MACHINA, the Little Rock, Arkansas-based band featuring former EVANESCENCE and current WE ARE THE FALLEN members John LeCompt and Rocky Gray, recently entered the studio with producer Toby Wright (METALLICA, SLAYER, ALICE IN CHAINS, SOULFLY, FEAR FACTORY) to begin mixing its debut album, "To Live And Die In The Garden Of Eden", for a tentative late 2009/early 2010 release via an as-yet-undetermined record label.

Commented LeCompt: "Sitting in the studio with Toby Wright putting the finishing touches on this masterpiece.

"It's been a long hard road but ultimately will have been worth it.

"All of the ups and downs we've been through making this record are imprinted on it and make it very personal to us, and make it a truly realized piece of art.

"In spite of label backing and limited capital, we have managed to not cut any corners and have every detail covered.

"Five of the songs have string arrangements in accompaniment to the balls-deep rock and roll on this album. It is raw, fresh, reminiscent and beautiful all at the same time. This is not just a record, it has a soul.

"Mastering will be complete sometime this coming month and 'To Live And Die In The Garden Of Eden' will be shopped to labels. Our management will take it and run with it to build a plan for the best opportunity for MACHINA.

"I know it has been a while, but trust me when I say it will have been worth the wait."

In early 2008, MACHINA collaborated with Mick Mars of MÖTLEY CRÜE on a new song entitled "Save You". The sessions took place between February 8 and February 10, 2008 (Grammy weekend) in Los Angeles at Mick Mars' personal studio. The track will feature guitar work by Mars and LeCompt, vocals by Phil Taylor, drums by Rocky Gray and bass by Thad Ables. Footage of the sessions can be seen below.

MACHINA previously released a self-titled, six-song EP, which has received play on XM Satellite Radio and rock stations nationwide by virtue of the buzz the band has generated.

LeCompt formed MACHINA with former FUTURE LEADERS OF THE WORLD vocalist Phil Taylor, and the two are the group's songwriters as well. The lineup also includes bassist Thad Ables and drummer Rocky Gray, LeCompt's fellow EVANESCENCE alumnus. Longtime friends, John and Rocky have also played together in the groups KILL SYSTEM, SOUL EMBRACED and MOURNINGSIDE.

LeCompt and Gray started playing with EVANESCENCE in 2002, before they were Grammy-honored as 2003's Best New Artist. They both left the band in mid-2007.

With MACHINA, LeCompt is relishing artistic and creative freedom in his songwriting partnership with Taylor and the band's grass roots touring exploits. "Everything blew up so fast with EVANESCENCE," he remembers. "We were instantly rock stars, everything was taken care of. With this project, we started from scratch and we're having to prove ourselves. We've had exciting response playing out live, and a lot of people know our stuff already. The crowds are growing in size and enthusiasm at every show, we can really feel things building."

For more information, visit www.machinarock.com.

Photo credit: Nelson Chenault