We Came As Romans

We Came As Romans are an American metalcore band from Troy, United States. Formed in 2005, the group is active and has gone through a number of line-up changes over time. Their sound is associated with metalcore, post-hardcore, screamo, electronicore and melodic metalcore, and they are also tagged with hardcore and hundycore.

Formation and early line-up

The band begins in August 2005, when high school classmates Sean Zelda, Dave Stephens, Jonny Nabors, Mark Myatt and Joshua Moore form a group called This Emergency in the Detroit metropolitan area. In the early period, Stephens plays guitar, keyboards and backing vocals. Nabors leaves in November 2005 and Sean Daly replaces him. Zelda leaves in June 2006 to study at the University of Michigan. Later in 2006, Larry Clark joins on vocals and the band adopts the name We Came as Romans. After Clark leaves in late 2007, Chris Moore becomes the vocalist and takes on most of the lyric writing. Kyle Pavone later joins as vocalist, replacing Chris Moore in 2008.

Releases and label history

The band releases its first EP, Demonstrations, which is distributed at shows and through its website. A second EP, Dreams, follows in 2008 and is produced by Joey Sturgis. The debut studio album, To Plant a Seed, arrives in 2009, also produced by Sturgis, and includes re-recorded versions of songs from Dreams. The band later signs with Equal Vision Records in 2009 and moves to SharpTone Records in 2016. It is also associated with Spinefarm Records.

The group’s second album, Understanding What We've Grown to Be, appears in 2011 and features the singles “Mis//Understanding”, “Understanding What We've Grown to Be” and “What I Wished I Never Had”. The record takes a darker tone than earlier material while continuing to focus on personal growth and unity. It charts on several Billboard listings and is released in Europe through Nuclear Blast. During this period the band tours widely, including appearances on the Vans Warped Tour and tours in Europe, Asia and Latin America, and also releases additional tracks such as “Fair-Weather”, “Let These Words Last Forever”, “Hope” and “The King of Silence” on compilations and deluxe editions.

Tracing Back Roots follows in 2013, produced by John Feldmann. Its singles include “Tracing Back Roots”, “Fade Away” and “I Survive”, with Aaron Gillespie of Underoath featuring on “I Survive”. The album debuts at number eight on the Billboard 200 and reaches number one on both the Hard Rock Albums and Independent Albums charts. The band continues to release videos for songs including “Fade Away”, “Never Let Me Go” and “Ghosts”.

In 2015 the band releases its self-titled fourth album, We Came as Romans, with singles including “The World I Used to Know” and “Regenerate”. Around this time several members form the side project Crucible, which releases the EP The Trials in 2015. The single “Wasted Age” follows in 2016.

Cold Like War is released in 2017 as the band’s first SharpTone Records release and its first album without drummer Eric Choi, who announces his departure after about ten years in the group. In 2017 the band begins working with David Puckett as a touring member on drums.

Later years and Kyle Pavone’s death

Vocalist and keyboardist Kyle Pavone dies in 2018 from an accidental drug overdose. The band states that it will not replace him and continues in tribute to his legacy. A foundation is established in his honour. In 2019 the band tours with Crown the Empire, Erra and SHVPES, and releases the standalone singles “Carry the Weight” and “From the First Note”.

In 2021 the band releases the title track “Darkbloom”, followed by “Black Hole” featuring Caleb Shomo of Beartooth and “Daggers” featuring Zero 9:36. The sixth studio album, Darkbloom, arrives in 2022 and also includes “Plagued” and “Golden”. In 2025 the band begins issuing material for its seventh studio album, with “Bad Luck”, “No Rest For the Dreamer” and “Culture Wound” preceding All Is Beautiful... Because We're Doomed.

Members

The band’s listed members are Joshua Moore, Lou Cotton, Andy Glass, Kyle Pavone, David Puckett and Dave Stephens.

Discography

The studio albums are To Plant a Seed (2009), Understanding What We've Grown to Be (2011), Tracing Back Roots (2013), We Came as Romans (2015), Cold Like War (2017), Darkbloom (2022) and All Is Beautiful... Because We're Doomed (2025). The EPs are Demonstrations and Dreams (both 2008).