It’s a perpetual struggle trying to land a record deal when you’re stuck in the middle of the country.

Despite some notable success stories Lawrence’s Get Up Kids, Kansas City’s Puddle of Mudd it still takes a lot to make jaded coastal record execs take notice. But for Kansas City’s downthesun, this Midwest identity hasn’t been a nail in the band’s artistic coffin. The six-piece act just released its self-titled debut Tuesday on Roadrunner Records, a label that is home to platinum sellers Nickelback and Slipknot.

“Personally, I think that everyplace sucks,” says Lance “Kuk” Collier, bassist for downthesun. “Once you’ve lived somewhere for a while you’re going to find bad things about it. I’m sure if you live in California you probably get sick of the ocean. But when we talk about Kansas City being the armpit of America, that’s how others perceive us as far as those from the East and West Coast. We’re proud to be from the Midwest.”

Actually the Middle American connection is what led downthesun to Roadrunner.

Back in 1999, when Kuk and singer/sample operator Church were playing in the KC group Canvas, they opened for the Des Moines-based Slipknot at The Bottleneck. The costumed act’s percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan took notice of the locals and struck up a friendship. (“He liked the band and liked our attitude,” Kuk remembers.)

Eventually Kuk and Church hooked up with four Iowa players and formed downthesun, a way-heavy rock band that prides itself on unabashed intensity. At Clown’s urging, Roadrunner caught the fledgling group’s set at Austin’s South By Southwest Music Festival. Since then life has turned into a whirlwind for the six.

“I’ve been on the road for seven weeks and just got home

Members of downthesun include Danny Spain, left, Church, Kuk, Satone, Aaron and Bruce Swink. The Kansas City-based hard rock band released its major-label debut on Tuesday.