Balance and Composure | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Doylestown, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 2007–2019, 2023–present |
Labels | Vagrant, UNFD (AU/NZ), No Sleep, Big Scary Monsters (EU), Memory Music |
Members |
|
Past members | Bailey Van Ellis |
Balance and Composure is an American rock band from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. [2] They formed in the winter of 2007, after the breakup of two local Doylestown bands. [5]
The band's musical style has been compared those of Nirvana and fellow Pennsylvanians Title Fight. [6] Their early influences included Nirvana, Neutral Milk Hotel, Sunny Day Real Estate, [7] Jawbreaker, and Braid. [8]
They released three studio albums and two EPs over the initial course of their career. Their second album The Things We Think We're Missing reached number 51 on the Billboard 200, number 10 on the Independent Albums, number 13 on the Modern Rock/Alternative Albums and number 16 on the Rock Albums charts. [9]
On December 14, 2017, on Taylor Madison's Strange Nerve podcast, vocalist Jon Simmons announced that their upcoming anniversary tour would be their last. [10] On January 14, 2019 a press release went out on the band's Twitter account announcing a farewell tour. Six dates were confirmed, saying that "These shows are the only shows we have planned in our future, we would love if you joined us one last time." [11] The band later added extra dates due to high demand. These shows had select support from Tigers Jaw, mewithoutYou, and Touche Amore.
On April 11, 2023, the band reunited and surprise released the 7-inch single Too Quick to Forgive with two new songs, "Savior Mode" and "Last to Know". The release was produced by longtime collaborator Will Yip and released via his label, Memory Music. The band also announced a handful of reunion shows with select support from Webbed Wing, Grist Mil, Fleshwater, Seahaven, Death Bells, Choir Boy, and Toledo. [12] Simmons, Andy Slaymaker (guitar), Erik Petersen (guitar), and Matt Warner (bass) returned in the formation of the 2023 iteration of the band. They were joined by new drummer Dennis Wilson, formerly of Saves the Day and Every Avenue.
The band released their fourth studio album (and first in eight years), With You in Spirit , on October 4, 2024, via Memory Music.
Current members
Former members
Timeline
Studio albums
EPs
Music videos
Year | Song | Director |
---|---|---|
2012 | "Quake" | Dan Centrone |
2013 | "Reflection" | |
"Tiny Raindrop" [13] | Alex Henery | |
2016 | "Postcard" | Jason Michael Roberts |
"Afterparty" | ||
2023 | "Savior Mode" | Jon Simmons, Erik Petersen, Britain Weyant |
"Last to Know" | Dessie Jackson | |
2024 | "Cross to Bear" | Drew Horen |
"Sorrow Machine" | Dessie Jackson | |
"Believe the Hype" | Drew Horen | |
"Any Means" | Britain Weyant | |
"With You in Spirit" | Dessie Jackson |
Melvins are an American rock band formed in 1983 in Montesano, Washington. Their early work was key to the development of both grunge and sludge metal. Primarily a trio, they have also performed as a quartet, with either two drummers or two bassists. Since 1984, vocalist and guitarist Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover have been constant members.
Magnetic North is the fourth full-length album released by the hardcore band Hopesfall. Josh Brigham, one of the guitarists and the only founding member remaining during the recording of the album, has said: "Our music has always been spacey and heavy, and we use those roots, combined with our love of grunge-era Smashing Pumpkins, Dinosaur Jr., HUM, and Pixies, we add some bigger, heavier riffs.
Dinosaur Jr. is an American rock band formed in Amherst, Massachusetts, in 1984. Originally called Dinosaur, the band was forced to change their name because of legal issues.
Hot Snakes were an American rock band led by Rick Froberg and John Reis, formed in 1999 in San Diego, California. Reis and Froberg had previously performed together in Pitchfork and Drive Like Jehu, after which Reis found international success with Rocket from the Crypt. Hot Snakes disbanded in 2005 but reunited in 2011, remaining active until Froberg's death in 2023.
Circa Survive is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that formed in 2004. Founded by singer Anthony Green and guitarist Colin Frangicetto, the band consists of former members from This Day Forward and Taken.
Melodic hardcore is a broadly defined subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on melody in its guitar work. It generally incorporates fast rhythms, melodic and often distorted guitar riffs, and vocal styles tending towards shouting and screaming. Nevertheless, the genre has been very diverse, with different bands showcasing very different styles. Many pioneering melodic hardcore bands, have proven influential across the spectrum of punk rock, as well as rock music more generally.
La Dispute is an American post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids, Michigan, formed in 2004. The current lineup is vocalist Jordan Dreyer, drummer Brad Vander Lugt, guitarist Chad Morgan-Sterenberg, guitarist Corey Stroffolino and bass guitarist Adam Vass.
Touché Amoré is an American post-hardcore band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2007. Since 2010, the band has consisted of vocalist Jeremy Bolm, guitarists Clayton Stevens and Nick Steinhardt, bassist Tyler Kirby, and drummer Elliot Babin. To date, the band have released six studio albums: ...To the Beat of a Dead Horse in 2009, Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me in 2011, Is Survived By in 2013, Stage Four in 2016, Lament in 2020, and Spiral in a Straight Line in 2024.
Pianos Become the Teeth are an American band from Baltimore, Maryland, formed in 2006. Their early musical style was inspired by post-rock and early screamo acts, and they were a part of the post-hardcore music movement, also represented by Touché Amoré, La Dispute, Defeater, and Make Do and Mend. The group reissued their well-received debut album Old Pride in 2010 through Topshelf Records.
