Zao is an American metalcore band founded in Parkersburg, West Virginia, and later relocated to Greensburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in March 1993, Zao has hosted several musicians and endured numerous roster changes to the point where no original members remain. Former drummer Jesse Smith, vocalist Dan Weyandt, and guitarists Scott Mellinger and Russ Cogdell are seen by some fans as the "core" of Zao, with the current line up being the longest running in the band's history.
The Agony Scene is an American heavy metal band from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Formed in 2000, the group currently consists of lead guitarist Chris Emmons, vocalist Mike Williams, and rhythm guitarist Brian Hodges.
Embodyment was a Christian rock band from Arlington, Texas. The group formed in 1992 and were first known by the name Supplication where they originally played death metal, later turning to deathcore with the release of their debut album Embrace the Eternal, which in turn is credited as one of the earliest deathcore releases of all time. Following their debut full-length the band would completely abandon all their extreme metal elements thereafter, pursuing instead an alternative rock/nu metal style with their album The Narrow Scope of Things and subsequently became lighter with each proceeding album.
Dogwood is a punk rock band from Escondido, California founded in 1993. Their music has been compared to that of The Offspring, and they list Bad Religion, NOFX and Lagwagon as musical influences.
Sinai Beach was a Christian metal band that was formed in Riverside, California, in 2000. The band has stated on multiple occasions that they are named after Mount Sinai, where Moses was given the Ten Commandments in the Bible.
The Funeral of God is the seventh studio album by American metalcore band Zao. It was released in July 13, 2004 through Ferret Records in the US, and in July 12, 2004 through Roadrunner and Ferret in Europe and Asia. It saw the return of guitarist, Russ Cogdell, and the addition of bassist Shawn Koschik and drummer Stephen Peck after the departure of Jesse Smith. A music video was made for the song "The Rising End ".
Huntingtons are a punk band from Baltimore, Maryland which formed in 1994 in the Maryland and Delaware area by Cliff Powell, Mike Holt and Mike Pierce. The band is heavily influenced by the Ramones and has extensively toured with numerous ramonescore bands.
Aletheian are a Christian progressive/melodic death metal band. They formed in Lebanon, Pennsylvania in 1997 under the name Crutch, and then changed their name to "Aletheian" prior to the 2003 album Apolutrosis. Guitarist Alex Kenis joined Becoming the Archetype in 2007. In the early 2007, Aletheian signed to IronClad Recordings, an imprint of Metal Blade Records.
Narcissus was an American hardcore band formed by John LaRussa and John Pope in 1998 in Canton, Ohio. In addition to John Pope and John LaRussa (guitar), who were in the band from start to finish, members included, at various times, Justin Carroll (bass), Ray Taylor, Derek Carter (percussion), Bill Wensel (percussion), Stephen Cushman (percussion) and Josh King (bass). The band was on the now-defunct label Takehold Records before joining Century Media. A few albums were re-released through Tooth & Nail. Before breaking up the band were featured on The Vans Warped tour and were getting ready to hit Europe for their international release of Crave and Collapse, which was received well overseas. They announced that they have reunited and become a band again in 2020 after John Pope and John LaRussa were offered a spot on the famous Furnace Fest, performing on day 1, September 24, 2021, along with bands Converge, Glassjaw, Killswitch Engage, Everytime I Die and many others. They performed their first show on September 11, 2021.
Officer Negative is a Christian punk band from Ventura, California, United States. Formed in 1995 and initially disbanded in 2000, the band released two albums and an EP on Screaming Giant Records. They played "old-school" hardcore punk, and though their music never appeared in a polished form, it was said to "never hold back the passion."
Saving Grace is a Christian metal band from Gisborne, New Zealand. They were the first foreign band to sign to Strike First Records. Their album, The Urgency, debuted at No. 3 on the New Zealand Top 20 albums chart alongside multi-platinum sellers Lorde and Sole Mio and also debuted at No. 57 on the Billboard Hard Music Chart and No. 59 on the Billboard Heatseekers Chart in the United States.
