Oswald is a five-piece rock band from the outskirts of Berkeley, CA with innovative songs and an uncompromising artistic direction. Influences include: Kafka, the greenhouse effect, sleep deprivation, Hunter S. Thompson, narcolepsy, Sylvia Plath, and so on. Eric Cochran (vocals, guitar) and Chad Cochran (drums) have been playing together for almost five years now in various arrangements. Chad met Paul Zeroh (keyboards) and Mike Allen (bass) in art school, and Dale Cucchiaro (guitar) joined the band while attending school at the University of California at Berkeley. 　　Comparisons have been made to Radiohead, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana, but Oswald is uniquely their own. In an industry devoid of substance and wrought with carbon copies, Oswald has their own voice, and most importantly, has something to say. Their music is a delicate balance of subversive, alternative rock with an emphasis on songwriting. At times, their songs evoke a paranoid feeling of controlled restraint, only to eventually confirm the listener's worst suspicions. 　　In mid-january, 2002, Oswald independently released their debut album, a failed attempt to alter history, to a warm reception from fans and critics alike. This highly anticipated album was recorded entirely on protools in their living room, and was mixed and mastered by Ryan Hunt, before being sent off to press. 　　 Since that time, Oswald has been holed up in the dark, confines of their rehearsal compound, hidden in some undisclosed location in California, writing material for their second album, and preparing their live set.