Try This With Your Eyes Closed

Released in 2005, 'Try This With Your Eyes Closed' serves as the debut EP and foundational statement for Alesana. While the band would later become synonymous with elaborate literary concept albums and high-budget production, this release captures them in a raw, formative state. Produced by Shawn Milke himself, the EP features the original lineup and showcases the 'sweet and sour' vocal dynamic that became their trademark. Unlike their subsequent discography, which heavily references Greek mythology and classic literature, this record is grounded in direct, confessional emotional themes. Most of these tracks were later re-recorded for their debut full-length, but these original versions are prized by fans for their unvarnished intensity and lo-fi charm. The 2008 reissue remastered by Jamie King added tracks from their earliest samplers, cementing this EP's status as the definitive document of the band's origins in the North Carolina post-hardcore scene.