After much anticipation from fans across the country, Defy, the alternative rock band with edgy industrial influences based right here out of Ole Miss, will officially release its first full-length album saturday at Tower Records in Memphis.

Appropriately titled All Because of You, Defy's new cd is the brainchild of lead man Avi Ghosh, an honors college freshman pursuing a pre-med/computer engineering major at Ole Miss. All of the tracks on the album were written, recorded, performed, produced and mixed entirely by Ghosh at his home studio, Transience Records, located right here in oxford.

The 14-song compilation, which has been over two years in the making, effectively presents a mixed assortment of catchy industrial tracks with compositions of more tranquil and accessible melodies.

Reminiscent of such acts as Nine Inch Nails, Linkin Park and Silverchair, Defy adds a deeper element of emotional meaning that transcends the overblown corporate rock ever-present today.

Highlighting the release are the singles Is This Education, The One, That's What Makes It Real and Graduation Day. That's What Makes It Real, the first radio single off the release, starts off with a gorgeous piano melody, similar to those of Tori Amos, from which the song builds off to a huge rock chorus, only to drop right back to the lush and gentle second verse. The lyrics and overall mood of the track definitely showcase a more positive and uplifting side of defy, projecting an almost inspirational, healing-like quality.

My personal favorite off the album is the song Is This Education, which deals with the brazen defiance of corrupt leaders in today's school systems. The song is a perfect example of Defy's musical versatility. At some points, the track features hard-hitting sequences with head-banging guitar riffs, and at others it slips into softer melodious notes on the piano.

Possibly the most radio-friendly song on the release is The One. A powerful and impressive display of meaningful lyrics and instrumental wizardry, Defy really shows what it is made of in this song. An infectious anthem for "all the lonely people," one can't help but sing along through the chorus and verses.

Defy separates itself from its peers by adding an enhanced component along with the record. When put in a computer CD drive, the album takes one into a behind-the-scenes feature, an interactive lyric booklet, a way to directly communicate with the band, as well as additional exclusive material that can only be accessed through the CD. The band also announced recently at their web site that a new secret song placed within the CD will be unveiled every month.

Defy's first live show in support of this record will be at the Tower Records release party saturday at 8 p.m. there will be a CD signing along with a one-time only acoustic performance. The live band consists of Ghosh on lead vocals, keyboard and guitar; Scotty Taylor on guitar; Aaron Goben on guitar; Brandt Cox on the bass guitar; as well as Mike Henson on drums. The band plans on starting their regional tour this march. For more information, visit their official web site, www.defyonline.com, or for audio downloads, their mp3.com site, www.mp3.com/defymusic.