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Teen metal/rock band Soul Descenders

Alex Skyles, lead singer of metal-rock outfit Soul Descenders, started his music career at an early age when he played in a local rock band called Desecrate back in 2005.

Skyles, a guitarist, was then 13 and playing in a band full of seasoned adults, including his father.

But, Skyles says, his six months with his dad’s group “was cool. It got me going, got me on the path I’m on now.”

While in Desecrate, he sat in on a Soul Descenders practice and eventually took over as lead singer. Skyles sees it as a better fit for him than his slot in his father’s band.

“We’re all the same age, and we’re all pretty talented, and I knew we could make something out of it,” Skyles says of Soul Descenders, which includes Brian Wilkinson (guitar), Dylan King (bass) and Zach Moiser (drums).

Soul Descenders, mostly 17-year-olds at Northwest High School in Cedar Hill, has been influenced by bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Swedish bands the Haunted and At the Gates.

Soul Descenders is celebrating the release of its “Follow Order” EP at 7 p.m. Saturday at Pop’s.

“This is difficult for me,” says Skyles, who admits the allure of making and releasing music is more appealing than his senior-level studies. “Eighty-five percent of my effort goes into the band, and the other 15 percent goes to school. That kind of sucks. But I do what I can to be a good student.”

He says “Follow Order” represents a maturing for himself and the band.
“On the last CD (‘Destruction for Tomorrow’), I was only singing with the band for two months, and it wasn’t that great,” Skyles says. “On this one, I’m a more mature singer and lyric writer.”

As an underage band, Soul Descenders has certain limitations, including where it can perform and not being taken seriously by older bands.

“It’s definitely a challenge,” Skyles says. “But once we’re on stage, we’re looking more mature, and we’re growing out of the whole kid thing. Some bands still treat us like we’re young, but we don’t take offense to it. And some of the older bands look at us now like, ‘I wish we could be doing that.’ ”

Thorn Fetish, Reigning Heir, the New Translation and Amorath are also on the bill Saturday night. Admission is $6. For more information, visit www.popsrocks.com or www.myspace.com/souldescenders.