Throwdown (band)
Throwdown | |
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![]() Throwdown performing in 2008 | |
Background information | |
Origin | Orange County, California, U.S. |
Genres | |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels |
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Members |
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Past members |
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Website | throwdownoc |
Throwdown is an American heavy metal band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1997, the band has endured numerous lineup changes to the point where no original members remain. Throwdown has toured as part of Ozzfest, Sounds of the Underground, Hellfest, and Warped Tour, as well as with bands such as In Flames, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Korn and Cavalera Conspiracy. The songs "Forever" and "Burn" were staples on MTV2's Headbangers Ball and Revolver Magazine called them part of "The Future of Metal" after hearing the album Vendetta. Initially branded a hardcore punk band, albums like Venom and Tears and Deathless took a sharp turn towards metal, with critics likening the band's sound to that of Pantera and Sepultura. The band are straight edge.[5]
History
Early years (1997–2002)
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 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m). 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.
Venom & Tears (2007–2008)
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Throwdown.jpg/360px-Throwdown.jpg)
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. Mitchell had previously been the vocalist in the straight edge, vegan metalcore band Culture in the mid-1990s and had also played guitar in Until the End and Red Roses for a Blue Lady.[8]
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.[9] 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.[10]
On November 10, 2009, Throwdown released Deathless in North America via Koch (now called eOne).
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.
Deathless was released in Europe on January 25, 2010, via Nuclear Blast Records.
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–present)
After a long period of inactivity, Throwdown released a new album, Intolerance, on January 21, 2014, via eOne Music.[11] 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.[12] Since the release of Intolerance, the band has made only two live appearances: at Canada's Amnesia Rockfest in 2014 and Belgium's Groezrock festival in 2015. Both shows featured Dave Peters on vocals and the return of bassist Matt Mentley, with Alexander and Nassie filling in.[13]
In April 2020, Throwdown released a surprise EP, Take Cover, collecting five 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.[14]
Members
Current
Touring musicians
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Former
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- Throwdown performing at the Electric Ballroom in 2009
Timeline
![](/images/timeline/kaisholfml7zrhuuzhy43m2wjxamla0.png)
Discography
Studio albums
- Beyond Repair (1999)
- You Don't Have to Be Blood to Be Family (2001)
- Haymaker (2003)
- Vendetta (2005)
- Venom & Tears (2007)
- Deathless (2009)
- Intolerance (2014)
Extended plays
- Throwdown (1998)
- Drive Me Dead (2000)
- Throwdown / Good Clean Fun (2001)
- Face the Mirror (2002)
- Americana / Planets Collide (2007)
- Covered with Venom (2007)
- Take Cover (2020)[15]
Videos
- Together. Forever. United. (2004)
Music videos
- "Forever" (2004), directed by Chris Sims
- "Burn" (2005), directed by Chris Sims[16]
- "Holy Roller" (2007), directed by Andy Reale[17]
- "The Scythe" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening[18]
- "This Continuum" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening[19]
- "Tombs" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
- "The Blinding Light" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
References
- ^ "Throwdown - Biography by Ryan Downey". AllMusic. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
Hardcore outfit that melds metalcore with a straight-edge ethos
- ^ "Throwdown Haymaker (Trustkill)". CMJ New Music Report. CMJ Network, Inc. July 7, 2003. p. 24. ISSN 0890-0795. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
- ^ Throwdown - Haymaker. AllMusic
- ^ Freeman, Phil. "AP: REVIEWS - FILE UNDER: Groove metal". Altpress.com. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
- ^ Downey, Ryan. "Throwdown". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 29, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
- ^ Sharpe-Young, Garry (2005). New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Zonda Books Limited. pp. 331–332. ISBN 0-9582684-0-1.
- ^ Julien, Alexandre (November 3, 2011). "Redstar Records Interview". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
- ^ Julien, Alexandre (January 9, 2008). "Culture". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
- ^ "Throwdown signs with Koch Records". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. December 12, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ^ "Chimaira To Tour Europe With Unearth, Throwdown". Blabbermouth. May 12, 2009. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "THROWDOWN To Release 'Intolerance' In January". Blabbermouth.net. Blabbermouth. December 5, 2013. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
- ^ "Throwdown - Intolerance (2014, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Throwdown release full set from Amnesia Rockfest 2014 (video) - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. September 4, 2014. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Throwdown Bandcamp". Bandcamp. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Throwdown Announce Take Cover EP". Lambgoat. Lambgoat. April 16, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
- ^ "Throwdown > Music Videos > Burn". MTV. MTV Networks. July 18, 2005. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ^ "Throwdown > Music Videos > Holy Roller". MTV. MTV Networks. November 29, 2007. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
- ^ "Throwdown > Music Videos > The Scythe". MTV. MTV Networks. July 18, 2005. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
- ^ "Throwdown > Music Videos > This Continuum". MTV. MTV Networks. November 29, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2010.
External links
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- {{AllMusic}} template missing ID and not present in Wikidata.
- Throwdown - Beyond Repair (Indecision Records, 1999)
- Pages using the EasyTimeline extension
- Articles with short description
- Use mdy dates from April 2021
- Articles with hCards
- Pages using infobox musical artist with associated acts
- Commons category link is the pagename
- Official website not in Wikidata
- AllMusic template missing ID and not in Wikidata
- AC with 0 elements
- American metalcore musical groups
- American groove metal musical groups
- Musical groups from Orange County, California
- Straight edge groups
- Musical groups established in 1997
- MNRK Music Group artists
- Heavy metal musical groups from California
- Musical quartets
- Trustkill Records artists