by Eduardo RivadaviaHailing from Middletown, NY, My Bitter End emerged from the remnants of an earlier band named ForOrdained, and recorded their first album, A Thin Line Between Heaven and Here, for release through Inner Strength Records, in 2004. The bandmembers weren't too happy with the somewhat muddled, indistinctive metalcore results, however, so after parting ways with the label, their singer, and one of two guitarist, My Bitter End's new lineup of Tyler Guida (vocals), Todd Ranne (guitar), AJ Tompkins (guitar), Shawn Jennings (bass), and Michael Ranne (drums) upped the creative ante in terms of both musicianship and compositional ambition for their 2006 follow-up, The Renovation. Released through Uprising Records, the sophomore disc indeed featured a far more complex array of metal and hardcore influences, and set them up for a national tour with Emmure and For the Fallen Dreams.