My Ticket Home
In 2017, after a few changes in band members, My Ticket Home solidified their lineup with Nick Giumenti (lead vocals/bass guitar), Marshal Giumenti (drums/backing vocals), Derek Blevins (rhythm guitar/backing vocals), and Matt Galluci (lead guitar/backing vocals), while putting aside concerns of not fitting into any particular music scene.
My Ticket Home
The end result was perhaps My Ticket Home’s most authentic album, unReal, released in October 2017. With this album, the quartet showcases their desire to make music they feel is true to themselves, regardless of the music business and fans.
In an interview with Revolver Magazine, Giumenti explained My Ticket Home’s approach to unReal:
You have to try not to care about the money and the sales and try to focus on the music, but at the same time, that's the yardstick that everyone judges your band by. It's really hard not to fall into that trap. The minute you do, the music takes a back seat. Then what's the point? You're just another business.
As a whole, the 13-track album cuts out many of the key elements of the band’s earlier sound, particularly a distinct lack of metalcore breakdowns. Instead, the band incorporates multiple elements of grunge and nu metal, most clearly heard in Giumenti’s vocals, which rasp with angst reminiscent of ‘90s grunge acts. Their nu metal elements are seen in their fast but groovy guitar riffs.
A powerful example of this is “Hyperreal,” the second single off unReal. The song kicks off with a set of dissonant notes played on down-tuned guitars. Fast-paced, crunchy power chords follow, adding to the energy of to the track and providing some catchy, but simple head-bang material in the vein of classic grunge. Keeping with the straightforwardness of both nu metal and grunge, the verse repeats the dissonant notes of the introduction while the chorus is sung on top of the intro’s collection of power chords. Much like Kurt Cobain, Giumenti opts for softer vocals during the verses and louder vocals (sometimes yelling) during the chorus, a trend that is seen throughout much of unReal.
Someone would suggest something and we'd be like, 'Dude, that's not us.' But is it cool in the song? If it's cool in the song, guess what? We're doing it.”
It’s indeed different sound from their early years. Formed as a metalcore group in Columbus, Ohio in 2008, they embodied that sound early into their career, with drop-tuned guitars, crushing breakdowns, screamed verses, and catchy, sung choruses. With two EPs and one full-length album, 2012’s To Create a Cure, My Ticket Home quickly grew a cadre of fans.
With unReal, the band refuses to let itself be comfortable simply because they’ve expanded their horizons. Giumenti recalls their process in the studio. He mentions to Revolver, "Someone would suggest something and we'd be like, 'Dude, that's not us.' But is it cool in the song? If it's cool in the song, guess what? We're doing it.”
As seen in unReal, the group soon made it a focus to expand their horizons with music that was unique to them, without being hindered by the fear of any backlash. Their authenticity has proved well for them, with the success of unReal landing My Ticket Home a spot on the 2017 US tour with rockers Nothing More, exposing them to potential new legions of fans.
Check out unReal here.
