Antagonist (band) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Formation and S/T Demo'

Antagonist A.D started in 2005 by vocalist Sam Crocker and bassist Joshua Moffitt. The intention was to create a fast heavy metallic hardcore band - in the vein of unrelenting American acts such as Martyr A.D. and Until The End combined with 'euro' breaks similar to European bands Arkangel and Maroon.

Known then as simply 'Antagonist' - feeling the bands shared similar ideals and ethos the name was taken from Maroons debut full length.

The original line up also comprised drummer Brendon Wishnowsky and Sean Connolly. The band quickly recorded a well received 4 song demo with Ulcerate's Jamie Saint Merat. Some releases of this Demo following the main pressing featured a fifth song entitled 'Some Glory'.

These Cities, Our Graves (2005–2008)

The end of 2005 saw the band lose original guitarist Sean and drummer Brendon, but gain guitarists Kris Bosman, Ross Mcdougall and drummer Israel Mcdean. The line-up at this point boasted a remarkable and promising pedigree composed of former members of notable New Zealand hardcore/metalcore bands The Warpath, 21 Guns, Kill Me Quickly, Evil Priest and Promise of Bloodshed.

The bands debut full length These Cities, Our Graves

These Cities, Our Graves

These Cities, Our Graves is the first full length album released by the New Zealand Metalcore band Antagonist A.D.. It was released in August 2006...

was recorded in early 2006 by Avalanche City frontman David Baxter (then guitarist in metalcore band One Must Fall). The album was released on 1157 records (previously a home to NZ hardcore greats such as DSM, Balance and The Bleeders).

Lyrically, the band stood apart from others in there genre as well as local acts with their subject matter. Covering topics widely left alone in Australasia like Animal & Women's rights - tracks such as Show Some Heart, Suicide Girls & R.E.S.P.E.C.T became signatures for the band.

It was at this point when the band made their first trip to Australia with the help of Washed Up Records label owner Tommy Dollars. Playing in Victoria and South Australia with well-known local bands Stronghold, Her Nightmare and, then, relatively 'new' band, The Red Shore the band as well as various Queensland dates supporting US hardcore band Most Precious Blood. It was the first time in years that a New Zealand hardcore band had made the trip across the Tasman.

Gaining momentum and a solid fan base throughout Australia the band was quickly picked up by Melbourne based label Trial & Error Records

Trial & Error Records

Trial & Error Records is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of Australia's largest hardcore labels. The label is owned and run by Mindsnare bassist, Nigel Melder.-Current Artists:*4dead*Against* Antagonist A.D...

. An Australian version of These Cities, Our Graves

These Cities, Our Graves

These Cities, Our Graves is the first full length album released by the New Zealand Metalcore band Antagonist A.D.. It was released in August 2006...

was released through Trial & Error Records

Trial & Error Records

in 2008. Featuring two brand new tracks, 'Distance' and 'Stranger'.

The band then toured Australia nationally with Parkway Drive, Have Heart

Have Heart

Have Heart was a straight-edge hardcore band, formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2002. The band recorded a demo that was released in 2003. In 2004, they released the What Counts EP , with their debut full-length, The Things We Carry arriving in 2006...

(USA) and Break Even

Break Even

Break Even are an Australian hardcore band from Perth, Western Australia.-History:Forming in the suburbs of Perth in 2005, Break Even have released two successful releases and toured with the biggest names in local and international hardcore....

in support of the release.

Following the tour the band continued to play throughout both New Zealand and Australia for the next year and built a reputation as New Zealand's most hard-working band as well as being known for their energetic and engaging live show.

We Are The Dead (2008–2010)

Antagonist A.D. released its Second Studio album in Australia and New Zealand in October, 2008. Recorded at various studios around Auckland and Hamilton New Zealand it was sent off shore to be mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren - the man responsible for The Ghost Inside

The Ghost Inside

This article is about the Chinese film. For the American Hardcore band, see The Ghost Inside .The Ghost Inside is a 2005 Chinese horror film directed by Herman Yau, and starring Mainland actors, Liu Ye and Gong Beibi and Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu.The film was produced by the China Film Group...

