CasioRobinson
CasioRobinson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Toxic 45 (2016-2018), Jumpstart (2014-2016) |
| Origin | St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | djent, progressive metal, progressive metalcore |
| Years active | 2014-2024 |
| Labels | Chronically Online Music Co., Asscrack Records, Hyperfollow Records, C&R Music, Unsigned |
| Associated acts | Behold Here's Poison, Parabola, Neo-Deconstructionists, The Deviled Egg Conspiracy |
| Website | https://www.casiorobinson.com |
| Members | Casio Robinson (2014-2024) |
| Past members | Violet Sage (2021-2023), Jonas Maloy (2020-2023), Colin Stratford (2016-2021), Taj McGlamery (2014-2020) |
CasioRobinson was a Canadian-American progressive metalcore project formed by multi-instrumentalist Casio Robinson in Connecticut, in 2014. Its musical style has been described as djent, progressive metal, progressive metalcore, metalcore, experimental metal, & metalcore fusion.
Since the 2022 debut One Of Us Is Lying, the project released four other albums: I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND, In Light Of Recent Events, What Do I Put Here?, & An Endless Break. All material was self-produced by Robinson.
Formation[edit]
Beginning in 2014, the band Jumpstart was a duo, with Robinson on vocals and guitar, and McGlamery on drums and backing vocals. They posted a few covers and one or two originals, including the 2015 single "How I Feel", which is still up on streaming to this day. As both members were only seven years old at the time, they wouldn't be serious about making music until 2016.
Lineup Changes[edit]
In 2016, Robinson and McGlamery decided to change the band name to Toxic 45, welcoming drummer Colin Stratford. McGlamery then became the guitarist for the band and Robinson switched to bass. They released some singles, an EP, and a full-length album over the course of two years, but all of the releases were either deleted later or not officially distributed.
In 2018, Stratford moved to California, and McGlamery ended up leaving the band later in the year over creative differences. This is when Robinson was the only member and decided to change the name to CasioRobinson, making it his solo project. This promptly backfired, however, because McGlamery almost immediately rejoined, and Stratford moved back to Connecticut. This trio remained until late 2020, when McGlamery left the band and never rejoined, despite being on good terms with Robinson. The unofficial album Two Sided was made during this time.
Jonas Maloy was introduced to the band that year, but did not officially announce his joining until early 2021. Sadly, Stratford passed away on February 9, 2021, and Robinson and Maloy remained a duo. They began work on what would become the first officially released album, One Of Us Is Lying.
In December of 2021, Violet Sage joined the band as they prepared to release the debut record in February of 2022. Despite her joining, Maloy and Robinson continued being the backbone of the band for the EP The Promise You Left Behind and album I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.
To everyone's shock, on January 11, 2023, the band announced they had parted ways with Maloy without any context. Robinson much later in the year stated it was an amicable split, and that he and Maloy are on good terms after the whole mess. He also announced that Maloy would feature on the song "Mountain" on the last album.
On December 9, 2023, the band announced that Sage had been fired. Robinson himself elaborated saying she was no longer associated with the band at all and that any of her previous song contributions will be listed as features.
On January 23, 2024, Robinson announced in an Instagram post that after 10 years of making music, CasioRobinson will finally be meeting an end for the forseeable future. He noted that as he is getting serious about production and writing with other bands, as well as looking for colleges and working a job, he is unable to continue making his own music due to not having enough time. However, he said that this is not a definite end, just that he will be focusing on working with his bands Behold Here's Poison, Neo Deconstructionists, and Parabola. The final album, An Endless Break, was released on March 1, 2024.
Albums[edit]
Unofficial[edit]
Two Sided (May 2020 - October 2020)[edit]
Two Sided technically is CasioRobinson's debut album, released on October 5, 2020 on an unsigned label. The album was produced by Taj McGlamery and mastered by Casio Robinson. The lead single Let Go became an instant success, being very radio-friendly. The album features a post-grunge and alternative rock sound with songs like Follow, The Bloodline, and Stay With Me, while also featuring ballads like The Only One and Away. The album closes off with a hardcore 20-second instrumental named The Second Side. It received mixed but majorly negative reviews, with an average score of 3.8/10, mostly due to sloppy lyricism and low level production.
