The members of From Autumn to Ashes had sensed for a while that Ben Perri was losing his passion for the music, so it was more sad than shocking when the lead screamer just quit showing up.

Eric Kaufman Members of From Autumn to Ashes -- clockwise from left, Brian Deneeve, Josh Newton, Rob Lauritse and Francis Mark -- have just welcomed Pittsburgher Jeff Gretz to the fold. Click photo for larger image. From Autumn to Ashes With: Haste The Day, Maylene & the Sons of Disaster, Twelve Gauge Valentine, Alesana. Where: Mr. Small's, Millvale. When: 6:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets: $15; 1-866-468-3401.

Perri had been somewhat disengaged for the making of 2005's prophetically titled "Abandon Your Friends," and when it came time for the follow-up, "Holding a Wolf by the Ears," Perri was nowhere to be found.

But From Autumn to Ashes didn't have to launch some kind of "Rock Star"-style search for his replacement. The new frontman was sitting behind the drums.

Francis Mark was already writing the bulk of the lyrics and singing melodies for the Long Island, N.Y., screamo band, so it wasn't much of a leap for him to grab the mike and pass the sticks to a replacement drummer, who happens to be a Pittsburgher, Jeff Gretz. There was no question to him that the band had to persevere.

"We were really excited about how the music was coming out for the record," he says. "I had planned to write the lyrics and vocal parts for this record anyway and I had done so. At the point where Ben called and quit, I figured, I don't know what's going to happen for the long term, but I know that this record has got to get finished. It would be a shame if we left it incomplete."

Mark added primal scream to his vocal repertoire and cut "Holding a Wolf by the Ears." Now he's doing it live, while adjusting to other frontman duties.

"I don't think about it too much to tell you the truth. I don't have any pre-meditated stage show or what to say in between songs," he says. "We just go up and wing it and have a good time. It might be different for some of the tougher guys in the crowd, not getting the mosh calls or any of that stuff they might be looking for. That's really not in my repertoire."

From Autumn to Ashes is part of a crowded field of Ozzfest/Warped bands with the tendency to scream out the verses in a brutal rage, then transition into a sing-song chorus. He admits it's a matter of having it both ways.

"All through my teenage years I was into a lot of metal and hardcore ... Then as I started this band I branched out a lot, listening to a lot of older stuff, like The Who. So, I think the blend comes from that -- still enjoying the energy of hardcore, but musically, I'm more interested in other things at this point. I'm not sure if I was ever musically interested in hardcore in the first place, because if you break it down, there's not much going on there, but what was always fascinating about hardcore was the energy of the shows. For the most part, I'm not that angry of a person anymore. I would rather sing than scream, but...."

Does he envision more singing than screaming in the future?

"It's hard to say. I feel like I would rather just start a new band. I don't want to transform what people expect of From Autumn to Ashes. Within reason, it's great to try new things, but I almost think the fans are shareholders and you can't completely discount what they want to hear from you. I mean, I wouldn't be on tour right now if it weren't for ridiculously loyal fans. We went on a six-month hiatus, went through this huge debacle and everyone's still showing up and being cool. How [messed] up would it be if I turned around and released something that sounded like Radiohead? People would be furious. You can't be completely self-absorbed in that respect."

Along with his transition to the frontman, Mark has eased a new member into his old role. As of last week, Gretz, best known for his work with Zao and Conelrad, has been named a full-fledged member of From Autumn to Ashes. Gretz says he quit Zao and moved to New York because he spent too much time waiting around for them to play. When he heard about the opening with Ashes, he auditioned.

"I came into it as a 'fill-in,' " he says, "but it's seemed so natural and we all get along so well that I just sort of morphed into 'the drummer.' "

Mark wasn't looking for a clone of himself on drums, and says that Gretz is bringing his own thing to the band. The personal chemistry is just as important.

"We started this tour together as a trial run and it's been great," Mark says. "[Jeff] plays solid as can be every night and he's a real sweet guy. There's a really important chemistry when you're playing in a band together. That trickles into the music you play."

Reflecting on the departure of an old friend and bandmate, Mark says of Perri, "I think it was definitely gradual over the last few years. I don't think he intended be a career musician in the first place. We were just buddies and knew each from going to hardcore shows and we started a hardcore band just to play shows on the weekend. It really grew into something that was more than he was looking to handle."