title Naveed is taken from the Persian name for the "bearer of good news". Recording Almost immediately after signing with Sony, the band entered pre-production to record their debut album. They rented rehearsal space in Mississauga, Ontario and from that spring through summer the band held day-long jam sessions with a cassette recorder. Lanni visited them each day to help with song arrangements. Raine made it clear to Lanni that he wanted to make a straightforward rock record. "I was really bullheaded on our first record ... I remember saying, we are a rock band, I don’t want to hear a piano or a synthesizer or even a tambourine." With their demos finalized, the band entered Arnyard Studios in September 1993 to record the final 11 tracks. Prior to this, they had only played seven or so live shows together and only recently hired 18-year-old drummer Jeremy Taggart, whose high school graduation briefly postponed the recording of the album. Originally, they had planned to release their demo songs on an independent label and sell them at live shows but were instead rushed to the studio to record Naveed to capitalize on the positive vibe they felt playing together. "We hardly knew each other on a personal level," said Mike Turner, "but when we began working on a musical level the vibe was so great that we couldn't ignore it...the songs became our first initiative. Getting into the studio was the next step." Many of their demo songs would be re-recorded for the album. The band described the recording sessions for Naveed as "a huge learning experience". Prior to recording, the band embraced a more primitive punk style with very simple chords and had limited technical experience in the studio. Mike Turner found that he lacked the technical proficiency to play the melodies and chord changes he heard in his head. "That was a problem," acknowledged Maida, "We really had to pull up our socks during the sessions -- we all got better in a hurry." The band's desire for musical advancement and the help from veteran producer Lanni helped guide them through the process. For three months, the band lived together, recording at Arnyard Studios and laboring over song arrangements with minimal interference by Lanni, who would show up briefly to make suggestions. "When we got in the studio he was able to direct us on the equipment and how