"Writing songs for Valley of the Dinosaurs is probably the hardest thing to do. We've got about nine songs total, and we've been together for close to three years," laughs Valley of the Dinosaurs' guitarist, 21-year-old Dustin Mangini. And the only reason a third of those songs exist is because the band booked a single performance on the 2004 Warped Tour, thanks to a friend's hookup, forcing them to scramble for material.

"We quickly wrote three songs ("Hey Sonic, Lay Off the Light Speed," "Time Until Death," "March of the Rollie Pollie People") and played quite possibly the most awful sounding set we've ever played," Mangini admits about the band's live performance. "I have it on tape to prove it."

After the Warped Tour travesty, the band examined their options. Then featuring Mangini, vocalist Jason Clackley, bassist Sean Millsap, and drummer Gavin Tiemeyer, they smoothed out their material and recorded a self-titled EP.

While it hasn't topped any of the Billboard charts (not even half of the 1,000 pressed have sold—"we made a rookie decision," he says of ordering so many copies), Valley of the Dinosaurs' blend of classic stoner rock and hardcore has impressed enough people to earn frequent play on 107.7 The End's local show, The Young and the Restless, as well as get the band on local bills with artists such as Pretty Girls Make Graves, Vendetta Red, and These Arms Are Snakes.

And now with Dustin's brother Desi Mangini on bass and Helen Killers' drummer Justin Gallego temporarily filling in on drums, VotD is ready to take yet another step—record a full-length.

"Release plans aren't really decided yet," Mangini confirms. "Though I can guarantee we'll put more thought into how many we're getting this time!"