Overcome are an American Christian metalcore band. They come from Phoenix, Arizona. The band started making music in 1993 until their decade-long hiatus from 2000 to 2010, when they commenced making music again. Tooth & Nail Records released the band's first two albums, Blessed Are the Persecuted in 1996 and When Beauty Dies in 1997. Facedown Records has released the other albums from the band signed the band. They released Immortal Until Their Work Is Done in 1999, More Than Death in 2001, The Great Campaign of Sabotage in 2011, and No Reserves. No Retreats. No Regrets. in 2013. They were one of the first "Spirit-Filled Hardcore" bands, along with Unashamed, Focused, Strongarm, and Zao. They were the first band signed to Facedown Records. The band is playing at Facedown Fest 2017.
Bloodlined Calligraphy is an American metalcore band, infusing death metal and thrash metal. Hailing from Ypsilanti, Michigan, the band started making music in 1996 under the name Friction. In 1999, the band changed its name to Bloodlined Calligraphy and the band's lineup consisted of Matt Carter (drums), Matt Fleming, Ryan Hampton (guitar), Eric Cargile, and Josh Colvin (guitar). The band signed to Selah Records and, in 2002, they released their first full-length album, Say Hi to the Bad Guy. In 2003, Fleming left the band amicably. The band conducted a nationwide search for their next vocalist, with Fleming having a large say in who should replace him as the band's vocalist. The band asked Michigan native Ally French, who was fronting a touring metalcore band in Ohio at the time, to audition. Ally had sung clean vocals alongside Fleming for several of Bloodlined Calligraphy's live shows and was Fleming's favored replacement. The band appointed Ally as their vocalist and played their first live shows together in late 2003. During the band's second show with Ally at the front, the group caught the eyes and ears of Jason Dunn, owner of Los Angeles-based record labels Facedown Records and Strike First Records. The group became part of Strike First Records and released an EP in 2004 titled The Beginning of the End, which was recorded by Mike Hasty, guitarist of another female-fronted, Michigan-based hardcore band, Walls of Jericho. Shortly after the album's release, guitarist Josh Colvin was replaced by Shawn Williams.
The Journey...So Far is the debut album of metalcore band, Society's Finest. This is the only production to feature any of the original members, other than vocalist Josh Ashworth.
Love, Murder, and a Three Letter Word is the second album of the metalcore band Society's Finest. The album consisted of two EPs put together, Private Conflicts and Suicides and the Texas EP.
Twelve Gauge Valentine was an American post-hardcore band from Bastrop and Monroe, Louisiana, with their debut album Shock Value released on October 3, 2006. The band was initially supported by the Sound Vs. Silence label, with whom they released their debut EP, Exclamationaire. They have toured with bands, such as Haste the Day, From Autumn to Ashes, It Dies Today, Alesana, War of Ages, Demise of Eros, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Inhale Exhale, Anam Cara, Vanna, Once Nothing, Gwen Stacy, Society's Finest, The Handshake Murders, and Memphis May Fire.
Focused was a hardcore punk band that originated out of Long Beach, California in 1991, with a Christian hardcore style. The band broke up in 1996, but reunited briefly in 2009.
Jesse Smith is an American musician, best known for his work as the original drummer of metalcore band Zao. After leaving Zao, he has had multiple other bands/projects, including Gods, My Own Halo, Jesse Smith & the Holy Ghost, and Serpent Servant Slave.
Demise of Eros was a metalcore band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that formed in late 2003. The band signed to Strike First Records, a subsidiary of Facedown Records. The band disbanded in 2006.
Kris McCaddon is an American musician. He was the second guitarist for the metalcore band Society's Finest and lead guitarist for Demon Hunter. He was also the vocalist for the bands Embodyment and The Famine.
