Abandon All Ships

Band History

Early Days of Abandon All Ships

Abandon All Ships began in 2006 in Toronto, Ontario. The group started as friends in eighth grade who played covers of Norma Jean and explored screamo and pop-punk. Most members attended Dante Alighieri Academy, including vocalist Angelo Aita, keyboardist Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez, and guitarist David Stephens. Bassist Martin Broda and drummer Francesco Pallotta soon joined, forming the core of the early lineup.

Their name first appeared as “Abandon Ship,” but they discovered another band had already claimed it. They switched to “Abandon All Ships” and released several demo songs online. These tracks, such as “Megawacko” and “When Dreams Become Nightmares,” helped them gain momentum in the Toronto post-hardcore scene. During this period, they opened for acts like Blessed by a Broken Heart and Silverstein. In 2009, they self-released an EP titled Abandon All Ships. They also appeared on MuchMusic’s show Disband, which gave them wider exposure.

Style and Influences

Abandon All Ships blended heavy metalcore riffs with electronic dance music. They sometimes called their style “electronicore” or “crabcore,” though many listeners simply saw it as a mix of post-hardcore and EDM. Their sound featured harsh vocals from Aita, clean singing from Broda, and synths by Cassisi-Nunez. Band members cited influences from metal bands like Metallica and Slipknot, and from electronic artists like Benny Benassi and deadmau5. This approach stood out in their local scene and attracted fans who enjoyed both heavier music and electronic beats.

Changes Before Geeving

By late 2009, two founding members left: guitarist David Stephens and drummer Francesco Pallotta. They were replaced by guitarist Kyler Browne and drummer Daniel Paiano. Shortly after, Abandon All Ships secured deals with Underground Operations, Universal Music Canada, and in the United States with Rise Records and Velocity Records. These signings reflected the attention they had gained, especially through touring and airplay.

Geeving (2010)

Geeving, the band’s first full-length album, arrived in October 2010. It included reworked versions of earlier songs, like “Megawacko 2.0” and a revised “Take One Last Breath.” Engineer Anthony Cali recorded the album, and producer Mark Spicoluk oversaw production. Guitarist Andrew Paiano (brother of Daniel Paiano) also mixed part of the album.

Geeving charted at number 27 on the Canadian Albums Chart and drew notice with singles “Take One Last Breath” and “Megawacko 2.0.” The group toured with We Came As Romans and joined The Monument Tour with Miss May I, Sleeping with Sirens, The Crimson Armada, and Bury Tomorrow. Late in 2010, the music video for “Geeving” won Best Rock Video at the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards.

Lineup Shifts and Infamous (2011–2012)

Frequent lineup changes marked much of Abandon All Ships’ career. In early 2011, Browne left and was replaced by guitarist Daniel Ciccotelli. That summer, the Paiano brothers also departed. Despite these disruptions, the group played select dates of the 2011 Vans Warped Tour and continued to expand their fan base.

In mid-2012, Abandon All Ships released their second album, Infamous. The album featured heavier riffs, more EDM touches, and some hip-hop elements. Reviews were divided: some appreciated the bold mashup of genres, while others found it inconsistent. Infamous peaked at number 54 on the Canadian Albums Chart and debuted at 142 on the Billboard 200. The band supported Infamous with tours across North America, including dates with Secrets, Sleeping with Sirens, and We Came as Romans.

Malocchio and Breakup (2013–2014)

Work on a third album, Malocchio, began in 2013. The band combined the styles of their first two records and introduced more prominent electronic sounds. Released in early 2014, Malocchio charted on iTunes’ Rock list but did not reach the main Canadian or U.S. album charts.

That August, the group announced a short tour with Dance Gavin Dance and Stolas. Days later, Ciccotelli parted ways with the band, and Abandon All Ships declared their breakup. They played a final show in September 2014 in Toronto, featuring current and former members. Afterward, some members formed new projects such as Sine of the Lion and Cherry Pools.

Brief Reunion and Later Activity (2016–2020)

In February 2016, Abandon All Ships revealed a short reunion with their original lineup (minus Browne) to celebrate the sixth anniversary of Geeving. They released a single called “Loafting,” which maintained the group’s signature metalcore-meets-EDM style. This reunion was limited, and the band parted again soon after.

In 2020, they made two older covers available on streaming services: a version of Scooter’s “Maria (I Like It Loud)” and Drake’s “We’ll Be Fine.” Both covers had circulated unofficially in prior years. These releases served as reminders of Abandon All Ships’ mix of metalcore, pop, and electronic sounds.

Discography of Abandon All Ships

•Studio Albums

•Geeving (2010)

•Infamous (2012)

•Malocchio (2014)

•EP

•Abandon All Ships (2009)

•Select Singles

•“Take One Last Breath” (2010)

•“Megawacko 2.0” (2010)

•“Infamous” (2012)

•“Reefer Madness” (2013)

•“Loafting” (2016)

•“Maria (I Like It Loud)” (2020)

•“We’ll Be Fine” (2020)

Notable Lineup

•Final Formation

•Angelo Aita – unclean vocals

•Sebastian Cassisi-Nunez – keyboards and programming

•Daniel Paiano – drums

•Andrew Paiano – rhythm guitar

•Martin Broda – clean vocals, bass

•Daniel Ciccotelli – lead guitar

•Former Members

•David Stephens – lead guitar

•Francesco Pallotta – drums

•Nick Fiorini – rhythm guitar

•Chris Taylor – drums

•Kyler Browne – lead guitar

•Melvin Murray – drums

Controversies and Public Image

Early on, some listeners believed the band was Christian, given references in their lyrics and imagery. The band denied these claims, pointing to their profanity and suggestive themes as proof they did not identify as a Christian act. Several lineup changes also sparked rumors about internal disputes, though no detailed accounts surfaced in official interviews. Their stylistic choices drew both fans and critics, with some praising their hybrid of EDM and metal, while others dismissed the approach as gimmicky.

Conclusion

Abandon All Ships entered the Toronto music scene blending hardcore breakdowns with synthesizer-driven hooks. They endured regular lineup changes, label partnerships, and shifts in musical direction. Over eight years, they released three studio albums, toured across North America, and found modest chart success in Canada and the United States. Although they disbanded in 2014, occasional reunions and single releases kept the name active until 2020. Their legacy remains a set of recordings that captured a distinct mix of post-hardcore heaviness and electronic energy.