When former 88 Fingers Louie and Rise Against guitarist Dan Precision joined the little-known Chicago-area hardcore project All Else Fails in 2002, it set off a chain reaction that formed a whole new band. Precision came on board just as All Else Fails' vocalist was leaving, so he and AEF members Brian Phee (guitar), Jay Gronwick (bass), and Mike Ford (drums) decided to start fresh. Renaming themselves Break the Silence, the band tapped area vocalist Dan Wintercorn and settled on a sound mixing California-style punk revivalism with melodic and hardcore elements. Break the Silence signed with Hopeless Records after a 2003 showcase at South by Southwest, and headed out on the Warped Tour the following summer. Near Life Experience appeared in February 2004, and Break the Silence supported the album with road dates throughout the rest of the year. ~ Johnny Loftus, All Music Guide