Published: January 22, 2009 02:26 pm      

Grady County group influenced by several legendary rock bands

Rock and Roll is alive and well and head-banging in Grady County.

Anti-Mortem, a band made up of local teens, has taken up the torch to carry on the music of its forefathers.

Influenced by legendary bands of the 1960s and 1970s like Led Zeppelin, Metallica and Pantera, as well as more modern artists like Tool, Korn, Godsmack and Mudvayne, Anti-Mortem has a gritty, head-banging hard-rock style combined with the boundless spirit of youth.

“I jump around and head bang like crazy,” said guitarist Zain Smith, 16, who says he was greatly influenced by “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott of Pantera.

While Smith lives near Verden, his large family - his dad has eight brothers and sisters - extends to include 168 relatives, give or take a few, living in the Tuttle area, according to his mother Paige Smith.

“Half our stuff is our performance,” said vocalist and songwriter Rado Romo, 14, who was moved by the performances of Jason Lauren of Hurt. “I put a lot of energy into our show.”

Romo, and his older brother Nevada Romo, 16, songwriter and guitarist who was impacted by Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page, have penned nearly 40 songs together, songs about politics, anger and war.

“We do soft stuff like southern metal, swingy and groove rock, but mostly its heavy rock,” said Rado.

Completing the group are Corey Henderson, 17, on base and Mitchell Henderson (no relation, they are quick to point out), 19, on drums.

The name “Anti-Mortem,” which was coined by the group’s original vocalist who is no longer with the band, roughly translated, means “preceding death.”

Zain’s parents, Steve and Paige Smith, have been affiliated with the group since its conception three years ago.

“Watching Anti-Mortem play reminds me of Metallica in child form,” said Steve. “It gives me goosebumps. I haven’t seen the electricity off and on stage since some of the greats of my day. These guys are in the moment with nothing in sight but up.”

Last summer, Anti-Mortem joined a group of other bands performing at the Muscle Car Ranch in Chickasha, including rock giants, Ambrosia. After the show, the group was personally invited to Ambrosia’s touring bus to hang out.

In addition, a recent trip to Nashville resulted in the group’s recording of an EP, featuring five songs, 700 of which have been sent out to radio stations from Maine to Oregon, resulting in more than 5,000 My Space hits since February, 2008. The group also plans to visit with an independent music producer in California in May.

Anti-Mortem is scheduled to appear at Oddfellow’s Music Hall, 118 S. 4th St. in Chickasha on Friday, Feb. 27 and at USOA’s Spring Triad event, Droverstock in April.

In March, the group hopes to travel to local military bases to entertain troops and they are also hoping to snag spots at OSU’s Orange Peel in Stillwater and Thunder Run in Edmond.

For bookings, call 405-201-8471 or 405-779-5938.