Two Sided (Remixed/Remastered 2022)[edit]
The debut album was remixed and remastered by Robinson in 2022 and replaced the original. This featured a completely revamped edition of The Only One while only improving the band's first breakthrough song Let Go.
Official[edit]
One Of Us Is Lying (April 2021 - February 2022)[edit]
One Of Us Is Lying became CasioRobinson's classic album, released on February 20, 2022 on Hyperfollow Records. It was produced and mastered by Casio Robinson. This album marked the beginning of a new era for the band, migrating from a modern rock and alternative rock sound in the previous album to a theme of pop punk and melodic metalcore. The album's lead single On The Edge was an instant hit due to its rock radio formula and catchiness while still garnering angst with a screamed second verse. Its subsequent single "Bury Me" featured darker edges and a screamed outro. The third single On My Own caught listeners by surprise as it was full on angsty metalcore with screamed verses and a jackhammering breakdown. The album received positive reviews with an average score of 7.5/10.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND (July 2022 - September 2022)[edit]
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND is the band's transition album, released on September 16, 2022 via Asscrack Records. It was produced and mastered by Casio Robinson. It featured generally heavier metalcore tracks like Monster (ft. GLITCHKNIFE) and Swan Song, while still keeping a lighter side with songs like Flames and Pressed Records (I Totally Understand Our Extermination). However, the main talking point is the lead single, Blackout, which was the project's first track to get over 1000 Spotify streams. Naturally, this brought in lots of attention and excitement towards the album's release. It got mixed ratings with an average score of 5.5/10.
In Light Of Recent Events (August 2022–April 2023)[edit]
In Light Of Recent Events is the band's widely regarded magnum opus, released on March 3, 2023 via Asscrack Records. It was produced and mastered by Casio Robinson. The album was, as noted by multiple reviewers, extremely diverse with stellar innovation, while keeping a solid genre and progression. The album was a commercial sensation receiving 1296 streams in only two days after its release, significant numbers for a group this small. In Light Of Recent Events reveals a strikingly creative and progressive side of the band, as shown in tracks like I Can't Because I Need To Feed My Pet Rock, In Light Of Recent Events, and When One Door Closes, Buy Another One And Open It Yourself. As anti-mainstream as this album gets, it also features radio hits like the lead single Postcard and Silence (Shut Up With All Due Disrespect). The main talking point is the title track, In Light Of Recent Events, since it is almost 14 minutes long and is made to represent the jumble of emotions that are felt when losing somebody close to you. The penultimate track My Friend, is filled with raw emotion and melancholic note choices and even features a saxophone lead. Robinson has said that the album is based on a concept of losing someone very close to you, and that he is working on a book elaborating on the concept. This album received perfect ratings, with an average score of 9.4/10.
What Do I Put Here? (April 2023–November 2023)[edit]
What Do I Put Here? is the band's most well-developed album that showcases their musicianship and growth, released on November 10, 2023 via Asscrack Records, produced & mastered by frontman Casio Robinson. The album was a sensation amongst the metalcore and progressive metal/djent communities alike, with a good score of 7.7/10. Critics noted how the production significantly improved and how much better the vocals sound in terms of projection and accuracy. One noted that Robinson "came into his own" on this record, and that the band "found music they are good at making". Other critics praised the addition of female vocal accents from co-vocalist Violet Sage, evident on songs like Bones and Nine. Overall, reviewers and critics alike praised the album for diving deep into the world of technicality, polyrhythms and odd time signatures, and "executing them well".
An Endless Break (October 2023–April 2024)[edit]
An Endless Break took the formula from its predecessor and bombastically elaborated on it. It was released March 1, 2024 via Chronically Online Music Co, and was produced and mastered by Casio Robinson. This is the project's last release, and is widely regarded as the best-sounding one of them all. Critics noted this album combines In Light Of Recent Events and What Do I Put Here?, being described as "easily the most progressive and groove-focused record of them all". The song Heaven (ft. Ava Toton), a 12-minute juggernaut of a track, is believed to be the best track on the album by many reviewers. Robinson has said that while not everybody will like this record, he is proud of it and created it for himself, as this is the first time in four years that his solo project was truly a solo project. The last song, potentially the last song in the discography, clocks in at nothing short of 14 minutes and 5 seconds. The lyrics reflect on the past of the band and the track ends with five minutes of rawly recorded melancholic yet triumphant piano. Robinson elaborated on why he chose to end it like that- "It's because the first song we ever distributed officially was badly recorded piano with vocals, and I made it a point to rawly record the end of It Is Finished on the exact same piano, ten years later." Contrary to Robinson's prediction, the record received positive reviews, with an average score of 9.2/10.
