Bloodlined Calligraphy is an American metalcore band. Hailing from Ypsilanti, Michigan, the band started making music in 1996 under the name Friction. In 1999, the band changed its name to Bloodlined Calligraphy and the band's lineup consisted of Matt Carter (drums), Matt Fleming, Ryan Hampton (guitar), Eric Cargile, and Josh Colvin (guitar). The band signed to Selah Records and, in 2002, they released their first full-length album, Say Hi to the Bad Guy. In 2003, Fleming left the band amicably. The band conducted a nationwide search for their next vocalist, with Fleming having a large say in who should replace him as the band's vocalist. The band asked Michigan native Ally French, who was fronting a touring metalcore band in Ohio at the time, to audition. Ally had sung clean vocals alongside Fleming for several of Bloodlined Calligraphy's live shows and was Fleming's favored replacement. The band appointed Ally as their vocalist and played their first live shows together in late 2003. During the band's second show with Ally at the front, the group caught the eyes and ears of Jason Dunn, owner of Los Angeles-based record labels Facedown Records and Strike First Records. The group became part of Strike First Records and released an EP in 2004 titled The Beginning of the End, which was recorded by Mike Hasty, guitarist of another female-fronted, Michigan-based hardcore band, Walls of Jericho. Shortly after the album's release, guitarist Josh Colvin was replaced by Shawn Williams.
