Eyes Set to Kill vocalist Alexia Rodriguez has always been shy. That’s why it was such a shock when she stepped up as a lead vocalist in the band.
“At first, I didn’t even talk to the crowd, like in between songs I wouldn’t say anything,” Rodriguez said. “It was weird to have people stare at me and wait for me to say something, but it helped me to open up.”
Screamo/metal-core band Eyes Set to Kill will play the Picador, 330 E. Washington St., at 6 p.m. Oct. 25 as part of Revolver magazine’s sponsored tour. LoveHateHero, Dreaming of Eden, From Citizen to Soldier, and Of Flesh Unseen will also perform.
“It’s been really cool because it’s our first time to actually have a bunch of people coming out for us,” Rodriguez said. “It’s really interesting to see how diverse our fans are. We’ve got some gothic kids and then some emo/screamoish kids and scene kids. It’s just really cool to see everyone connecting through our music.”
Two of the opening bands — From Citizen to Soldier and Of Flesh Unseen — are from Iowa, and they will compete for a place on Eyes Set to Kill’s label, Breaksilence Records.
“Of Flesh Unseen is always awesome,” said Jack Hanneman, who handles promotions and security for the Picador. “In my opinion, it is the best underground death-metal band in Iowa.”
Breaksilence Records is an up-and-coming label that gives a lot of younger bands a chance to make it big. This was the case for Eyes Set to Kill — all of its members are in their early 20s.
In fact, Rodriguez and sister Anissa Rodriguez formed the band in 2001 to cope with tough times in high school. Many of the songs on the group’s first album, Reach, were written before they even graduated.
The 21-year-old Alexia Rodriguez became the lead vocalist in Eyes Set to Kill after the original singer, Lindsey Vogt, quit the band in 2007. She also plays guitar and piano. Rodriguez trades off vocals with screamer and keyboardist Brandon Anderson. Rounding out the band are lead guitarist Greg Kerwin, bassist Anissa Rodriguez, and drummer Caleb Clifton.
In June, Eyes Set to Kill released its follow-up album, The World Outside, and began seeing more fans at shows.
“I think it’s a lot more mature,” Alexia Rodriguez said. “We all collaborated instead of just me dominating.”
Everyone in the group became closer during the recording process of the album, she said — the band members even share a tattoo.
“We’re all obsessed with [Nintendo’s] Zelda,” she said. “We all have this Zelda triforce tattoo.”
In November 2008, the Rodriguez sisters were featured as part of Revolver magazine’s “Hottest Chicks In Metal” issue. The vocalist said she thought being featured in the magazine was a very positive experience.
“The people at Revolver really support our music, and they did before they even knew me and Anissa,” Rodriguez said. “I mean if it were in Playboy, I’d have to say it would be a negative thing, but because it’s a well-known metal magazine, I think it’s a pretty good thing.”
Rodriguez said the band puts on a “refreshing” show, and she tries her best to maintain the songs’ emotions live.
“I try to remember what each song means to me,” she said. “A lot of the time when people come see us, they really are connecting to the songs, and I want to make sure that they don’t think I’m one of those singers who go on stage just because they’re getting paid.”