Rise to Remain was an English, London-based heavy metal band formed in 2006 and disbanded in 2015. The band made appearances at Download Festival, Sonisphere Festival and extensively toured the UK and Europe. The band released three EPs, the majority of which were "viral" releases, via their MySpace. On 16 March 2011 they signed their first major recording contract with EMI records, which was accompanied by the launch of their website and a free single download entitled "The Serpent". Their debut album, City of Vultures, was released on 5 September 2011, nearly a year after they had started work on recording the album. It was produced by revered metal producer Colin Richardson and Carl Bown. In 2014, the band released a new single entitled "Over and Over", which would be their last musical release.
The band were praised by magazines, such as Metal Hammer and Kerrang!, with the former releasing a scaled-down version of their first nationwide-release EP, Bridges Will Burn. They received radioplay through the likes of BBC Radio One and Total Rock, as well as having their music videos regularly rotated on Scuzz and Kerrang! TV. They were voted "Best New Band" at the 2010 Metal Hammer "Golden God Awards", an award decided by 400,000 votes around the globe, and the 2010 Kerrang! Award for "Best British Newcomer".
In January 2015 the band announced that they would be splitting up. Vocalist Austin Dickinson (son of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson), bassist Connor O'Keefe, and guitarist Will Homer subsequently formed a new band, As Lions.
History
Halide (2006–2008) They were formed in London, late 2006, by Ben Tovey (son of conductor Bramwell Tovey) and Will Homer (formerly of Hours Past) along with other schoolmates under the name "Halide" as a side project to several of the band's members other endeavors in music. Within a few months the band solidified their line-up, adding Austin Dickinson (formerly of The Oath and son of Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson) on vocals after their respective bands played a show together at the "Tufnell Park Dome" and began playing local gigs as well as travelling across the UK, seeking out more shows. Halide recorded one three-track EP, which saw a viral release through their Myspace. This eventually garnered attention from more legitimate local promoters, who granted the band further exposure by putting them on at slightly higher profile shows, namely with Biomechanical and other local heavyweights such as Eternal Lord and Exit Ten. The band then organised a UK tour, with them and local act Terrorlapse, as well as playing one-off supports to their peers in bands such as Viatrophy, Sylosis, Anterior and Malefice. In early 2008, whilst playing the Islington Academy supporting Sylosis, the band were offered the opening slot on the smaller, third stage of the Download Festival at Donington Park at 10:45 am. This opportunity lead to the band changing members, adding Joe Copcutt on bass and Pat Lundy on drums (both formerly of 12 Ton Method), and their name, switching from Halide, to Rise to Remain. However, they still retained early songs that would later be recorded for Rise to Remain, namely Purify, Illusive Existence, Salvation and Fracture.
Rise to Remain & Bridges Will Burn EP (2008–2010) The band swiftly changed their name to Rise to Remain, and played one last show as Halide at the Camden Rock Bar. The ensuing Download Festival performance drew minor attention to the band, and lead to them securing a booking agent, Paul Ryan. During the summer of 2008, the band undertook their first recording as Rise to Remain, creating the EP Becoming One. This was then self-released by the band.