's album Fury and the Fallen Ones

Fury and The Fallen Ones

= *absolutepunk.net 82% Fury and the Fallen Ones is the debut album by The Ghost Inside, released on April 15, 2008 through Mediaskare Records.- Track listing :# "Provoke" – 2:31...

With international tours looming on the horizon the band released 'We Are The Dead' under the name 'Antagonist A.D.' adding the suffix to avoid confusion with an American band using the name Antagonist already.

This same year the band played New Zealand's biggest music festival Big Day Out

Big Day Out

The Big Day Out is an annual music festival held in several cities in Australia and New Zealand in late January. It started in Sydney in 1992, spread to Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth by 1993, with the Gold Coast and Auckland joining in 1994...

sharing the main stage with notable act Rage Against The Machine

Rage Against the Machine

Rage Against the Machine is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1991, the group's line-up consists of vocalist Zack de la Rocha, bassist and backing vocalist Tim Commerford, guitarist Tom Morello and drummer Brad Wilk...

.

2009 saw the band undertake a successful headline tour throughout South East Asia (Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia & Indonesia) & Japan. Returning mid-2009 to tour with Earth Crisis

Earth Crisis

Earth Crisis is an American metalcore band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Their most recent record, To the Death, was released in May 2009 through Century Media....

and Day of Contempt through Australia.

Shortly after the Earth Crisis tour towards the end of 2009 the band decided to part ways with guitarist Ross McDougall.

In August, 2010 they made their first trip to Europe with friends 50 Lions (Australia) & Gravemaker (Canada), returning to New Zealand mid-September to tour with Parkway Drive on their 'Deep Blue' album release tour alongside The Devil Wears Prada

The Devil Wears Prada (band)

The Devil Wears Prada is an American metalcore band from Dayton, Ohio. Formed in 2005, they are currently signed to Warner Music Group...

and The Ghost Inside

The Ghost Inside

"Old Bones Make New Blooms" (2010–Present)

'Old Bones Make New Blooms' was recorded in 2010 at Red Dog Studios by Nate Sowter. Following a series of delays from record label Trial & Error the five song 7" saw the light in February 2011.

In the space of the 7"s recording and release the band found a replacement for Ross in Matthew Livingstone.

Founding member and bassist Joshua Moffitt left the band in July 2010 to move to Japan. Where he is working with other scientists on a new sustainable and environmentally sound power source for Japan.

The band is currently writing for their third studio album as four piece. The yet to be titled full length is to be recorded at Red Dog Studios with Nate Sowter in December 2011.

From its inception, the band have shared the stage with countless high profile overseas acts (Madball, Converge, Parkway Drive, The Ghost Inside, Darkest Hour, Unearth, Bleeding Through, Comeback Kid, Throwdown, First Blood to name but a few) - and continue to tour between New Zealand and Australia frequently.

Members

Current:
Sam Crocker- vocals
Matthew Livingstone - guitar
Kris 'Boozey' Bosman - guitar
Israel McDean- drums

Discography

Date of Release	Title	Label
2006 2005 in music -Events:*During the year 2005, 12 rock music albums scored number 1 in the USA. This was the first time even ten albums have scored number 1 since 1996.-January:...	These Cities, Our Graves These Cities, Our Graves These Cities, Our Graves is the first full length album released by the New Zealand Metalcore band Antagonist A.D.. It was released in August 2006...	Elevenfiftyseven Records
2007 2006 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2006.-January:*January 10 – Eric Burdon releases his album Soul of a Man and begins touring with a new band....	Distance EP Distance EP Distance is an EP Released in 2007 by New Zealand Hardcore/Metalcore band Antagonist. -Track listing:...	Elevenfiftyseven Records
2008 2008 in music 2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...	We Are the Dead	Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of Australia's largest hardcore labels. The label is owned and run by Mindsnare bassist, Nigel Melder.-Current Artists:4deadAgainst* Antagonist A.D...
2011	Old Bones Make New Blooms	Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of Australia's largest hardcore labels. The label is owned and run by Mindsnare bassist, Nigel Melder.-Current Artists:4deadAgainst* Antagonist A.D...

External links

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