Hailing from the "Rock ‘n' Roll Capital of the World," and born from the ashes of the respected bands Hilo, Hessier, Canis Major and Antebellum Serum, Cleveland's Quickening is a hard-driving, powerful combination of rhythm, melody and sweat. The members of Quickening bring a wealth of experience to the project -- sharing the stage, wholly or separately, with national acts like Tonic, Semisonic, Kid Rock, Our Lady Peace and Cyde -- and the hearts of practiced musicians with a strong urge to please an audience. Formed officially in 1999, Quickening has earned its stripes the old-fashioned way... by playing out. The "Quickening Live" experience proves that this band knows what it's doing. But while Quickening is primarily a live band, its 2001 CD debut, "A Victory," demonstrates that this Cleveland super group feels right at home in the recording studio. "Music is a third eye," explains James Isom, 21, singer/guitarist. "Music is a sixth sense that transcends time, emotion, and adversity at times the pulse of a nation, more often then not the only medium able to penetrate the armor of our desensitized times." The primary songwriter of Quickening, Isom creates one of the most unusual aspects of the group's music by writing his guitar part and the vocal melody at the same time, using the synergy of the two elements to create one emotional, inspired voice rather than "a sound that is impeded by human limitations, or a gimmick that is void of any integrity or genuine emotion." Guitarist Dan Shelton, 24, finds creativity in simplicity. It is his strong, effecting guitar that is Shelton's contribution to the Quickening fusion of styles, providing the primal scream that appeals to listeners' most basic animalistic urges. Influenced by groups like Rage Against the Machine, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, Shelton defines music as total expression. "Whether you are writing it or playing someone else's stuff, you always add your own twist to it." Bassist Darren Irwin, 24, credits his life-long mantra to AC/DC. "I heard Bon Scott singing about being ‘a rock and roll singer,'" Irwin says. "By the time I started getting into Led Zeppelin and Devo, I was sure that music was my calling." Growing up listening to an eclectic group of bands as diverse as The Cars, Gary Numan, Black Sabbath, Slayer and the Ramones, Irwin brings an unusually robust bass sound to Quickening. "I play bass like a guitar player," Irwin offers. "That, combined with my varied musical tastes, leads me to take different approaches when writing my bass parts." Drummer Pat Ginley, 24, believes self confidence is one of the keys to good music... the self confidence that only comes from years of playing. To Ginley, drumming has always been an emotional outlet, which he demonstrates during every song with his powerful, unique playing. With influences like Soundgarden, Tool, Van Halen and 311, Ginley admits he's on a mission. "I like the fact that I can share my music with other people and help them feel the way my favorite musicians made me feel."