Album concept[edit]
Robinson did a video explaining why and how An Endless Break is a concept album. The album tells a story about the modern-day Christian, being swayed and influenced by the world around him, sometimes good, sometimes bad, and in the end he dies and doesn't know where he is going.
Spherica: The album begins with the protagonist questioning why the world is so messed up, mostly referring to the wars going on currently. It also touches on how people will change their minds "when the world disassembles".
Salem: The protagonist toys with the idea of rejecting his religion because his life is falling apart but he can't seem to make the commitment to one of the other.
Psycho: The protagonist decides to follow Christianity, feeling good that others are demonising him for it - "It feels good to be a psycho".
Anathema: This song focuses on horrors of the wars again as it references Spherica ("I walk through the Hadean times"), and the protagonist feels tortured by the overwhelming worry. He calls out to heaven and receives no answer.
Normal: This is the only song on the album that isn't a part of the story. Robinson says it's just a personal song he wanted to make, about how he feels like he's too different to be accepted anywhere, and how the most basic "copy-paste" people are worshipped.
Mountain: This continues the story from Salem, where the protagonist's faith keeps shifting depending on what happens around him as he has no real base.
Hypnos: The protagonist enters the darkest times yet, with the song being written about temptation and darker themes like satanism and witchcraft. It's about how these forces are behind his torturing thoughts, and how they are getting to him.
Heaven: This is the big event, when judgement day comes (this was foretold in Salem, "..when the day of judgement comes"); the protagonist dies and is face to face with God, being judged on how hot & cold his life was.
It Is Finished: The song begins with Robinson reflecting on the past ten years making music, and it later develops back into the album's story. The story picks up with the protagonist enjoying his last few days until he is eventually cast into hell for eternity. The lyrics and the song title also cite the Bible verse John 19:30 (NIV): “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, 'It is finished,' and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit”.
Announcements & An Endless Break[edit]
In October 2023, Robinson stated in a short instagram video that the band is working on a full-length concept album, alongside the release of What Do I Put Here?. Since then, the band has been silent on the topic so that fans can take in the new record before anything else.
During this time period, Violet Sage was fired.
In December 2023, Robinson announced he will be taking a short hiatus, to focus on creating with his new bands Behold Here's Poison and Parabola. However he assured that new music is on the way, and on December 25 he shared an instagram video showing him working on (presumably) a new CasioRobinson song.
That song ended up being named Spherica, and on January 5, 2024, the dual singles Spherica / Hypnos were released. Robinson then dropped an album announcement out of nowhere a couple days later, stating the album would be named An Endless Break, and that it is scheduled for release on March 8, 2024.
Drama had been surrounding the band after allegations surfaced against Maloy that he had allegedly kissed an 11-year old girl, however, on January 11, 2024, Robinson publicly posted that these allegations are false and went on to give evidence against it, as the proof that was used to support the allegation was a faked screenshot. He also went on to say that Maloy would be featured on a track on the upcoming final album, as a way to come full circle.
Robinson and Tanner Tholl announced via their new record label Chronically Online Music Co. that the last single before the album release, Salem, would be released on February 2, 2024.
On April 6, 2024, Robinson released a full cover of Until The End by Breaking Benjamin. "Breaking Benjamin are the band that inspired me to make music and will forever be my number one favourite band," he stated, "I figured I'd close out by finally covering the first Breaking Benjamin song I ever heard."
There are, however, speculations online that An Endless Break is not the last album.
Musical Style & Influences[edit]
In their early years, the band and their works were described by some sources as alternative rock, post-grunge, and Christian rock. The band members' beliefs, and the themes in their music, also led to their genre being described as Christian.
Influences for the group's first three albums were revealed to be Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, and Bring Me The Horizon. Influences for newer music are Animals As Leaders, The Devil Wears Prada, and Periphery.
In 2022, Maloy stated in response to a question as to whether they still considered their music to be Christian based that, "We have not promoted the band as being Christian for a looong time. The band has had some Christian members but I wouldn't say we see ourselves that way."
