Rock bands aren’t supposed to sound this alive this late in the game. But The Fell isn’t a nostalgia act, a side hustle, or a legacy cash-in. It’s the sound of
Rock bands aren’t supposed to sound this alive this late in the game. But The Fell aren’t interested in nostalgia, side hustles, or victory laps. Their music, captured on the debut EP Killswitch and the single “Footprints”sounds like a band pushing forward with purpose, urgency, and something to prove to themselves more than anyone else.
Fusing soaring vocals, elite musicianship, and modern rock production, The Fell land somewhere between melody and muscle, balancing heavy riffs with hooks built to stick. The songs feel cinematic but immediate, grounded in classic hard-rock instincts and sharpened by contemporary edge. It’s music designed for stages and speakers alike—tight, intentional, and alive.The band began when guitarist and producer Mike Krompass started chasing something less calculated than his previous work. “I just wanted to do something that wasn’t what I was already doing,” he says. “Something more soul-fulfilling.” Writing riffs that leaned toward groove and melody rather than pure shred, Krompass followed a hunch and reached out—via Facebook—to one of rock’s most respected bass players. I hopped into his DMs like a dirty little boy,” Krompass laughs. “I didn’t even know if it was going to be a band yet. That message landed with Billy Sheehan, whose résumé stretches from underground hard rock to arena-sized success. But pedigree wasn’t what pulled him in.If The Fell have a backbone, it’s Sheehan. Long before platinum records, he rewired expectations for bass guitar with Talas, then became a defining force, along with guitar virtuoso Steve Vai and drummer Greg Bissonette, in David Lee Roth’s first band after leaving Van Halen, a moment that helped reshape the ’80s rock landscape. With Mr. Big, he proved virtuosity and hit songwriting didn’t have to cancel each other out. “Although it’s just new people with a new thing,” Sheehan says of The Fell, “it’s new blood with new points of view.” When Krompass played him early demos, Sheehan didn’t wait for a pitch meeting. “I stopped him and said, ‘Wait, wait—what are you doing with this? You want to start a band?’”I’m a song guy,” Sheehan says. “Without songs, there’s no place to put those things.” He points to the density of melody across the EP. “These songs have great hooks—two or three per song. The pre-chorus is a hook, the chorus is a hook, the verse has hooks in it. At this stage of his career, Sheehan isn’t chasing flash. “Solos were originally designed so the other guys in the band could go get a beer,” he says, laughing. “They’re not a necessity.” What matters is foundation. “I love giving a good base so you can really hear Toby’s voice and Mike’s guitar on top of it. That’s where the power is.” “There’s nothing here where I’m thinking, ‘I don’t know about this song,’” he adds. “That’s rare. When that happens, you pay attention.”That voice belongs to Toby Rand, whose performances balance raw aggression with precision. Raised on relentless gigging in Australia, Rand brings both stamina and restraint to The Fell’s sound. Mike’s really efficient at getting ideas across,” Rand says. “You keep the spark alive.” Many of the band’s songs began simply, acoustic guitar and vocals, before being built into something massive. “Sometimes you hear rock that’s full of solos but there’s no melody,” he says. “This has it all. We can stretch our legs without disappointing the song. Rand credits experience for his vocal command. “I know how to use my technique without hurting myself and still bring that roar,” he says. “It’s not very rock and roll, but you’re not a rock star unless you get on stage and sing well.” That balance is especially clear on “Footprints,” the band’s latest single and a key piece of The Fell’s origin story. It was one of the first completed songs we made together,” Rand says. Lyrically, it reflects hard-earned perspective. “‘Footprints’ is about realizing that sometimes we wander down the wrong path and have to retrace our steps—to see where we went wrong and where we found success.As guitarist and producer, Krompass serves as The Fell’s architect, shaping performances without sanding off their edges. “There’s not a ton of thought,” he says. “You just play what the song requires.” His rhythm-first approach locks tightly with Sheehan’s bass, giving the songs weight without clutter. That chemistry is on full display on “Kill Switch,” the band’s debut single and the backbone of the EP. Built around a relentless bass riff, the track doubles as a mission statement. “If you want to know what the sound of The Fell is,” Krompass says, “Kill Switch is a good example of how we play.”Holding it all together is drummer Nick Chiarore, whose résumé includes work with Steve Vai, Slash, and Dead Romantic. His precision and feel give The Fell their momentum. “Nick—he’s incredible live,” Krompass says. “Great energy, great feel. He’s like all of my favorite drummers rolled into one. If you want that Jeff Porcaro thing, if you want some shred, he’s got it.” “Bass locks into drums,” Sheehan adds. “That’s what gives you a foundation for vocals and guitars. Then you hear a song.”The Fell take their name from Old English—fell meaning a rugged highland or mountain. It’s an apt symbol for a band built on shared history but driven by forward motion. Their music doesn’t deny where they’ve been; it simply refuses to stay there. Originally filmed years ago in a World War II–era underground bunker in Warsaw, Poland, the long-delayed “Footprints” video, recently completed with new footage, mirrors the band’s journey: patient, deliberate, and ultimately realized on their own terms.With Killswitch and “Footprints” and the beginning dates of a nationwide tour recently released, The Fell aren’t chasing relevance or rewriting the past. They’re building something loud and deliberate at altitude, confident enough to let experience speak, and focused enough to keep climbing.REYNOSA, Mexico - A shelter in place warning has been issued for U.S. Citizens currently in some areas in Mexico after the death of a notorious cartel leader.BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Deputies are responding to a barricaded subject incident in Northwest Bexar County.The area will be impacted until the situation has beenA 35-year-old man was arrested late Friday night after allegedly assaulting two police officers during a disturbance call on the city’s North Side.SAN ANTONIO — Tuesday will mark three years since Raymond Najera's father Ramon Najera's was killed on the West Side.Raymon and his wife were attacked by dogsCity Council will meet Monday after calling for an investigation into Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones.The investigation was ordered because of “repeated instances” of un
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