BoySetsFire

Last updated

BoySetsFire
Boyestsfire.jpg
Background information
Origin Newark, Delaware, U.S.
Genres Post-hardcore, emo, melodic hardcore, punk rock
Years active1994–2007, 2010–present
Labels Burning Heart, Wind-up, Equal Vision, Undecided, Bridge 9, Conquer the World, Cascade, End Hits
MembersNathan Gray
Chad Istvan
Josh Latshaw
Robert Ehrenbrand
Chris Rakus
Jared Shavelson
Past membersRob Avery
Darrell Hyde
Matt Krupanski
Marc Krupanski
Dan Pelic
Lee Dickerson
Website boysetsfire.net
Nathan Gray on stage Boysetsfire 2012 RdelS 028.jpg
Nathan Gray on stage

BoySetsFire is an American post-hardcore band from Newark, Delaware. Formed in October 1994, BoySetsFire is composed of guitarists Chad Istvan and Josh Latshaw, vocalist Nathan Gray, drummer Jared Shavelson, and bassists Chris Rakus and Robert Ehrenbrand. [1] Their lyrical themes are politically driven. [2] [3]

Contents

Biography

BoySetsFire released their first demo albums in late 1994 and early 1995. In 1996, the band released their first EP, This Crying, This Screaming, My Voice Is Being Born. In 1997, they signed a contract with Initial Records and recorded their first album, The Day the Sun Went Out.

In 1999, their second album, After the Eulogy was recorded, and BoySetsFire went on tour with Snapcase, as well as on Vans Warped tour. BoySetsFire then released a split-EP with Snapcase in 1999, as well as the Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 Metallica tribute with Shai Hulud for Undecided Records, and another with Coalesce in 2000. [4] Their former bassist was replaced by Rob Avery. After being signed to Victory Records, the band moved to Wind-Up, an independent label distributed by Sony in the US. Tomorrow Come Today was then released in 2003.

Following a dispute with Wind-Up, in 2005 the band signed to the independent record label Burning Heart Records for worldwide distribution and Equal Vision Records for North American distribution. The album The Misery Index: Notes from the Plague Years got released in March 2006.

Brief hiatus

On July 31, 2006, the band informed the fans about its retirement through their official website. [5] There was a farewell European tour in late summer; however, guitarist Josh Latshaw severely injured himself prior to its start. As a result, the band played those shows with roadie Chris "The Reverend" Rakus at the guitar instead, but returned to Europe in May 2007 to give Latshaw the chance to say goodbye to the European fans.

The band's final performance took place on June 9, 2007, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Trocadero Theatre. A DVD has been released of this show in its entirety as well as parts of the final European tour.

On February 12, 2007, lead vocalist Nathan Gray announced that they were forming a new band by the name of The Casting Out. [6] While the band includes several former members of BoySetsFire, Gray informed fans that it would not be another political band.

Drummer Matt Krupanski went on to form new bands Bound and Buried and Young Lady, [7] the latter which included future BoySetsFire bassist, Marc Krupanski (formerly of Dear Tonight, Midvale, Eldritch Anisette, Dorian Gray, and Network 34), as well as two other Delaware natives, including members from Joshua Fit for Battle.

Reunion

BoySetsFire announced their reunion on their website and official Facebook page on October 5, 2010. Tour venues were Berlin, the Groezrock Festival in Belgium, the Studio at Webster Hall and the Nova Rock Festival in Nickelsdorf, Austria. In August 2011, they played in the UK at the Reading & Leeds Festival. In November 2011, via the band's official Facebook page, the band announced Robert Ehrenbrand had left the band. [1] The band then announced that Marc Krupanski officially joined as the new bassist. [8]

The band recorded 5 new songs in the summer of 2012 with two of them scheduled to be released on Magic Bullet Records as a vinyl 7" record. In 2012, five shows were played in the U.S.: two in January 2012 (one in their hometown of Newark, Delaware and the other in West Chester, Pennsylvania), one in Boston, one in Providence, and one and at The Bamboozle Festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey in May 2012. They then conducted a three-week tour in July–August 2012 in Europe. In December 2012 via the band's official Facebook page, it was announced that both Matt and Marc Krupanski had left the band. A few days later, it was announced that Chris Rakus and Robert Ehrenbrand would share bass player duties. Dan Pelic joined as drummer.

In June 2013, the band released a two-song EP featuring brothers Matt and Marc Krupanski, as well as a fifth album, While a Nation Sleeps... , which featured new and previously unreleased songs re-recorded by Dan Pelic and Robert Ehrenbrand. It was well-received, especially in the German album charts, where it reached #22. [9] A European Tour was carried out in June and July 2013, [10] including concerts at Hurricane and Southside Festival, with additional shows being played in Dortmund, Stuttgart and Hamburg in October 2013. In November and December 2013, the band toured Australia and in April 2014 gave concerts in the UK. The band returned to Europe for summer and, in celebration of its 20th anniversary, announced shows in Hamburg, Cologne, Berlin and Vienna in October 2014. [11]

In September 2015, the band released their self-titled sixth album. This was followed by a European tour to support the album with Silverstein and Great Collapse. In Summer 2016, they went on a European tour with Polar and Wolf Down before taking a break in order to focus on other musical projects.

Personnel

Timeline

BoySetsFire

Discography

Over the years, Boysetsfire have released records through Magic Bullet, Conquer the World, Deathwish Inc, Initial, Hydra Head, Victory, Wind-Up, Equal Vision, and Burning Heart. They have released split-EPs with Coalesce, Shai Hulud, Snapcase, Funeral for a Friend, and KMPFSPRT.

Studio albums

EPs

Compilations and other appearances

One of their songs, "Handful of Redemption", is featured on the video games Tiger Woods '03 and MVP Baseball '03 by EA Sports. Their song "Rookie" from the After the Eulogy album was featured on the Legends of Wrestling video game. "Rookie" from After the Eulogy and "Handful of Redemption" from the Tomorrow Come Today album were also featured in the video game 1080° Avalanche. Additionally, their song "High Wire Escape Artist" is featured on the soundtrack to The Daredevil motion picture. [14] The soundtrack record, released by Wind-up Records, is the band's first and only gold record.

Live recordings

Music videos

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Found Glory</span> American rock band

New Found Glory is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of Jordan Pundik, Ian Grushka, Chad Gilbert, and Cyrus Bolooki (drums). Longtime rhythm guitarist and lyricist Steve Klein left the band in late 2013. During their lengthy recording career, the band have released ten studio albums, one live album, two EPs, and four cover albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shai Hulud</span> American metalcore band

Shai Hulud is an American metalcore band formed in Pompano Beach, Florida, in 1995, and later based in Poughkeepsie, New York. The band is named after the giant sandworms in Frank Herbert's novel Dune.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annihilator (band)</span> Canadian thrash metal band

Annihilator is a Canadian thrash metal band founded in Ottawa in 1984 by Jeff Waters. Waters is the band's sole constant member and has acted as its guitarist, bandleader, writer, producer, engineer, and occasional bassist and vocalist. Annihilator has released seventeen studio albums and has undergone many line-up changes, with Waters regularly assembling touring or session musicians to perform with him. Along with Sacrifice, Voivod and Razor, Annihilator is known as one of the "Big Four" of Canadian thrash metal. They are also considered to be part of the "second wave" of thrash metal bands from the late 1980s and early 1990s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Comeback Kid (band)</span> Canadian hardcore punk band

Comeback Kid is a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in March 2001 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The band currently consists of vocalist Andrew Neufeld, guitarists Jeremy Hiebert and Stu Ross, bassist Chase Brenneman and drummer Loren Legare. Since its formation, the band have released seven studio albums and seventeen music videos. Their seventh studio album, Heavy Steps, was released in January 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chad Gilbert</span> American musician and record producer (born 1981)

Chad Everett Gilbert is an American musician and record producer. He is best known as a founding member of the rock band New Found Glory, for whom he plays lead guitar, sings backing vocals, and composes music. He was also the lead vocalist for the band's now-defunct side-project, International Superheroes of Hardcore. Additionally, Gilbert was the vocalist for the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud between 1995 and 1998, and from 2012 to 2013.

Snapcase is an American hardcore punk band from Buffalo, New York. Their records were released on the Chicago record label Victory Records. During the course of the band's initial run of fourteen years, they released six studio albums before disbanding in 2005.

<i>A Profound Hatred of Man</i> Extended play by Shai Hulud

A Profound Hatred of Man is an extended play by hardcore punk band Shai Hulud, released on February 18, 1997, on the independent label Crisis Records. In 2006, Revelation Records released a remastered version of the album which also includes the material from all of Shai Hulud's split records with bands Indecision, Boy Sets Fire and Another Victim, and some B-sides and covers.

Zombie Apocalypse is an American crossover thrash/metalcore band, formed by current members of Shai Hulud, Shallow Water Grave, and The Risk Taken, as well as former members of the 1990s New Jersey band Try.Fail.Try. In 1998, Shai Hulud members Matt Fox and Chad Gilbert created a zombie-themed band project, called Boddicker. They recruited ex-Poison the Well guitarist Russel Saunders. Boddicker recorded a two-song demo in 1998 that was never released. Those two songs are now Zombie Apocalypse songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Kleisath</span> American drummer

Steven Lee Kleisath is an American musician and has been a drummer for PULL, Strongarm, Shai Hulud, Further Seems Forever, and En Masse. The band PULL was originally called Friend or Foe. He also currently plays drums for the band The Darling Fire, who released the record Dark Celebration in 2019.

<i>Tomorrow Come Today</i> 2003 studio album by Boysetsfire

Tomorrow Come Today is the third studio album by Delaware band Boysetsfire, released in 2003.

<i>A Whole New Level of Sickness</i> 2000 EP by Shai Hulud and Another Victim

A Whole New Level of Sickness is a split EP featuring songs by hardcore punk bands Shai Hulud and Another Victim, released on June 27, 2000, on Trustkill Records and, in Europe, Good Life Recordings, in CD and 12" various colors from brown swirl to purple. Shai Hulud tracks were included in A Profound Hatred of Man (reissue). It also is the debut of Jared Allen and Geert van der Velde.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Moyal</span> American musician (born 1976)

Damien Zev Moyal is an American vocalist, lyricist, musician, songwriter, and designer. Born in Amstelveen, North Holland, Netherlands, he moved to the United States as a child and grew up in Miami, Florida, where he notably fronted such hardcore punk, metallic hardcore, and melodic hardcore bands as Shai Hulud, As Friends Rust, Morning Again, Culture, Bird of Ill Omen, and Bridgeburne R. Moyal has been based in Ann Arbor, Michigan since 2006, and is the founding member of the semi-eponymously named gothic rock/post-punk band Damien Done.

<i>Crush Em All Vol. 1</i> 2000 EP (split) by Shai Hulud and Boysetsfire

Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 is a split EP by hardcore punk bands Boysetsfire and Shai Hulud, released on March 24, 2000, on Undecided Records, 7" purple, grey, clear red, and Detroit Fest press black. The Shai Hulud cover song "Damage, Inc." was included in A Profound Hatred of Man (reissue). Shai Hulud and Boysetsfire each cover a Metallica song. This 7" is the first record of the ongoing series of Metallica tribute records. Steve Kleisath returned to play drums for Shai Hulud on this recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Fox (musician)</span> Musical artist

Matthew Ian Fox is an American musician, founding member and a current lead guitarist for the hardcore punk band Shai Hulud and his side project Zombie Apocalypse.

<i>Not Without a Heart Once Nourished by Sticks and Stones Within Blood Ill-Tempered Misanthropy Pure Gold Can Stay</i> 2009 EP by New Found Glory and Shai Hulud

Not Without a Heart Once Nourished by Sticks and Stones Within Blood Ill-Tempered Misanthropy Pure Gold Can Stay is a split EP by pop punk band New Found Glory and hardcore punk band Shai Hulud. This limited edition EP was only available at shows on the "Not Without a Fight" tour with New Found Glory, Bayside, Set Your Goals, and Shai Hulud. This tour spanned from March 25, 2009 to May 10, 2009. However, the EP was not available until the March 26 show in San Diego. Shai Hulud's song featured on this release originally appeared on the band's album, Misanthropy Pure. New Found Glory contributed their song, "Truck Stop Blues" to the release, featured on their last album, Not Without a Fight, produced by Mark Hoppus from Blink-182.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Lake (band)</span> Japanese metalcore band

Crystal Lake is a Japanese metalcore band from Tokyo, formed in 2002. The band comprises vocalist John Robert Centorrino, guitarists Yudai Miyamoto and Hisatsugu Taji, bassist Mitsuru, and drummer Gaku Taura, who is a former member of Nocturnal Bloodlust. After Shinya Hori's departure, Miyamoto is the only member of the original line-up who remains in the band. Crystal Lake have released five studio albums. Their latest studio album, Helix, was released on 28 November 2018.

Kid Gorgeous is an American metalcore band from Buffalo, New York, United States. The group features a conglomerate mix of members from past and current bands Buried Alive (band), Every Time I Die and Anterrabae. Their first album, Friday Night Knife Fight, was released in May 2001. Their second studio album, This Feeling Gets Old, came out in June 2003. Both efforts were released on Southern California indie label Uprising Records. The band originally called it quits in 2003 with their last show being with Snapcase and Every Time I Die in November of that year. With a couple one-off reunion shows since then, the band has recently resurfaced with news in March 2010 that they were going to record and tour briefly in the summer. The band started recording an EP in December 2010 at GCR Audio in Buffalo, New York with Jay Zubricky and debuted two of the songs at their show with Every Time I Die on December 29, 2010. Subsequently, on December 30, 2010, the band released the song "Mermaid With A Switchblade" via their Facebook and Myspace pages. On February 1, 2012, Eulogy Recordings announced that it will be releasing the EP titled "Blue Romance" which includes three new tracks, a re-recorded classic, and a cover on June 5, 2012. It was announced via the band's Twitter and Facebook pages that Every Time I Die frontman Keith Buckley has lent vocals to a cover of Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight" which will be a bonus track on the EP.

<i>Reach Beyond the Sun</i> 2013 studio album by Shai Hulud

Reach Beyond the Sun is the fourth studio album by hardcore punk band Shai Hulud, released on February 15, 2013, in Europe and on February 19 in the U.S. through Metal Blade Records. It has been met with positive reviews.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Undecided Records</span> American record label

Undecided Records was an American independent record label established in 1998 by Clifford Wiener and Alexander Kenny. The record company was founded in Loxahatchee, Florida but its headquarters moved around in various parts of Palm Beach County, Florida; first to Boca Raton, then to Parkland, and finally to Lake Worth. The record label released hardcore, metalcore, noisecore, post-hardcore, and emo music, with a principally North American roster of artists spanning from the late 1990s to the mid-2000s. Undecided Records released music on vinyl records, compact discs, and digital audio formats, with distribution in the United States originally through Revelation Records, then through Victory Records, and finally through Sony/RED Music. Wiener and Kenny were both closely associated with Eulogy Recordings, where they worked in their free time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On Bodies</span> American hardcore band

On Bodies was an American hardcore band active from 2009 to 2017. Principally based in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the majority of its members resided, it also included members from Michigan, Florida, New Jersey, and Kentucky. The group was formed by guitarist, bass guitarist, drummer, backing vocalist, and principal songwriter Richard Thurston, and vocalist and lyricist Damien Moyal. The band later also included former members of Until the End, Where Fear and Weapons Meet, Glasseater, Destro, Mixtapes, and The Homeless Gospel Choir.

References

  1. 1 2 "Hello everyone…A lot going on in the... - BOYSETSFIRE(official)". Facebook.com.
  2. "Interview with Boy Sets Fire". Stapel.home.xs4all.nl. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  3. "Lazyeye Profile: Boy Sets Fire". Timmcmahan.com. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  4. Deller, Alex (June 13, 2007). "Boy Sets Fire Shai Hulud - Crush 'Em All Vol. 1 Review". Collective Zine. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  5. "BSF". Archived from the original on February 22, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  6. "Official site news". Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  7. "Young Lady {NEW SONGS!}". Myspace.
  8. "BOYSETSFIRE(official)". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on December 11, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
  9. ""WHILE A NATION SLEEPS..." REACHED NO. 22 OF THE GERMAN ALBUM CHARTS!". Boysetsfire.org. Archived from the original on October 12, 2016. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  10. "Boysetsfire Tour Dates". Archived from the original on October 6, 2014.
  11. "20TH ANNIVERSARY EUROPEAN TOUR OCTOBER 2014". boysetsfire.org. May 27, 2014. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved October 5, 2014.
  12. "Various – Dad, I Can't Breathe". Discogs.com. Retrieved March 18, 2020.
  13. "By The Grace Of God:For The Kids". Louisville Punk/Hardcore History.
  14. "Daredevil Soundtrack". Daredevil-movies.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2020.