In their first year on the rock scene, South Carolina's Crossfade saw their song "Cold" become a national rock-radio hit and garner a spot on the popular Now That's What I Call Music! 17 compilation.

Not bad for a track that the hard rockers never saw as more than a novelty song.

"At first, it was just this quirky little song we had," said lead singer Ed Sloan. "We didn't think much of it until other people started to hear it and hear things in it. We were pleasantly surprised."

For a band that has subscribed to — and continues to live by — a DIY ethic, Crossfade has embraced every bit of success they've had since their debut self-titled album hit stores in April.

"I think it's just the benchmark of what we've tried to do for so long," Sloan said of Crossfade's successful year. "We struggled, but we struggled knowing that the single was picking up speed and snowballing, and everything has been positive this year. We have not had any setbacks. Everything's been going ahead — a lot of bands never get that and we did it right out the gate, so we're thrilled."

Crossfade started in the late 1990s when Sloan, bassist Mitch James and drummer Brian Geiger formed a band called the Nothing. DJ Tony Byroads soon made the trio a quartet with his samples and backing vocals (Byroads sings the refrain on "Cold").

The band changed its name to the ostentatious Sugardaddy Superstar and began recording in its own Sugarstar Studio, eventually completing their debut album, Cold. As local radio stations began to air the band's self-produced tracks, the buzz began to build, eventually leading to a record deal with Columbia Records subsidiary Earshot Records.

After adopting the more rock moniker Crossfade (the name comes from a recording technique) and adding two new songs to the album, Cold was re-released as Crossfade in the spring of 2004.

Sloan said his lyrics stem from incidents in his life and "seeing the experiences that other people go through. ... 'Cold' is about a past relationship of mine that is now no more. At the time, I was trying to say I'm sorry for a lot of things, and that's where it came from."

Right around the time of the album's re-release, Crossfade decided to end another relationship: Geiger left the band and was replaced by James Branam, who had two weeks to learn the songs. After four days with the album, Branam showed up for rehearsal and played each track flawlessly.

"We were really happy about it," Sloan said. "Then he told us that his drums were all packed up and he hadn't actually practiced — he just listened to the CD for four days and was able to do that. We knew something was good."

Since then, Crossfade have been on the road almost nonstop for six months, playing with Alter Bridge, Smile Empty Soul and Shinedown. Though it's been an intense few months, the guys said they love every aspect of the lifestyle and the fans they have made along the way.

"I think another reason people love us so much is because we're truly in love with our fans," Byroads said. "Every single one of them — it don't matter. If they like our music, they like us."

Fans will have another two months to return Crossfade's adoration as the band takes off on the SnoCore Tour with Helmet and Chevelle, which begins January 22 in Vail, Colorado.