Rise to Addiction


Rise to Addiction, also known as RTA, are a British heavy metal band formed in 2004 by former Blaze Bayley guitarists John Slater and Steve Wray.
A self-titled EP was released on Madman records in 2004 with the help of Harry Armstrong on vocals Rob Naylor on bass, and Ben Calvert on drums, and it was produced by Andy Sneap.
RTA's full touring lineup Rise to Addiction was completed in 2005 by ex-ninedenine members Leigh Oates on vocals, bass player Joel Graham and drummer Aynsley Dickinson.
RTA released the Andy Sneap-produced album A New Shade of Black for the Soul in May 2007 on Belgium label Mausoleum. The album was released in the US in October 2007. During the same year RTA toured as support with US doom band Trouble across Europe and then later with Warrior Soul RTA were also guests at Bloodstock Open Air and Motornalet festivals.
In 2009 guitarist and founder member John Slater left the band during the recording of their second album. On completing the recording on 9 July, the finished album, Some Other Truth, was released in November the same year. Slater wasn't replaced on guitar and RTA continued as a four-piece and returned to the live scene in August by playing dates in the Czech Republic and announced a full UK tour for September with the alt/metal band Illuminatus.
2009 also saw Aynsley Dickinson and Leigh Oates join Ashley Homar, Stefan Blackwood and Ian Gaunt to create alt rock band Order of Voices. On 16 December it was announced that bassist Joel Graham was the new replacement in the British thrash band Evile for Mike Alexander who died while on tour in Sweden.
In 2012, Leigh Oates and Steve Wray released an EP called Bury the Ones We Love with the band Soldierfield.

Discography