Progressive heavy metal band Opus Däi were formed in Los Angeles, CA, by drummer Jagger Gonzales, guitarist Atsushi Miyamoto, singer Chris Paul, and bassist Ryan Collier. The band signed to the Double Blind label and released its debut album, Tierra Trágame, on May 21, 2006. After nearly two years of touring in support of the album, the group split in half in the spring of 2008, with Paul and Collier departing. But Gonzales and Miyamoto were determined to carry on and add new members. Tim Neighbors replaced Paul, and Merlyn Kelly temporarily joined on bass, later replaced by Murv Douglas. The band also parted ways with Double Blind and issued an EP, Touch the Sun, on its own on August 30, 2008.