There’s no reason Durand band Truth Before Treason’s new EP, The Brutal Truth, should rage so hard. The band, formed two and-a-half years ago and made up of high school seniors Chris Tulip, Jack Shaw, Ben Ulwelling, and Nathan Weisenbeck, has had nothing but good fortune so far. They rode their self-written rock-metal music to the finals of last year’s Launchpad competition, a statewide high school level battle of the bands, and that feat earned them a spot at last year’s Summerfest in Milwaukee. In the process, they’ve gotten to meet musicians such as Shinedown, Alex Skolnick (of Testament and Trans-Siberian Orchestra), and John “JR” Robinson, possibly the world’s most recorded drummer. None of this success has softened the boys’ music, though; it’s full of the driving guitar, cymbal crashes, and raw vocals you’d expect from the most experienced of metal bands. If you want to check out some of their thrashing tunes for yourself or get some more info on TBT, head on over to MySpace.com/TBTshreds. If you want to see Truth Before Treason tear up the stage in person, be sure to head down to this year’s Launchpad regional at Chippewa Falls High School on April 23.