The one take away from 1995 is that through this nostalgia rich connection I have to that time period, there are some truly exceptional albums that deserved so much more press than was given. So I guess what I am trying to say is that Starflyer 59 elicits both terror and excitement at the same time? It was alluring and went mostly unheard by everyone, I mean everyone. Matt Johnson was the ultimate pro and had a unique style that further complimented the abrasive, melodic music of Blenderhead. Poison. Alas, I was a incredibly poor young youth minister in a trailer court church, and was never able to do it. [58][59] The compact disc edition booklet was designed to include a semi-transparent parchment paper after every page. Four years without an album is a long time in music, and by this point metalcore had not only thrived commercially in their absence, but taken a fall after an endless supply of second-rate copycats. The group did come back for a string of shows in 2015/2016, but have been largely inactive since their 2010 hiatus. It was a huge fete. I Still Care, Spoken, Inside, Pain To What, and Homeless are all great songs. By the time Fashion Focus, Everyone Makes Mistakes, and Leave Here a Stranger dropped, we were all ready and completely enamored with this bands skills, Jason Martin in particular. The band was originally based in Coral Springs, Florida, where the two attended J. P. Taravella High School, but later moved to a rehearsal space in Miami, Florida. How great is this record? (France) Add to cart. The lineup was also a bit different on this record with just Tim Mann, Dirk Lemmenes (Stavesacre), and Mike Merryman returning from the last album cycle. [37] Although both Poison the Well and A New Kind of American Saint had recorded their songs, Trustkill Records was unhappy that Poison the Well would be releasing new and original material on another record label. This album is one huge wall of sound and I say that in the best of ways. The staccato drum and guitar fill that starts album opener 12/23/93 has been ripped off by almost every band of that movement, and the moment it breaks down into a clean, emotional, melodic vocal line is the inception of a thousand and one musical clichs. Drain serves as a proper send off to a band that was primed for big success but ended far too soon. This was an odd duck for that time period. Poison The Well is a hard-working heavy-melodic-hardcore band who started out back in 1997; initially formed under the name "An Arch Lost", the band released a 12" split, soon changed their name, released a debut EP and changed their lineup for the first time of many (replacing vocalists with Aryeh Lehrer and Duane Hosein with Jeffrey Moreira In December 1997, Doubting Thomas was renamed An Acre Lost, a name Saunders' girlfriend came up with. Flood was a huge breakout hit for the band and was all over radio and video networks back in the day. So why was their reunion greeted with little fanfare earlier this year? They had seemingly "Christian" lyrics, heavy but melodic instrumentation, and players who could actually master their instruments. I was going to see those guys before I was even in Killswitch Engage. Nevertheless, Landsman agreed to honour Poison the Well's already-booked upcoming show on October 6, 2000, at Club Q in Davie, Florida. Tempering its harsh, scream-filled sound with startling moments of melody, the Floridian ensemble--anchored by . The Tropic Rot had originally been slated to be made with producer J. Robbins, but had to be cancelled due to a serious family emergency. [40][41] Throwdown immediately planned to enter the studio to record two new songs: "False Idols" and a cover of Weezer's "Say It Ain't So". Overview. Featured peformers: Chris Hornbrook (drums), Derek Miller (guitar), Geoff Vegas (bass), Jeffrey Moreira (vocals), Ryan Primack (guitar), Pelle Henricsson (recording engineer, mixing . Is the band Christian Death a. It was miles apart from the rest of competition and arrived years, hold that, DECADES, before that style of music really took hold. Lonely House had all the best 90s influences woven throughout their unique take on 90s hard rock. Sadly, the band broke up after their short run and the release of this album. It all started with Dime Store Prophets and 5 Minute Walk which led to Five Iron Frenzy. It didnt matter in the end though because 25 years later, Im still listening. ), well whatever it was, the album stuck. This 1995 release marks a huge turn for Mike and the sound he was working on prior during the 80s/early 90s. While writing this piece I tried searching for one bad song but there isnt one. Legends. [95], On December 10, 2004, it was announced that Poison the Well would be covering a The Smashing Pumpkins song for the ReIgnition Recordings Various Artists tribute compilation The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins. Check out my list below along with a playlist featuring some of the songs. In 2010, they announced a hiatus to explore other interests. After months of working and writing material, the band set off in early 2005 to work and record with Pelle Henricsson and Eskil Lvstrm at Tonteknik Studios in Ume, Sweden. You can catch what he is doing now in an upcoming docuseries called Blood, Sweat, and Sin. Songs. As much as I dug Thifty Mr Kickstar in 1997, Hum is where it all started for me. Poison The Well had been in the middle of pre-production for an entire record's worth of material when Miller announced his departure. Mike Stand who led the legendary Christian punk group, Altar Boys, did some solo material on the side then after the end of his band he went on to form Clash of Symbols and released a couple of albums. [38][37] Trustkill Records originally wanted both songs, "Sticks and Stones Never Made Sense" and their cover of The Smashing Pumpkins' "Today", to appear on their forthcoming sophomore full-length (which later took shape as Tear from the Red). 1. Since then, the band has played numerous reunion shows . I picked up Hum at that retreat and spun it often in the days that followed. Members of the band and especially Mikee or Michael Bridges as he is known now, went on to start Tom Fest, established bands like Twin Sister and Tragedy Ann and has been a crucial part of our music since for over 25 years. They played alongside Black Eyed Sceva up in the mountains and it was that small intimate, youthful gathering that made me an instant fan. Geez man, I was a senior in high school in 95 and your list just hit me right in the mid life crisis, lol. Sign Up Now. It was like Sponge, Bush, Soul Asylum, meets Farside, Gameface, and Sense Field. While Much Afraid is more my favorite of those 90s albums, this one isnt without its moments. This alt-rock band who were one of the first on 5 Minute Walk alongside Black Eyed Sceva and later Five Iron Frenzy, was a remarkable talent. This is the album that got them them signed and caught my attention as well. Having experienced some level of success with their previous record, You Come Before You, a long and hard touring cycle left certain members of the band disenchanted. The minute I heard the first song on this record, I became a fan. While not as straight forward in punk rock as Prime Candidate, it was still an impressive collection of experimental post-punk/post-hardcore songs. So far its been said that no more shows are planned, but if they can get it together it would be some story to see the band that never received their due for creating the buzz that ultimately led to everyone from Killswitch Engage to Miss May I to Architects. Poison the Well is an American metalcore band from Miami, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. With no label the band continued to record regardless and were eventually picked up by Ferret records for 2007s mostly ignored Versions. [104] The album charted at No. We got Stairwell, Rock Kills Kid, Slingshot David, My Compatriots, Pilot Whale, and all the bands in between from the beginnings of Bloodshed. They combined aspects of ferocious, metallic hardcore alongside gentle, melodic, dare I say Emo tendencies for a style much to themselves. [99], Even though the band had no label, they returned to writing material for the third and final session. Spooky Tuesday Itll Never Fly Orville! In a scene chock full of unrelenting heaviness and punk aesthetics, the band stood out both as pioneers of their craft and as a group struggling to fit in. The energy hasnt been matched but is felt through groups like Poison the Well, Boysetsfire, From Autumn To Ashes, Senses Fail, Saosin, Underoath, Beloved, Emery, and you name it. Formed in 1997 under the moniker An Acre Lost, things didn't really start moving for Poison The Well until the name change and debut EP Distance Only Makes The Heart Grow Fonder caught the attention of Trustkill Records in 1998. Its a remarkable collection of alternative rock (can we still say that?) [43][44] In March 2001, Surprise Attack Records used the recording of "Sticks and Stones Never Made Sense" on their Various Artists sampler Budget Sampler: It's All About the Money, co-released with Canadian record labels Goodfellow Records and Redstar Records. In conclusion, this was an absolutely stunning year of growth for Christian underground music and the scene as a whole. Sale or Trade. They are a Gothic metal band. [2] The track is so caked in the retro fuzz and amplified stomp that it plays like a test run for an upcoming tour with the Black Keys. This was a monumental year for Christian Music and really the beginning of what was to come over the course of the next 2 decades. Oh my gosh was this amazing. I always dug that this Hawaii band shared members with Spooky Tuesday and was fronted by a pro bodyboarder, Kyle Maligro. These are my 25 Best Christian Rock Albums of 1995. Sign up below to get the latest from Metal Hammer, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! The band reached big success with their single Kiss Me which everyone in the world has heard by now but this album is what started my fascination for them. Sale or Trade. [91] Both had worked on many influential mid to late nineties Swedish hardcore records, including Refused's Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent[92] and The Shape of Punk to Come. For me this album was like Nirvana meets Seal meets Jesus Jones meets Matchbox Twenty and Hootie and Blowfish. . In 2010, they announced a hiatus to explore other interests. He even had a nickname for the hard . The album was recorded in. This Boston 5-piece metalcore band formed in early 2001 and have been compared to groups like Converge, Poison The Well, Every Time I Die, Eighteen Visions and Glassjaw. What Black Eyed Sceva did on that debut record was nothing short of extraordinary and something that 25 years later should definitely be applauded. This ride the line between the waning Grunge scene at the time and brought to the table a special blend of alternative rock that many in the Christian music scene werent familiar with. Jims drumming is unmistakable and some of the best in the scene. Fits somewhere between Matthew Sweet, Gin Blossoms, Toad The Wet Sprocket, Jars of Clay, and Burlap To Cashmere. [35] Poison the Well planned to record a cover of Metallica's "And Justice for All", but due to complications with Trustkill Records, were unable to recorded it and their split with Eighteen Visions was shelved. I dont know what drew me to Black Cherry Soda first. In May 2015, Poison the Well reformed for two reunion shows: a warm-up headlining show on May 15 at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, New York,[109] and a performance at the Skate and Surf festival on May 17 in Asbury Park, New Jersey. 1. Its a fun, fast, and smile inducing song filled with so much pent up teenage enthusiasm. Longtime Equal Vision Records' band Bane has released their fourth and final full-length album, Don't Wait Up, on May 13, 2014. Posts: 3599. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. I was a drummer and so this album hit me hard. I dont mean to idolize Jason Martin but that man was and is still a creative genius that hasnt stopped sharing his love of music for 3 decades now. It is the band's only release. CD. Their sound was much heavier and more raw than their major label Grunge contemporaries but still fit it comfortably in at that time. The band has since performed several reunion shows: two in 2015, eleven in 2016 and one in 2020.[6][7]. If I hear one more lazy journalist bring up the shoegaze term when searching for adjectives to describe this unmistakable sound, Im gonna throw down. Released in 1995 on Tooth & Nail Records, the record was a definite change up from past material and demos. [26] Poison the Well then performed their cover of "Today" at Hellfest 2001 on Friday, July 6, 2001, at Liquids in East Syracuse, New York. The band released a couple more full lengths before calling it quits. I remember being really struck by each of the instruments and especially the percussion on this record. This album that released on Brainstorm was a really well done and an appealing album by a band on the rise. It was released on July 1, 2003. This is the original and the best.. Its an often forgotten time period for Christian Music and 1995 was year unlike most other in terms of diversity of talent. Its quite a catalyst of a record and one that shall forever cement this band at the top of Hardcore forever. [74][75] The band immediately began to be courted by major record labels, much to the dissatisfaction of Trustkill Records, who attempted to renew their soon-expiring contract. Thats why so many of us loved T&N back in the day, Brandon Ebel had a penchant for finding quality talent and diversifying the music he released, crossing over into endless genres and styles. Joined: Thu May 27, 2010 12:12 am. He also regularly spouts his opinions on the Metal Hammer Podcast. Black Eyed Sceva Way Before The Flood. His range went from smooth to snarling and aggressive all in a song. It was dark, heavy and brooding, but with melody throughout, which never seemed out of place. Ferret Music 2009 : The Tropic Rot: Ferret / Ferret Music AllMusic Quiz. Plankeye was probably the first underground Christian music band I ever saw live. I was probably still going through my flannel obsessed grunge phase up until that point, mullet and all lol. Every song sort of ties together and weaves throughout, keeping you entertained the entire time. [36], Poison the Well's split for Surprise Attack Records and Jawk Records was also going through delays. South Florida poisonthewell.co Joined April 2009. At the time the band were dual-fronted by Aryeh Lehrer and Duane Hosein, and their sound of metallic riffs amongst punk structures and a multi-layered vocal attack . [51][52] The band later posted it on their Myspace page on October 10, 2006. This band were true pioneers of melodic, heavy, hardcore music. They didnt wear a mask or faade and simply wanted to be heard through the music they created. not until later in 2002), leading A New Kind of American Saint to drop off the project. On February 22, 2007 they began touring in support of the album. I loved Bodyboarding so I remember being super impressed with this group. I guess the closes comparisons would be Foo Fighters and Silverchair. Another super mellow band that came out at the height of the pop-rock-alternative scene of the 90s. At that time we all had Snapcase, Bold, Mouthpiece, Chain of Strength, Earth Crisis, Eighteen Visions, Strife, and the old school crowd like Sick of it All, Madball, Agnostic Front, etc but Strongarm stood apart from the pack. 6. Poison the Well's cover of "Today" was never released; the band later recorded another The Smashing Pumpkins cover, "Soma" for the ReIgnition Recordings Various Artists compilation The Killer in You: A Tribute to Smashing Pumpkins.[53]. . Starflyer 59 blew minds with this record, this sound they helped cultivate. [9] Lehrer, who had previously played in the band Reaching Out, recruited rhythm guitarist Russel Saunders, formerly of the band Side Order, and bassist Shane Halpern who had recently moved from North Carolina down to Florida. Now go listen to their latest record The Church is Hurting People. Thank you Dime Store Prophets. For you casual listeners youll more akin to Matchbox 20, Jars of Clay, and Toad The Wet Sprocket. Mortal Pura While on the first stop of their September 2009 tour with Billy Talent, Poison The Well was robbed at a tour stop in Detroit. [76][77] Nevertheless, Poison the Well ended up signing with Velvet Hammer Music and Management Group, which was operating as an independent imprint with secured financing through Atlantic Records. In 2010, they announced a hiatus to explore other interests. Youre only as old as you feel and if Descendents, Bad Religion, Social D, Henry Rollins, as well as all those classic hardcore bands like Sick of it All, Madball, Agnostic Front, Youth of Today, etc can play shows, then so can Focused. This little write up isnt about Bow or even Spirit Filled Hardcore, its about that monumental sophomore follow up record, The Hope That Lies Within. [55] The cover song was quickly dropped and the band announced that they would instead track twelve original songs. On July 14, 2010, after eight months of inactivity, Poison the Well released a press statement announcing a hiatus to "explore other interests. Read Full Biography. Poison. Teenagers played on this EP, just think about that for a moment. They were one of the first Christian punk bands to break out and reach huge success in their scene (and beyond). Poison the Well is an American experimental metalcore band from Miami, Florida who were last signed to Ferret Music. Plankeye checked all the boxes for an extremely likable, intensely passionate and radio friendly band that became local heroes for us here in Southern California. [14][11] However, Hornbrook was later asked to leave Until the End at Landsman's insistence. Poison the Well's Versions was released on Ferret Music on April 2, 2007 in Europe and April 3, 2007 worldwide. What are CDs? The EP showed promise and Trustkill signed PTW in a move which would change not only the bands career but the label suddenly became one of the most name-checked in the underground going on to sign Hopesfall to Bleeding Through to name but two. As Howard Jones himself will tell you, If youre a fan of any of those bands, this is the source to go back and check out. 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