For fans of: Kings of Leon, Tonic, Cold War Kids

It's been six years since the formation of 4th and Dock, an alternative rock band from North Carolina, and they are finally about to take the world by storm with the release of their first studio album and a possible show in Germany.

The band now resides in Hollywood and consists of Mikal Crist (vocals), Alex Seller (lead guitar), Brent Oliver (guitar), Michael Luebke (bass) and Alex Sivers (drums) - a group of guys in their 20s from all over the country, including Texas, Ohio and New York.  Two years ago, Crist, 4th and Dock's only original member, and Seller left their lives in North Carolina to find musical success in Hollywood.

"The move has been one hell of a ride," Seller said. "We've done things out here that we never would have if we had stayed in North Carolina. We've really started to hone in on what we were born to do - melt faces with our rock ‘n' roll."

Since the move, 4th and Dock, whose sound has been compared to Cold War Kids and Kings of Leon, has achieved more than a simple dose of West Coast recognition. They've made a name for themselves in Hollywood by playing packed shows at famous Hollywood venues like House of Blues Sunset Strip and the Roxy. In 2005, they performed to an audience of 140,000 at a music festival in Georgia with the Pixies and the White Stripes.

With each passing day, things seem to move more towards 4th and Dock's goal of international success. They are currently working on their first full-length album with John Spiker, bassist of Tenacious D and Filter.

"We have never been so excited to get in the studio before," Crist said. "I feel like this is just a huge dream I'm living and I could wake up any time."

The album will be finished by mid-April and it's expected release date is May 1.

"When we're in the studio it's like everybody gets into attack mode," Seller said.

With everything on their plate right now, 4th and Dock, who play frequently at Slidebar in Fullerton, seem to be in attack mode even outside of the studio.  For the past month, the band has been rehearsing for a contest in which they were hand-picked to compete in. The winning band will be sent to Germany to play the Emergenza Festival.

"It'd be so amazing to play in Germany," Oliver said. "Being able to play at a European festival is something I've always wanted to do."

It's up to the audience for bands to advance in the competition, so 4th and Dock will need all their fans at the semi-finals at the Joint in Hollywood April 3. The finals take place July 3 at the Whisky in Hollywood.

"Sharing music we've written ourselves and getting positive feedback from it is probably the greatest feeling in the world," Crist said.

If given the opportunity to perform in Germany, Crist hopes it will be a catalyst to 4th and Dock's international success because the band would like to "tour the world and record multiple albums and gain millions of fans across the world that understand 4th and Dock."

4th and Dock won't let anything, including negativity or arguments, stand in the way of achieving success.

"You have to sacrifice a lot to be successful within a band, so egos get set aside and we just do work and try to have as much fun as possible," Crist said.  "It's amazing how well we all get along. Even though some of us have been (in the band) less than a year, they feel just as much a part of this as anyone."

According to the band, their positive attitudes and determination are sure to bring them success in the near future.

"Rock ‘n' roll is dead and we are here to resurrect it for good," Sellers said.