Lineup changes often can be the kiss of death for rock bands, but in some instances it can make a strong band even stronger. The addition of lead guitarist Scott Boyer last summer was a major injection of creativity for local hard rock act, Ithika, which is rounded out by Nick Shannon (vocals), Roger Cantrell (bass) and Doug Piatt (drums).

"I've done other things with other bands, but the lineup we have now and the songs we're writing are the best I've ever done in my life," Shannon said. "They mean something. The lyrics all say something, and they're heartfelt."

The members of Ithika are sitting in the Oregon Express talking and drinking beer as the after-work crowd slowly trickles in. The topics veer from the troubles of maintaining a stable lineup and the group's new EP, "Hate Love Pain," to the joys of corporate sponsorship.

"We got our sponsorship from Fisher Distributing in Springfield in 2006 and the one from Bonbright last year," Piatt said. "They're both for the same beer but they each do different things. Bonbright does our posters and Fisher gives us money and beer."

"They give us hats and shirts and stuff like that," Boyer said. "It's nice stuff, too. I've got everything from Miller like little flash buttons, koozies and beads."

"It's a good arrangement," Shannon said. "We've sold a boatload of beer for them, so they're real happy and we're happy."

The biggest benefit of sponsorship was the cash, which the musicians invested in recording the new E.P. with Joe Viers at Sonic Lounge Studio in Grove City.

"Yeah, that's huge, man," Shannon said. "We wanted to go all out on this CD and really put a lot of money into it since we're sponsored. They threw us a couple of thousand bucks, and we've been saving money in our bank fund so we were able to do it as professionally as we could."

The songs on the new disc have a polished sheen that enhances the catchy material that is rife with melodic, metal-tinged guitar work and gargantuan radio-ready hooks. "All These Things" and "Spare Me" are heavy, upbeat rockers while the group reveals a more tender side on the acoustic-based power ballad "One in a Million."

Ithika celebrates the release of "Hate Love Pain" on Saturday, May 17, at BoJangles Niteclub in West Carrollton. More info: www.ithikaband.com.

how to go

Who: Ithika.

Where: BoJangles Night Club, 1925 S. Alex Road, West Carrollton

When: 9 p.m. Saturday

Cost: $5

More info: (937) 866-4758 or www.bojanglesnightclub.com