As I Lay Dying are a California metal-hardcore crossover band from San Diego, CA. The group formed as a trio in 2001 with vocalist Tim Lambesis, drummer Jordan Mancino, and Evan White on guitar, and shortly thereafter released Beneath the Encasing of Ashes. A split CD with the American Tragedy followed the next year. In 2003 the band signed with Metal Blade and released Frail Words Collapse. After the album's release, White left the band and the remaining core of the group, Lambesis and Mancino, drafted two guitarist to replace him, Phil Sgrosso and Nick Hipa, and also landed a permanent bass player in Clint Norris. The new lineup recorded Shadows Are Security, which was released in 2005. As I Lay Dying next issued A Long March: The First Recordings in May 2006, which included their 2001 out of print debut, along with two versions of their songs from the 2002 American Tragedy split. The band then spent that summer on the Sounds of the Underground metal/hardcore tour alongside acts like In Flames, GWAR, Trivium, and Cannibal Corpse. ~ Wade Kergan, All Music Guide