Title Fight was an American rock band from Kingston, Pennsylvania, formed in 2003. They released three studio albums – Shed (2011), Floral Green (2012) and Hyperview (2015) – gradually shifting from a hardcore punk-oriented sound towards shoegaze and indie rock. Hyperview was released through Anti-, a record label to which the band signed in July 2014.
Defeater is an American melodic hardcore band from Massachusetts, formed in 2008. To date they have released five full-length albums, two EPs and three singles. The band lineup consists of Derek Archambault (vocals), Jake Woodruff (guitar), Joe Longobardi (drums) and Mike Poulin (bass). The band's earlier works have been released via Bridge 9 Records, aside from the album Travels, which was initially released via Topshelf Records, but was later reissued on Bridge 9 Records. Their studio album, Letters Home, was released on July 16, 2013, and debuted at number 72 on Billboard Top 200 chart, number 1 on the vinyl chart and number 13 on the Current Alternative Album chart. They released an album in 2015 titled, Abandoned and in 2019 they released their self-titled album, both on Epitaph Records.
Tigers Jaw is an American rock band from Scranton, Pennsylvania, that formed in 2005. The group was co-founded by Adam McIlwee and Ben Walsh, with Walsh serving as the only consistent member throughout. The band's current lineup consists of Walsh, keyboardist/vocalist Brianna Collins, drummer Teddy Roberts, bassist Colin Gorman, and guitarist Mark Lebiecki. Their first album, Belongs to the Dead, was released in 2006. They issued two more albums before announcing a hiatus in March 2013. However, their record label, Run for Cover, stated in August 2013 that the band's breakup was not official. Their fourth album, Charmer, came out in June 2014, and their fifth, Spin, in 2017. Their most recent album, I Won't Care How You Remember Me, was released in 2021.
Make Do and Mend was an American post-hardcore band from West Hartford, Connecticut, that formed in 2006, who relocated to Boston. They released 2 EPs on Panic Records, a split with Touché Amoré and three full-length albums. While technically members of "The Wave", along with La Dispute, Touché Amoré, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Defeater, the band has since clarified that "The Wave" was merely an inside joke between those bands and does not represent a particular movement or subgenre in post-hardcore.
Sainthood Reps is an American indie rock band from Long Island, New York, formed in 2009. Their debut album, Monoculture, was released on Tooth & Nail Records in the summer of 2011 and was produced by Mike Sapone. The band released their second album, Headswell, in October 2013 through No Sleep Records.
No Sleep Records was an American independent record label in Huntington Beach, California. They were founded by Chris Hansen in 2006 and have released records by artists including Balance and Composure, La Dispute, and The Wonder Years. They have released free sampler albums on the internet on a number of occasions and the label closely associates itself with vegan lifestyle and the revived interest in vinyl record sales. On June 25, 2024 it was announced that No Sleep Records would be shutting down.
Is Survived By is the third studio album by American post-hardcore band Touché Amoré. The album was released on September 24, 2013 through Deathwish. The full track listing and artwork was revealed on July 17, 2013. The album's first single, "Just Exist", was released on July 30, 2013, and a music video for the song "Harbor" was released on September 25 the same year. It was produced by Brad Wood and feature guest vocal appearances by Jon Simmons of Balance and Composure, and Julia Blake of synth-pop band Vow.
The emo revival, or fourth wave emo, was an underground emo movement which began in the late 2000s and flourished until the mid-to-late 2010s. The movement began towards the end of the 2000s third-wave emo, with Pennsylvania-based groups such as Tigers Jaw, Algernon Cadwallader and Snowing eschewing that era's mainstream sensibilities in favor of influence from 1990s Midwest emo. Acts like Touché Amoré, La Dispute and Defeater drew from 1990s emo and especially its heavier counterparts, such as screamo and post-hardcore.
Citizen is an American rock band from Southeast Michigan and Northwest Ohio that formed in 2009. The band currently consists of Mat Kerekes (vocals), brothers Nick and Eric Hamm (bass), Mason Mercer, and Ben Russin (drums). They are currently signed to Run for Cover Records, and have released five studio albums to date: Youth (2013), Everybody Is Going to Heaven (2015), As You Please (2017), Life in Your Glass World (2021), and Calling the Dogs (2023). Considered a part of emo's fourth wave, Pitchfork have described Citizen as "a band their fans can grow up with rather than out of."
Adam McIlwee, often known by the stage name Wicca Phase Springs Eternal (WPSE), is an American musician from Scranton, Pennsylvania. Beginning his career as a member of the rock band Tigers Jaw, he soon began pursuing a solo career with a sound based in hip hop, emo and witch house. He has worked as a member of collectives such as GothBoiClique, Thraxxhouse and Misery Club. He also played in the indie rock band Pay for Pain.
With You in Spirit is the fourth studio album from American rock band Balance and Composure. Their first studio album since reuniting in 2023, it was released on October 4, 2024, through Memory Music. The eight-year gap between it and Light We Made marks the longest gap in the band's studio albums to date. It is also the band's first studio album with drummer Dennis Wilson.
He was also joking, but then again, post-hardcore isn't known for its sense of humor. Despite his claims that he was making a tongue-in-cheek statement, this so-called new wave of friends and scene compatriots were some of the most exciting bands going; Touché Amoré, La Dispute, Defeater, Pianos Become the Teeth, and Make Do and Mend were considered the core, and the already-elastic boundaries stretched to include classicist alt-rock acts like Balance and Composure, melodic punk such as Title Fight and even Into It. Over It., a decidedly non-hardcore singer-songwriter vehicle.
I guess our main influence is 90's bands like Neutral Milk Hotel, Nirvana, and Sunny Day Real Estate.