Guitarist
Wes Borland will perhaps forever be best known as a member of one of the more predictable/one-dimensional (yet quite popular) hard rock bands of the late '90s and early 21st century --
Limp Bizkit. But upon his second exit from the band (shortly after the release of 2005's lukewarm
The Unquestionable Truth, Pt. 1),
Borland looked for his next project to be more musically varied, quirky, and unpredictable. No stranger to oddball side projects (just check out the one-and-only release by
Bigdumbface,
Duke Lion Fights the Terror!!, for the proof),
Borland also sought something a bit more permanent, which led to the formation of
Black Light Burns. While some of the material had been demoed years earlier, it wasn't until
Borland decided that he was going to pull double duty as the band's lead vocalist -- and the enlistment of former
Nine Inch Nails member
Danny Lohner -- that the project came to life. With
Lohner supplying bass,
Joshua Eustis playing keyboards, and studio vet
Josh Freese keeping the beat,
Black Light Burns recorded what was to become the group's debut full-length, 2007's
Cruel Melody (the first release for former
Limp Bizkit producer
Ross Robinson's new label, I Am: Wolfpack). But with none of the other contributors willing to commit to touring in support of the album,
Borland enlisted the aid of a whole new supporting cast for the road -- including second guitarist Nick Annis, bassist Sean Fetterman and drummer
Marshall Kilpatric (the latter of whom is a former member of
the Esoteric). For fans wondering if
Borland would truly commit long-term to the band, he has confirmed that a second album was nearly halfway penned right around the release of
Cruel Melody. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide