Throwdown was formed in 1997 by vocalist Keith Barney, an active member of both Adamantium and Eighteen Visions, guitarists Tommy Love and Javier Van Huss, bassist Dom Macaluso, and drummer Marc Jackson. The group took on the title Throwdown as a "wry irony on their collective stature", at the time no band member being more than 5feet 8inches (1.73m). The band released their debut, self-titled 7-inch single that same year through Prime Directive Records. Van Huss left the band and was replaced by Brandan Schieppati. After signing a recording contract with Indecision Records, they released their first studio album Beyond Repair the following year. Schieppati was replaced by Dave Peters. The following year, the new line-up released the Drive Me Dead EP.[6]
In 2001, Throwdown was scheduled to release a split 7-inch vinyl with Poison the Well through Surprise Attack Records.[7] Instead, the band released their second studio album, You Don't Have to Be Blood to Be Family. Not long afterward, Jackson left the band, who, lacking a permanent replacement, recruited Barney's 18 Visions bandmate Ken Floyd to fill-in. Floyd appeared on their self-released 2002 EP Face the Mirror. The same year, Barney told the band he'd like to switch from vocals to guitar, as he would often lose his voice on tour, so Peters took over on vocals. Barney would often miss shows due to his commitments to 18 Visions; Matt Mentley was drafted to fill in for him.
Haymaker (2003–2004)
In 2003, Throwdown recorded and released Haymaker, featuring the Peters-penned straight-edge anthem "Forever", on Trustkill Records. The lineup was Peters on vocals, Macaluso on bass, Love & Barney on guitars, and session drummer Jarred Alexander. A tour with Hatebreed followed in support of the album's release.
As Barney stayed busy with 18 Visions, Macaluso and Love started the band The Lost, who released an EP with Indecision very reminiscent of the group HIM.
Mentley officially replaced Barney in 2004. The band played Japan, with a fill in drummer, and embarked on a short tour of Europe with new drummer Ben Dussault. Former drummer Jackson filled in for Love, on guitar. Peters, Mentley, Dussault, Macaluso, and Love spent the summer of 2004 on Ozzfest's second stage.
Vendetta (2005–2006)
Throwdown spent the early part of the year recording Vendetta, made at Planet Z Studios with producer Zeuss. Mark Choiniere joined the band shortly before the album was recorded, although he does not appear in the music video for "Burn". Peters, Dussault, Choiniere, Mentley and Macaluso hit the inaugural Sounds of the Underground tour that summer.
In the fall, they headlined a US tour sponsored by To Die for Clothing with Sinai Beach as support. Following this tour, Macaluso, the band's only remaining original member, exited Throwdown. Mentley switched to bass, with Mark Choiniere covering all guitar duties in the live setting. Throwdown has remained a four-piece ever since.
Throwdown recorded Venom & Tears with producer Mudrock in Los Angeles.
They spent the summer headlining the Ernie Ball stage on the Vans Warped Tour. After the tour, they filmed a video for "Holy Roller" with director Andy Reale. In the fall, they supported Machine Head on a US tour. Mentley left the band afterward. His replacement, Mark Mitchell, made his live debut in South America in December 2007. Mitchell had previously been the vocalist for the Florida veganstraight edge metalcore band Culture (1993–1994, 1995–1996), and guitarist in Red Roses for a Blue Lady (1998–2001), Until the End (2001–2002) and The Mistake (2004–2007).[8][9]
In March 2008, Throwdown announced that they had fulfilled their contractual obligations and were no longer signed to Trustkill Records. In December 2008, the band signed to Koch Records and began working on their sixth album.[10] In the same announcement, it was stated that Jarrod Alexander, who worked with the band on Haymaker, would return for the new album.
Deathless (2009–2013)
In February 2009, the band played at the second annual MusInk festival in Orange County, supporting Danzig and The Used.
In the Spring, Throwdown began recording with Mudrock (who previously recorded Venom & Tears) in Los Angeles. The new album featured Peters, Choiniere, Mitchell, and session drummer Alexander. The album was mixed by Zeuss, who had produced and mixed Vendetta.
They spent September and October touring Europe with Chimaira and Unearth, with Living Sacrifice drummer Lance Garvin behind the kit.[11]
On November 10, 2009, Throwdown released Deathless in North America via Koch (later called eOne Music, and now called MNRK Music Group).
In November and December, they headlined the Deathless Tour across America, with support from Bury Your Dead, For Today, ABACABB, and The World We Knew, again with the lineup of Peters, Choiniere, Mitchell, and Garvin.
In December, the band announced they would join Five Finger Death Punch and Shadows Fall on a lengthy U.S. tour set for January and February 2010. However, without a permanent replacement for Dussault, Choiniere opted to bow out of Throwdown roughly two weeks before the start of the tour. Throwdown dropped out of the tour and was replaced on the bill by the band God Forbid.
In October 2011, Throwdown headlined a short West Coast trek dubbed "Brawloween". The lineup was Peters and Mitchell with Demon Hunter drummer Tim "Yogi" Watts and then-Bleeding Through guitarist Dave Nassie filling in. Support for the shows included Carnifex, First Blood, and Suffokate.
Intolerance & Take Cover (2014–2022)
Throwdown released the Intolerance album on January 21, 2014, via eOne Music.[12] It was produced by Peters with Davey Worsop and mixed/mastered by Zeuss. Peters performed everything on the album, save for drums (handled by longtime session player Alexander) and guitar solos, which were tracked by Nassie.[13]
The band performed at Canada's Amnesia Rockfest in 2014 and Belgium's Groezrock festival in 2015. Both shows featured Peters on vocals and the return of Mentley on bass, with Alexander and Nassie filling in.[14]
In April 2020, Throwdown released a surprise EP, Take Cover, collecting cover songs from over the years. The EP was issued by the band's own label, Pit Viper Records. Throwdown's Trustkill-era albums are now on all digital services via Pit Viper Records, as well.[15]
Haymaker XX (2023–Present)
Beyond Repair (a new band featuring Barney, Love, and Jackson) performed Indecision-era Throwdown songs at the Indecision Records 30th-anniversary show in July 2023.[16]
In September 2023, Throwdown appeared at Furnace Fest. It was the first Throwdown show with the lineup of Peters, Mentley, Choiniere, and Dussault since 2007.[17] A 20th anniversary edition of Haymaker dubbed Haymaker XX arrived via Pit Viper in late 2023.[18]
"The Scythe" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening[23]
"This Continuum" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening[24]
"Tombs" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
"The Blinding Light" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
Related Research Articles
Poison the Well is an American metalcore band from Miami, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. In 2010, they announced a hiatus to explore other interests. Lead guitarist Ryan Primack and drummer Chris Hornbrook were the only remaining founding members, although vocalist Jeffrey Moreira featured on all five of their full-length albums. The band reformed for numerous shows in 2015 and again in 2016 and 2020; they have since reunited permanently and are working on a new album as of 2024. Their albums have sold a combined total of over 300,000 copies in the United States as of 2012.
Mudvayne is an American heavy metal band formed in Peoria, Illinois, in 1996. Known for their sonic experimentation, face and body paint, masks and uniforms, the band has sold over five million records worldwide. The group consists of lead guitarist Greg Tribbett, drummer Matthew McDonough, lead vocalist Chad Gray, bassist Ryan Martinie and live rhythm guitarist Marcus Rafferty. The band became popular in the late-1990s Peoria underground music scene, and they found success with the single "Dig" from their debut album L.D. 50 (2000). After releasing four more albums and touring relentlessly for nearly a decade, Mudvayne went on hiatus in 2010. They reunited in 2021 and continue to perform live.
Bleeding Through is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in 1999. In 2004, Revolver magazine hailed Bleeding Through as one of eight bands ushering in the "Future of Metal" cover story, and Spin called Bleeding Through an "artist to watch" in the magazine's February 2004 issue.
Most Precious Blood is an American hardcore punk band from New York City formed from the remnants of the band Indecision. They blend the song structures of hardcore with heavy metal, and the band cites Sick of It All, Aphex Twin, The Sisters of Mercy, and The Obsessed as influences, among others. They were signed to Trustkill Records until it dissolved in 2010. They are now with Trustkill president Josh Grabelle's new label Bullet Tooth.
Eighteen Visions is an American metalcore band from Orange County, California, formed in October 1995. The band broke up in April 2007, less than a year after their major label debut was released through Epic and Trustkill Records. After over a decade of absence, the band reformed in 2017. They announced their sixth album, XVIII, would be released via their new label home at Rise Records.
Trustkill Records is an American independent record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle, formed a new label called Bullet Tooth Records. In 2022, the rights to the label were reverted to Grabelle and he resumed operations. The label has sold over two million albums worldwide.
Haymaker is the third full-length release by American band Throwdown. The album involves guest vocals from Scott Vogel from Terror and Chad Gilbert from New Found Glory.
Walls of Jericho is an American metalcore band from Detroit, formed in 1998.
Jarrod Fletcher Alexander is an American musician who has played with many hardcore punk bands. He has been a member of The Suicide File, A Static Lullaby, Dead Country, and more recently, My Chemical Romance, Alkaline Trio, Matt Skiba, Meg Myers, and Necessary Noise.
It Dies Today is an American metalcore band formed in Buffalo, New York, in September 2001. The band achieved success in 2004 with the release of their debut album, The Caitiff Choir. After frontman Nicholas Brooks departed in 2006, just after the release of the band's sophomore effort Sirens, It Dies Today released Lividity in 2009 before going on hiatus in 2010. The band reunited briefly for a show in 2012, but the reunion paused again in 2015. On December 22, 2022, It Dies Today was announced as an act appearing at FurnaceFest 2023. The band then played Better Lovers BLissmas in their hometown of Buffalo on 8 Dec 2023.
Tear from the Red is the second full-length album by American metalcore band Poison the Well. It was released via Trustkill Records on February 19, 2002. The album was the band's first release to appear on Billboard's Independent Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts, and was responsible for landing Poison the Well a major record label deal. It also featured the band's first single and music video for "Botchla". The release received numerous reissues on various formats over the years through such record labels as Good Life Recordings, Roadrunner Records, Shock Records, Rise Records, Ides of March, and Undying Music, and was digitally remastered in 2012.
Brandan Schieppati is an American musician. He is the singer of metalcore band Bleeding Through and a former guitarist/songwriter of the fellow Orange County metalcore band Eighteen Visions, for which he played from 1997 to 2002. He is also a bodybuilder, personal trainer and "Rise Above Fitness" gym owner. He was strictly straight edge from an early age until his late twenties.
David Peters is an American musician. He was the original guitarist for the metal band Eighteen Visions, guitarist for Throwdown, and, since 2002, the vocalist for Throwdown. He also provided guest vocals for the song "Unleash" by Soulfly, "Feel as Though You Could" by Demon Hunter, and "Despair" by Living Sacrifice. He follows a straight edge lifestyle.
Vendetta is the fourth album by American band Throwdown. This album marks the group's initial shift from hardcore punk to metal. "Burn", was the album's lead single.
Dust to Ashes is the debut studio album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through. It was released on compact disc by Prime Directive Records on March 20, 2001.
Venom & Tears is the fifth studio album by American metal band Throwdown, released on August 7, 2007. The album was featured in Best Buy's weekly circular prior to its release. The track "Holy Roller" was released as a single.
Death by Stereo is an American hardcore punk band formed in Orange County, California circa 1998 by frontman Efrem Schulz. They are well known for their energetic performances and intricate guitar work. Their name can be attributed to the 1987 horror film The Lost Boys, in which Corey Haim speaks the line.
Deathless is the sixth studio album by American metal band Throwdown. The album was released on November 10, 2009 in the US through E1 Music, January 22, 2010 through Nuclear Blast Records in Europe, and January 25, 2010 in the UK, also through Nuclear Blast Records. Deathless is the first album by Throwdown released through E1 and Nuclear Blast since the band switched from Trustkill Records at the end of 2008.
Bleeding Through is the sixth studio album by American metalcore band Bleeding Through. The album was released through Rise Records on April 13, 2010.
Christopher Harris, known professionally as Chris "Zeuss" Harris or simply Zeuss, is an American record producer.
↑ Julien, Alexandre (January 9, 2008). "Culture". Abridged Pause Recordings. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
