Gaining fans across the world, Lionize takes pride in their original sound, DIY work ethic and fiery live shows. DESTRUCTION MANUAL, (produced by J. Robbins of Jawbox) finds the band continuing its exploration of the stoner-rock, funk and reggae landscapes.


This twelve-song LP calls to mind classic reggae and rock albums with a decidedly modern spin. The band’s foundation on drums and bass are LaMel Randolgh and Henry Upton who hint at a rock-and-roll version of Sly and Robbie joined with the classic scorching Hammond organ and key sounds from Chris Brooks and the commanding guitar and vocal work of Nathan Bergman. Reggae heavyweights David Hinds and Selwyn Brown of Steel Pulse lend their vocal talents on the track Killers and Crooks as well as stalwart guitar work from Tim Sult of Clutch who also lends his talents throughout this record. Lionize continues to tour over 200 dates a year, having been tapped to open up for bands such as Clutch, Galactic, Steel Pulse and Bad Brains. Lionize also pulled double duty backing and supporting Lee “Scratch” Perry, garnering a slew of positive reviews.


Between recording in Kingston, Jamaica with Sidney Mills (Steel Pulse), collaborating on and off stage with artists such as Ozomatli and Chali 2na, and supporting heavy metal favorites Kylesa and cKy, the band begins 2011 on quite an auspicious note. – last.fm

"Formed by singer Dallas Taylor shortly after he was bounced from the long-running Christian metalcore act Underoath (rumor has it that the rest of the band considered Taylor's marriage proposal to his longtime girlfriend evidence of insufficient devotion to the Rock), Maylene and the Sons of Disaster are something of a stylistic change. Although they share Underoath's hardcore roots, there's an old-school vibe to Maylene and the Sons of Disaster's sound that suggests the generation of 1970s boogie rockers that the punks were supposed to have destroyed. Taylor's throaty bark of a voice is intimately connected to the post-hardcore and screamo scenes, but it meshes with Josh Cornutt and Scott Collum's swaggering guitar riffs and the looser than usual rhythm section of bassist Roman Havaland and drummer Lee Turner to create a mixture of vintage Southern rock boogie and punky aggression that at times sounds like a new-millennium version of Humble Pie or .38 Special. Named after the notorious 1930s bank robber Maylene "Ma" Barker and her murderous sons, whose local criminal reign is now fodder for tourists in Taylor's hometown of Ocala, FL -- a commentary on how even the most violent and amoral acts can eventually become light entertainment -- Taylor formed Maylene and the Sons of Disaster in Birmingham, AL, in 2004; signing with the Christian metal label Mono vs. Stereo, the group released their self-titled debut album the following year. Following a period of personnel uncertainty during which Taylor flirted with joining a new band with some former Underoath members and former From First to Last singer Phil Readon, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster announced that their second album, imaginatively titled Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Vol. 2, was due in the spring of 2007. It then appeared that March." - AllMusicGuide