Before the release of their debut album, the band recorded two demos in 1999 and 2000. In mid-2001, it was reported that former bassist Justin Sane had attempted suicide by drinking excessive amounts of cough syrup. The attempt had an impact on the band's Take Action Tour. During his hospitalization he remained in poor condition and was replaced by Dameon Ash. In an interview, lead singer M. Shadows said of Sane, "He perma-fried his brain and was in a mental institution for a long time," Shadows. "When you have someone in your band who does that, it ruins everything that's going on all around you, and it makes you want to do something to prevent it from happening to other people."