Following a stint as bassist in angular emo rock trio the Convocation Of..., Baltimore native Guy Blakeslee relocated to Chicago in the early 2000s and began performing solo under the name Entrance. Blakeslee's somber yet trippy acoustic songs quickly landed him a regular spot at tastemaking dive bar the Hideout, where his sounds caught the ear of the Tiger Style label. The label released the first Entrance solo long-player, The Kingdom of Heaven Must Be Taken by Storm, in 2003. Subsequent albums included Careless Love and Wandering Stranger. For 2006's self-released Prayer of Death, Blakeslee collaborated heavily with drummer Derek W. James and bassist Paz Lenchantin. The group solidified its sound and changed its name to the more inclusive the Entrance Band for a 2009 self-titled album. ~ Fred Thomas