Colorado’s local metal scene is commonly split up into three hubs: Denver, Northern Colorado and Colorado Springs. Rarely do bands have the ability to carry a fan following and gain notoriety in an area outside of their own. However, Colorado Springs’ Sanguine Addiction has been doing just that for many years. And, with a new album recorded and nearing release, they are poised to make yet another surge to expand on what they’ve already accomplished.

Made up of Josh Lanier (vocals), Jeff Baker (guitar), Matt Young (bass) and Phil Kessler (drums), Sanguine Addiction (sanguineaddiction.com and myspace.com/sanguineaddiction) originally formed in 2002 as a group of musicians just looking to get together and jam.

"We started as a bunch of guys who wanted to play music," Jeff says. "We were friends who just wanted to jam at home."

The name Sanguine Addiction has an assumed meaning by some fans that doesn’t represent what the band originally intended it to.

"Sanguine Addiction is a kind of personality trait," Jeff explains. "It’s easy going and foolishness. Like a carefree kind of writing style, which is what we like doing."

"Everyone took (Sanguine Addiction) as meaning a red blood thing, like a blood addiction. So we played into that," Josh adds.

The members of Sanguine Addiction have been influenced by a number of artists, including Faith No More, Nirvana, Deftones, Taproot, Slipknot and Breaking Benjamin. From this mixed grab bag of groups serving as their background, as well as their own musical ingenuity, it’s no surprise how intensely different Sanguine Addiction’s music is from other bands. Though their music is primarily rock and metal, you can find other musical elements wrapped into it, such as punk and even funk.

"We have a lot of stuff that’s different, a bit of something for everyone," Josh says. "We have some people that come to our shows just to hear us play one song."

Going along with the original meaning of their namesake and the carefree musical style it represents, Jeff explains that they don’t have any blueprint for coming up with new songs or ideas. Instead, the band’s writing process is based more off of the feel of the music while they are playing as a group.

"We don’t use a writing formula or anything like that, we just jam," Jeff says. "We never have, and never will have a structured writing process."

Wowing fans with their amazing music and energetic live shows has gained them attention and accolades in multiple local music markets, including both Colorado Springs and Denver. 2009 marked the third straight year in which Sanguine Addiction earned the Colorado Springs Independent’s title of Best Local Original Band.

"That goes back to the fans," Josh says. "They pick the bands, and it shows how loyal our fans are."

They had also been voted into Denver radio station 106.7 KBPI’s Best Band in Denver competition multiple times, and even made it into the semi-finals in one of the years. Being a Colorado Springs band makes this achievement even more impressive.

"Getting voted into the Best Band in Denver was a good feeling, Sanguine Addiction fans rock," Jeff says, with Josh adding, "We’re not from Denver, so that was great. Every time we play, we’re not trying to make fans; we’re trying to make friends with people."

Part of the band’s appeal is their live show, which features Josh’s well-known aerial acrobatics and habit of climbing on a venue’s bar or tables to perform part of the set. Fans repeatedly comment or reminisce about where they’ve seen him jump from, how much height he got, or what kind of jump they saw him perform while singing.

"I’ve just always done it," Josh says. "I get on the bar and sing when I do karaoke. To me, it all goes back to entertainment. Just standing there or walking back and forth and singing isn’t entertaining. And, I have a lot of fun doing it."

"I think he’s part grasshopper," Jeff adds, joking about Josh.

Following their fantastic 2007 release Self Enemy isn’t an easy feat. However, Sanguine Addiction is set to release their great sophomore effort in the near future, with a tentative timeframe of early 2010. The new album, for which the title is yet to be decided, was recorded at 1620 Studio in Colorado Springs. Fans won’t be all-too unfamiliar with the tracks on the album, as many of the new songs have been incorporated into the band’s live set for some time now.

"(The album) has almost a different sound from the last, it’s more melodic," Matt says, with Jeff adding, "But it’s still very Sanguine Addiction. It still has that edge."

With music as powerful and addictive as theirs, Sanguine Addiction has also earned several slots opening for numerous national metal acts. The long list of bands includes 5 Finger Death Punch, (Hed) p.e, Saliva and Lacuna Coil.

"It’s a cool feeling (playing with national bands), I love it," Josh says. "You get to play in front of a lot of people, sell a lot of merch, get more experience, and people even call in to the radio stations about you."

"It’s really cool to her a band on the radio one day, then you play a show with them the next," Jeff says.

Looking toward the future, the members of Sanguine Addiction want to keep doing what they’ve been doing thus far. They remain humble amidst their popularity and accomplishments, and want to maintain the course they set out on many years ago.

"We just want to keep having fun, and have less politics and drama," Josh says. "If you can’t have fun playing music, you shouldn’t be doing it. I see a lot of good coming. And we want everyone to keep supporting our troops, because Sanguine Addiction is a huge supporter of our troops."

"And we want to thank everyone for their support and creating our following," Jeff says. "Without fans, we wouldn’t have gotten where we have."