Long Island, NY's From Autumn to Ashes has gained a reputation for being one of the more melodic bands in the East Coast hardcore scene. Some purists, however, will argue that From Autumn to Ashes (FATA for short) isn't hardcore in the true sense -- that even though the band's alternative pop/rock contains hardcore and metalcore elements, FATA doesn't play pure, unadulterated, 100 percent hardcore. And Francis Mark, the band's drummer and one of its two lead vocalists, certainly hasn't claimed to be a purist; he has been quoted as saying, "It's almost like we're a band with an identity crisis" and that FATA's sound involves a variety of ingredients -- some from hardcore and metalcore, some from outside of hardcore and metalcore. Like Hopesfall, FATA is a band that thrives on heaven/hell contrasts -- heaven being a strong sense of melody, hell being the tortured, screaming, metalcore-style vocals of Benjamin Perri. While Perri's vocal style would be right at home in a blistering metalcore outfit like Throwdown, Rotten Sound, or Brick Bath, FATA doesn't sound like any of those bands. Overall, FATA's work is quite melody-minded -- even lush at times -- and Perri's harshness contrasts with the band's musicianship, which isn't nearly as unforgiving as his vocals. Perri's approach also contrasts with Mark's lead vocals; while Perri is the designated screamer, Mark is FATA's kinder, gentler, more conventional lead vocalist. Without Perri, FATA wouldn't be all that different from a mainstream MTV favorite like Chicago's Smashing Pumpkins.

From Autumn to Ashes was formed on New York City's Long Island suburbs in 2000. After creating a buzz on the Long Island music scene, the band recorded its debut album, Too Bad You're Beautiful, for the small Ferret Music label in 2001; despite having limited distribution, the album sold more than 50,000 units. In 2002, FATA (which has been on the Warped Tour at least twice) recorded an EP titled Sin, Sorrow and Sadness, which was released on the Tribunal label -- and in 2003, the band recorded its second full-length album, The Fiction We Live, for Vagrant Records.  They will release their new album Abandon Your Friends in August.