Editing Zebrahead (section)

=== 2002–2005: ''MFZB'' and Mauriello's departure ===
Zebrahead recorded and released their fourth studio album, ''[[MFZB]]'', in 2003; this was their last publication under Columbia Records. The album is noted for trading in the [[Hip hop music|hip-hop]] [[funk]] elements of the band's previous releases in favor of a heavier [[punk rock]] sound that would eventually carry over and develop in future releases. Zebrahead spent the majority of 2004 promoting the album at various festivals in Japan, including the [[Summer Sonic Festival]].<ref name="Summer Sonic 2003">{{cite web|title=Summer Sonic 2003|url=http://www.songkick.com/festivals/24221-summer-sonic/id/2956951-summer-sonic-tokyo-2003|work=SongKick.com|publisher=SongKick|access-date=April 3, 2014}}</ref> The band's extensive touring earned them a sizeable fanbase in the country, leading ''MFZB'' to chart at No.9 on the [[Oricon|Japanese Charts]] and earn a [[Music recording sales certification|gold]] certification. A follow-up to ''MFZB'' titled ''[[Waste of MFZB]]'' – containing songs that didn't make the final cut of the former – was released exclusively in Japan in July 2004<ref name="Waste of MFZB on Sony Music">{{cite web|title=Waste of MFZB on Sony Music|url=http://www.sonymusic.co.jp/artist/Zebrahead/discography/SICP-609|work=sonymusic.co.jp|publisher=Sony Music|access-date=January 12, 2014|language=ja|quote="The songs in the album are songs that were recorded for previous album "MFZB", but it's not because they were not good, but because they were dangerously good! "- Justin}}</ref> where it topped the ''[[Billboard Japan]]'' chart.

Shortly after Zebrahead's Japanese tour, co-vocalist/rhythm guitarist Justin Mauriello left the band due to creative differences.<ref name="Justins departure">{{cite web|last=Kloke|first=Joshua|title=Zebrahead|url=http://www.beat.com.au/music/zebrahead|work=Beat.com|date=November 27, 2012 |publisher=Beat|access-date=April 19, 2014}}</ref> As the singing/rapping dynamic between Mauriello and co-vocalist Ali Tabatabaee was crucial to Zebrahead's sound, the band immediately began the search for a replacement. [[Matty Lewis]], a former member of the band [[Matty Lewis|Jank 1000]] that had previously toured with Zebrahead, was advised by Udhus and Osmundson to try out for the part in December 2004, to which he won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the59thsound.com/matty-lewis---zebrahead-09112012.html|title=Matty's interview|access-date=November 3, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211001704/http://www.the59thsound.com/matty-lewis---zebrahead-09112012.html|archive-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> Lewis' inclusion was announced at a private concert at the Anaheim House of Blues, California on March 8, 2005, before the group started recording their next studio album.