The Disciplines are a band specializing in energetic, straightforward, garage-influenced rock & roll with a poppy undertow, the first part of which might come as a surprise to folks familiar with the band's history. The Disciplines' story began when Briskeby, a Norwegian pop band who were wildly successful in their home country, invited Ken Stringfellow -- the co-founder of American alt-pop heroes the Posies who had also worked extensively with R.E.M. and Big Star -- to collaborate with the band on the recording of their third album, 2005's Jumping on Cars, and their subsequent concert tour. Jumping on Cars proved to be Briskeby's final album, and guitarist Bjorn Bergene, bassist Bard Helgeland, and drummer Claus Heiberg Larsen were eager to make music that was simpler, leaner, and more direct than Briskeby's clean, electronically oriented pop. Stringfellow shared that desire, and he signed on as lead singer with the trio's new project. Calling themselves the Disciplines, the band released their debut album, Smoking Kills, in early 2009. The band supported the album's release with a number of shows in Sweden, Norway, and North America, while Stringfellow toured Asia with a substitute group of Disciplines when his bandmates were unavailable. In late 2009, drummer Larsen left the group and Ralle Vilnes, of the band Emmett Brown, became their new percussionist. The new lineup entered the studio in mid-2010, and in the spring of 2011, the second Disciplines album, Virgins of Menace, was released internationally. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi