Integrity (band)

Last updated

Integrity
Integrity Tokyo 2017 unholy.jpg
Integrity in 2017
Background information
Origin Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Years active1988 (1988)–present
Labels
Members
  • Dwid Hellion
Website holyterror.com

Integrity is a hardcore punk band originally from Cleveland, Ohio, but based in Belgium since 2003. [1] [2] It was formed in 1988 by lead vocalist Dwid Hellion. [3]

Contents

The band has released nearly 50[ quantify ] recordings since 1988 as well as playing at hundreds[ quantify ] of shows including numerous global festival appearances. Their sound is a mix of hardcore punk and heavy metal, with influences including industrial, noise and experimental music. Lyrical themes include religion, the supernatural, art, philosophy, horror, as well as mental illness and the occult.

Musical style and legacy

Integrity have cited influences including Celtic Frost, Septic Death, Black Sabbath, Samhain, Metallica, Joy Division, Bauhaus and Throbbing Gristle. [4]

According to its bio on Relapse Records website, Integrity was formed in Cleveland in 1988 and is considered to be one of the first bands to mix metal and hardcore in a way that would later become popular.[ citation needed ]

In the 2013 Decibel "Hall of Fame", Integrity's Systems Overload (1995, Victory Records) was referred to as "the landmark work in a grand and heretical oeuvre". [5]

Philip Trapp of Loudwire stated that Integrity "charted the course for metalcore to come", citing Dwid Hellion as one of the genre's most iconic vocalists. [6]

They have been cited as an influence by bands including All Pigs Must Die, [7] Clear, [8] Converge, [9] Full of Hell, [10] Hatebreed, [11] Overcast, [8] Pulling Teeth, [12] Rise and Fall [13] and Unbroken. [14]

Members

Current members

Touring members

Former members

  • Aaron Melnick – guitar, vocals (1988–1998) [15]
  • Frank Cavanaugh – guitar (1991)
  • Bill Mckinney – guitar (1991)
  • Chris Smith (II) – guitar (1991–1994) [16]
  • Frank "3 Gun" Novineck – guitar (1994–1998) [17]
  • Dave "Gravy" Felton – guitar (1998–2000) [15]
  • Vee Price – guitar, bass, vocals (2000–2002)
  • John Comprix – guitar (2003)
  • Blaze Tishko – guitar, vocals (2003)
  • Mike Jochum – guitar (2003–2009)
  • Matt Brewer – guitar (2005–2006)
  • Rob Orr – guitar, bass, drums (2006–2014)
  • Domenic Romeo – guitar, bass, organ (2014–2023)
  • Tom Front – bass (1988–1989)
  • Leon "Micha" Melnick – bass (1989–1998) [16]
  • Craig Martini – bass (1998–2000)
  • Steve Rauckhorst – bass (2003–2009)
  • Tiny Pines – drums (1988–1991) [16]
  • David Nicholi Araca – drums (1991–1994)
  • Chris Dora – drums (1996–1998) [18]
  • Steve Felton – drums (1998–2000)
  • Nate Jochum – drums (2005–2009)

Timeline

Integrity (band)

Discography

Integrity in 2017 Integrity @ Roadburn Festival 2017 04.jpg
Integrity in 2017

Studio Albums

EPs

Other

Related Research Articles

Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, that originated in the late 1980s. Metalcore is noted for its use of breakdowns, which are slow, intense passages conducive to moshing, while other defining instrumentation includes heavy guitar riffs often utilizing percussive pedal tones and double bass drumming. Vocalists in the genre typically perform screaming; more popular bands often combine this with the use of standard singing, usually during the bridge or chorus of a song. However, the death growl is also a popular technique within the genre.

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

Hatebreed is an American metalcore band from Bridgeport, Connecticut, formed in 1994. The band released its debut album Satisfaction is the Death of Desire in 1997, which gave the band a cult following. The band signed to Universal Records and released Perseverance in 2002, which hit the Billboard 200. Combining elements of hardcore and heavy metal, the band is often described as a metalcore, hardcore punk, and beatdown hardcore band. They have played a major role in the Connecticut hardcore scene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crowbar (American band)</span> American sludge metal band

Crowbar is an American sludge metal band formed in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1990. The band is fronted by vocalist/guitarist Kirk Windstein, Crowbar's sole constant member.

Chicago hardcore is the hardcore punk scene of Chicago and its surrounding area. Beginning in the 1980s with post-hardcore bands Naked Raygun, Big Black and the Effigies. By the 1990s, the scene had developed two separate sizable scenes: a straight edge metalcore scene including Arma Angelus and Racetraitor; and a thrashcore scene based on the South Side, including Los Crudos and Charles Bronson. During this time Victory Records was founded in the city, which go on to be one of the most prominent record labels in hardcore, releasing albums by seminal metalcore bands Integrity, Hatebreed and All Out War, and then emo and pop-punk groups including Taking Back Sunday, Hawthorne Heights and A Day to Remember. Chicago hardcore experienced a mainstream crossover in the 2000s, when bands originating from the scene, including Rise Against, Fall Out Boy and the Lawrence Arms, received international success.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planes Mistaken for Stars</span> American rock band

Planes Mistaken for Stars was an American rock band. The group was founded in Peoria, Illinois in 1997 and later relocated to Denver, Colorado in 1999. Working with several different labels, they released three studio albums and four EPs before breaking up in 2008. While rooted in the post-hardcore and emo scenes of the turn of the century, Planes Mistaken for Stars developed a distinctive musical style strongly influenced by heavy metal and rock and roll. Reuniting for live performances in 2010, they went on to release their fourth album Prey in 2016.

Ringworm is an American metalcore band formed in Cleveland, Ohio in 1989. Their name was derived from a Vincent Price movie. The band has toured extensively in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Europe and has released four albums via Victory Records. In 2013, the band announced they had signed with Relapse Records, releasing three further albums with the label before moving to Nuclear Blast in 2023. Vocalist Human Furnace currently plays in the Cleveland metal band Gluttons and solo project Holyghost.

<i>Unloved and Weeded Out</i> 2003 compilation album by Converge

Unloved and Weeded Out is a compilation by American metalcore band Converge, released on January 28, 2003, through Deathwish Inc.

Merauder is an American metalcore band from New York City, formed in 1990.

Starkweather is an American heavy metal band from Philadelphia formed in 1989. They have a complex experimental metal sound often including use of dissonance, intricate tempo changes and avant-garde sensibilities. Starkweather helped pioneer the hardcore punk/heavy metal crossover sound that would later be known as "metalcore", as well as being a major influence on the mathcore subgenre. They have influenced many of today's top selling hardcore/metal bands such as Converge, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon and Coalesce among many others.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob Bannon</span> American vocalist (born 1976)

Jacob Bannon is an American musician who is the vocalist, lyricist and graphic artist for the metalcore band Converge. He is the co-founder and owner of the record label Deathwish Inc. and the author of many visual works for independent punk rock and heavy metal musicians. Bannon has also composed and performed experimental music as Supermachiner with Ryan Parker and more recently as Wear Your Wounds.

<i>Cosmogenesis</i> (album) 2009 studio album by Obscura

Cosmogenesis is the second studio album by German death metal band Obscura. It was released on 17 February 2009 by Relapse Records. The album debuted at No. 71 on the Top Heatseekers chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">On My Shield</span> 2010 single by Converge

"On My Shield" is a single released by American metalcore band Converge. It was originally made available during the band's European tour in July 2010. The single was self-released by the band, though it was distributed by Converge's labels, Epitaph Records and Deathwish Inc. The physical release does not contain a label catalog number, however Deathwish lists the single as CONCULT01. The song was recorded and produced by guitarist Kurt Ballou at his own GodCity studio between the band's 2010 US and European tours in support of Axe to Fall.

<i>Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me</i> 2011 studio album by Touché Amoré

Parting the Sea Between Brightness and Me is the second studio album by the American post-hardcore band Touché Amoré. The album was released on June 7, 2011, through Deathwish Inc. It was recorded and produced in five days with Ed Rose at his own Black Lodge Recording studio in Eudora, Kansas. The band was recorded live to give the album a more "honest/raw" feel. The band said they chose to work with Rose because of the work he had done with The Casket Lottery.

<i>Love Is Love/Return to Dust</i> 2012 studio album by Code Orange Kids

Love Is Love // Return to Dust is the debut album by the American hardcore punk band Code Orange Kids. The album was released on November 20, 2012 through Deathwish Inc. A music video for the song "Flowermouth " was released in October 2012.

Victims were a Swedish hardcore punk band, originally hailing from Nyköping, at the end of their career they were based in Stockholm. The final line-up consisted of lead vocalist and bass player Johan Eriksson, drummer Andy Henriksson, guitar player, vocalist Jon Lindqvist and guitar player Gareth Smith.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chimaira</span> American heavy metal band

Chimaira is an American heavy metal band from Cleveland, Ohio. Formed in August 1998, the band's name is derived from the word Chimera, a monstrous creature in Greek mythology. Throughout its history, the band had numerous line-up changes, leaving vocalist Mark Hunter as the only constant member. The band dissolved in 2014, but announced a reunion in 2017 and a return in 2023 with most of the group's longtime members rejoined.

Nu metalcore is a fusion genre that combines elements of nu metal and metalcore. The genre often makes use of a combination of screamed and sung vocals, in addition to breakdowns, hip hop-influenced drum beats and electronic music elements.

<i>Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume</i> 2017 studio album by Integrity

Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume is the tenth studio album by American hardcore punk band Integrity. It was released in July 2017 under Relapse Records.

Broken Teeth were an English hardcore punk band formed in Manchester in 2007. The band have released one studio album and four EPs.

References

  1. "Integrity's Dwid Hellion on 'Suicide Black Snake,' Humanity and Charles Manson". MTV. Archived from the original on August 5, 2016. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  2. "Hardcore metal band Integrity returns to Cleveland for first gig since 2005". cleveland.com. October 31, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
  3. 1 2 Hardt-Valenzuela, Bruce (August 27, 2018). "30 years of Integrity: an interview with Dwid Hellion on his vast career". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. "Integrity Interview". Thrasher . Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  5. "Integrity - "Systems Overload"". Decibel Magazine. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  6. https://loudwire.com/who-invented-metalcore/
  7. "10 Albums That Inspired All Pigs Must Die's "Hostage Animal"" . Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  8. 1 2 Wiederhorn, Jon; Turman, Katherine (2013). Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal. It Books.
  9. Breihan, Tom. "5-10-15-20: Converge's Kurt Ballou". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  10. Hill, Mike. "Exploring Complexity With Full of Hell".
  11. Thompson, Josh. "Hatebreed Brings Brutality and Wrath to Columbus" . Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  12. Yoe, Adam. "Former Pulling Teeth Singer Mike Riley on His Hardcore Archival Projects" . Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  13. "5 Albums That Influenced Rise and Fall, by Vocalist Bjorn Dossche" . Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  14. Bowden, Scott. "(((O))) : INTERVIEW: ROB MORAN FROM UNBROKEN" . Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  15. 1 2 3 "Integrity biography". AllMusic . Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  16. 1 2 3 Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Booklet). Integrity. Overkill. 1991. p. 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  17. Systems Overload (Booklet). Integrity. Victory. 1995. p. 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  18. Humanity is the Devil (Booklet). Integrity. Victory. 1996. p. 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  19. https://loudwire.com/who-invented-metalcore/
  20. Adams, Gregory (March 21, 2013). "Integrity Announce 'Suicide Black Snake'". Exclaim! . Retrieved March 21, 2013.
  21. Punknews.org (July 25, 2018). "Interviews: Dwid Hellion on Integrity's New Record, G.I.S.M., and Annihilation". punknews.org. Retrieved December 30, 2020.