Late 2023 brought up the question once more, and this time Robinson answered that he himself is a Christian, and that "whether or not you consider my music to be Christian is totally up to you, but I don't generally center my writing around Christian themes". That statement didn't last long though, as the last album was a concept centred around Christianity and faith.
Members[edit]
Final Lineup[edit]
- Casio Robinson – clean/harsh vocals, guitars, drums (2021–2024), bass, production (2014–2024)
Honourary Members[edit]
- Simon "YoungWiz" Keno – sampling, sound design, general songwriting, musical & lyrical concepts (2022–2024)
- Kasper Ozchedusko – additional guitars, lead guitars (2023–2024)
Former[edit]
- Violet Sage – clean/harsh collaborative vocals (2022–2023), keyboards, synths (2021–2023)
- Jonas Maloy – backing & lead vocals, keyboards, synths, programming, sampling, production (2020–2023)
- Colin Stratford – drums, synths, sound design, lyricism, engineering, production (2016–2021)
- Taj McGlamery – drums, sound design, production (2014–2020)
Discography[edit]
CasioRobinson has released five studio albums.
Studio albums[edit]
- One Of Us Is Lying (2022)
- I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND (2022)
- In Light Of Recent Events (2023)
- What Do I Put Here? (2023)
- An Endless Break (2024)
Awards and nominations[edit]
Underground Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Casio Robinson | Top Producer | Nominated |
| On The Edge | Song of the year | Nominated | |
| CasioRobinson | Best underground band | Nominated | |
| 2022 | CasioRobinson | Best underground band | Nominated |
| One Of Us Is Lying | Album of the year | Nominated | |
| 2023 | CasioRobinson | Best underground band | Nominated |
| In Light Of Recent Events | Album of the year | Won | |
| What Do I Put Here? | Album of the year | Nominated |
Hard Core Music Awards
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CasioRobinson | Best upcoming band | Nominated |
| 2022 | One Of Us Is Lying | Album of the year | Nominated |
| 2023 | In Light Of Recent Events | Album of the year | Won |
| Faceless | Song of the year | Nominated |
Songwriting and recording process[edit]
In all the band's album notes, all of the band's lyrics are said to be written by lead vocalist Casio Robinson while all members—as a band—were credited with writing the music.
With the exception of Two Sided, the band has always written in a secluded location to avoid being distracted. Robinson's lyrics have a strong feeling of catharsis for him. He mainly draws from personal experience and has described the band's angsty emotional sound as therapeutic. In 2021, when asked about the lyrics of Two Sided, as they had been criticised for their content solely fixated on heartbreak, resentment, and other themes that were called "shallow and meaningless", Robinson responded "I absolutely agree, Two Sided's lyrics mean nothing at all probably because I just thought of them on the spot while recording them!" Band members have described how the unofficial debut album was completely improvised with the lyrics really meaning nothing at all. This resulted in the band being unimpressed with the final product.
However, for the writing process of One Of Us Is Lying and subsequent albums, the band realised that they much preferred picking areas with less human contact in order to focus on the music; they wrote Who Killed Latin? (Unofficial) in Maloy's basement almost entirely in a period of three days. During the writing of Who Killed Latin?, Maloy wrote only five melodies of his keyboard parts of the album, mostly relying on Robinson to write the rest.
Casio Robinson has stated that the typical writing process involves Jonas Maloy –later Robinson himself when Maloy left the band– writing the structure of the songs, followed by Robinson roughly recording the entire drum part. From this they would collaborate with each other to structure the guitar parts followed by bass and finally keyboards. The writing dynamic of One Of Us Is Lying was solely Robinson, as Maloy had moved during the making of the album. As the band took a short hiatus before writing One Of Us Is Lying, they felt less of a need for an isolated writing environment.
In Light Of Recent Events was entirely written, recorded, and produced by Casio Robinson in the span of six months. As aforementioned, he drew from personal experience using the album as a sort of catharsis. This was vividly expressed in the title track. It took Robinson three full months to completely write the lyrics for the album in his basement.
Robinson has stated that most of the lyrics on What Do I Put Here? mean absolutely nothing, especially songs like Placeholder and This Is War. He said that the album was not a lyrically-focused work, and it was more centred on writing more technical rhythms and more intricate instrumental parts.
