Vegas rockers look to future

He pronounces "really" like r-e-a-l-l-y, stretching it out for emphasis, practically drawing and quartering the word.

"I feel like if everybody's head stays in the game, we can get really far," states David Diaz, guitarist for Vegas' equally melodic and metallic This Romantic Tragedy.

He's talking up the band's new record, "Reborn," due out April 26.

When did he get the feeling it was r-e-a-l-l-y special?

After Grandma gave it a spin.

"We all knew it was good, because I could play it for my grandma, and she would actually like screaming for once. And she never liked screaming. Ever," Diaz says. "So, you know, if you can achieve that, imagine the people who are going to be OK with it."

"Reborn," which follows in the wake of the band's debut "Trust in Fear" EP, is their first full-length album and their initial release with Tragic Hero Records, best known for such notable past signees as A Skylit Drive, Greeley Estates and Alesana, among others.

The album was recorded at the Machine Shop in New Jersey with producer Will Putney, who has worked with such big names as Suicide Silence, Every Time I Die, Lamb of God and Gym Class Heroes.

The recording is a big step up in professionalism for this young band, who got their start in 2007.

"We're definitely not little kids any more," Diaz says. "With 'Trust in Fear,' it was just us being young, growing up, figuring out how it all works. And then this is kind of like, 'This is what we have to offer. This is the real deal.' "

Much of the maturation heard on "Reborn" is likely attributable to all the road work the band has done in the past two years, where they've taken their share of lumps, losing a couple of band members along the way.

Diaz was but 16 when This Romantic Tragedy began booking national tours.

"When I first started touring, I didn't really know much," he says. "I was the guy who would go up to the venues and find out how much we were getting paid, how many tickets were sold, whatever. We were all kids. We thought it was going to be fun and games."

They've since learned otherwise, hooking up with the Pantheon Agency, which has a mammoth roster of acts ranging from Carcass and Emmure to Watain and Veil of Maya, to help them book gigs. They've already got a tour lined up for April and plan to be on the road through most of the rest of the year.

Before then, they've got the rare hometown show this Saturday, headlining Area 702 Skate Park.

It'll start the push for "Reborn," a push that these dudes are looking to turn into a shove.

"This is kind of our moment, releasing this album. This has a say in whatever happens to us," Diaz says. "We're about to get on the road and start living again. What more can we really ask for?"

Contact reporter Jason Bracelin at jbracelin@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0476.