Langhorne, Philadelphia's A LIFE ONCE LOST debuted in 2003 with the album 'A Great Artist' for Jake Bannon of CONVERGE's Deathwish Inc. The group dated its formation to 1998, undergoing many formative line-up changes. Loudnet Records took A LIFE ONCE LOST on for the album 'Open Your Mouth For The Speechless...In Case Of Those Appointed To Die', the membership at this juncture featuring singer Bob Meadows, guitarists Doug Sabolick and Vadim Taver, bassist Richard Arnold and drummer TJ DeBlois. However, Taver subsequently opted out to join THIS DAY FORWARD and A LIFE ONCE LOST inducted Robert Carpenter of AS WE GROW as replacement during 2001.

The group then switched to Robotic Empire for 'The Fourth Plague: Flies', recorded at Skylight Studios in 2002. Drummer Justin Graves was installed just prior to recording their debut for Deathwish Inc. Further line-up changes then saw bassist Nick Frasca replaced by Alin Ashraf of THE JUNE SPIRIT.

The band signed with Ferret Records in October 2004, entering Trax East Studios in South River, New Jersey with producer Eric Rachel in January 2005 to record their sophomore album 'Hunter'. Closing out 2004 the group acted as support to FEAR FACTORY and LAMB OF GOD. US touring in April had the band announcing a touring partnership with BURY YOUR DEAD, THE RED CHORD and IF HOPE DIES.

The Summer of 2005 found the group participating in the US 'Sounds of the Underground' touring extravaganza, a collaboration between independent labels Ferret Music, Prosthetic Records, Trustkill Records and Metal Blade Records. The mammoth billing for these shows saw the band sharing stages with CLUTCH, OPETH, POISON THE WELL, FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES, CHIMAIRA, NORMA JEAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, THROWDOWN, HIGH ON FIRE, DEVILDRIVER, ALL THAT REMAINS, UNEARTH and GWAR. Regional additions included MADBALL and TERROR, splitting the East and West portions of the tour respectively, THE RED CHORD on the East Coast, FEAR BEFORE THE MARCH OF FLAMES in the Midwest and Southeast and HIMSA for Western gigs before the band joined EVERY TIME I DIE and TWELVE TRIBES for the UK 'Under The Gun' tour in August.

In September the band maintained the road ethic, hooking up with THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, UNEARTH and ZAO. A run of November Canadian dates would be backed by THE END and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER. The group closed the year on a Winter run alongside AS I LAY DYING, NORMA JEAN and MADBALL.

The band engaged in US dates throughout February 2006 backed by HIMSA, DARKEST HOUR, THE ACACIA STRAIN and DEAD TO FALL. In April the group hit the US campaign trail once again, this time with CEPHALIC CARNAGE, SCARLET and THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD in tow.

'Ozzfest' loomed for the 2006 summer touring season, the group hitting Canada as a warm up in June, flanking ALL THAT REMAINS, THE RED CHORD, UNEARTH, WALLS OF JERICHO and IF HOPE DIES, before sharing the festival stages with OZZY OSBOURNE, SYSTEM OF A DOWN, HATEBREED, LACUNA COIL, DISTURBED, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, UNEARTH, BLEEDING THROUGH, NORMA JEAN, ATREYU, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, THE RED CHORD, FULL BLOWN CHAOS, WALLS OF JERICHO, ALL THAT REMAINS and BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME.

The group hit the road with NAPALM DEATH, DEAD TO FALL, IMPALED, ARSIS and ANIMOSITY throughout November and December as part of the 'Death By Decibels' US tour. The band forged a road union with THE HANDSHAKE MURDERS, NORMA JEAN and NORMA JEAN for the 'Great American Noise' tour commencing March 2007 lasting into mid-April.

In March 2009 A LIFE ONCE LOST vocalist Robert Meadows announced the launch of his new record label Staggered Works Music. The label's first release, on 17th April, would be with Doylestown, Pennsylvania Hardcore band WAR PIGS.

Garry Sharpe-Young