to hear some of the new tracks live for the first time, and we’ll go ahead and snatch them up.”
Contact Casey Phillips at cphillips@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6205.
IF YOU GO
* What: Downstream with Black Betty and Dangerous New Machine.
* When: 10 p.m. today.
* Where: Rhythm & Brews, 221 Market St.
* Admission: $7.
* Phone: 267-4644.
* Venue website: www.rhythm-brews.com.
* Related links: www.myspace.com/downstream