Charles Bronson (band)
Encyclopedia
Charles Bronson was a prolific powerviolence
band from DeKalb, Illinois
, existing from 1994 to 1997. Although they were often associated with the straight edge
scene, only two of the members actually abstained from drug and alcohol use.
, who blended youth crew
hardcore with the velocity and dissonance of thrashcore
. Songs were very brief, and sometimes punctuated by samples taken from various media (including Charles Bronson
films). Lyrically, the group tended towards satirical commentary on the hardcore punk scene. The group has been described as a "fast, screaming mess of tall, skinny guys with a lot to say (which you would only know if you read the liner notes)". The group was sometimes criticized for its conceptual
take on hardcore and art school
tendencies, maintaining a long-standing feud with Felix Havoc of Code 13
.
went on to form the thrashcore
group Das Oath
, with Dutch musicians; Holy Molar
, with members of The Locust
; and Ancestors, a black metal
project. Guitarist Mike Sutfin later became an artist.
Powerviolence
Powerviolence , is a raw and dissonant subgenre of hardcore punk. The style is closely related to thrashcore and grindcore.-History:...
band from DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb, Illinois
DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 43,862 at the 2010 census, up from 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city is named after decorated German war hero Johann De Kalb, who died during the American Revolutionary War....
, existing from 1994 to 1997. Although they were often associated with the straight edge
Straight edge
Straight edge is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs. It was a direct reaction to the sexual revolution, hedonism, and excess associated with punk rock. For some, this extends to not engaging in promiscuous sex, following a...
scene, only two of the members actually abstained from drug and alcohol use.
Musical style
Charles Bronson borrowed from the early powerviolence of InfestInfest (band)
Infest was an influential American hardcore band, formed in September 1986 by Joe Denunzio, Matt Domino, Dave Ring and Chris Clift. They disbanded in 1996.Infest, while not coining the term "powerviolence", were pioneers of the style...
, who blended youth crew
Youth crew
Youth crew is a music subgenre of hardcore punk attributed to the band Youth of Today who were primarily active during the early to mid-1980s particularly during the New York hardcore scene of 1988...
hardcore with the velocity and dissonance of thrashcore
Thrashcore
Thrashcore is a fast tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore punk, with bands often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, less metallic forerunner of grindcore...
. Songs were very brief, and sometimes punctuated by samples taken from various media (including Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
films). Lyrically, the group tended towards satirical commentary on the hardcore punk scene. The group has been described as a "fast, screaming mess of tall, skinny guys with a lot to say (which you would only know if you read the liner notes)". The group was sometimes criticized for its conceptual
Conceptual art
Conceptual art is art in which the concept or idea involved in the work take precedence over traditional aesthetic and material concerns. Many of the works, sometimes called installations, of the artist Sol LeWitt may be constructed by anyone simply by following a set of written instructions...
take on hardcore and art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
tendencies, maintaining a long-standing feud with Felix Havoc of Code 13
Code 13
Code 13 is a Minneapolis, Minnesota-based hardcore band formed by ex-members of the defunct band Destroy, including Havoc Records founder Felix Havoc.-Formation and History:In the words of member Felix Havoc:...
.
Subsequent endeavors
Mark McCoyMark McCoy
Mark McCoy is a vocalist for several punk rock, black metal, powerviolence and experimental bands, some of which include Charles Bronson, Das Oath, Holy Molar, and most recently Failures. He also recorded a spoken-word comedy Split 7" with Mark Telfian of Limp Wrist...
went on to form the thrashcore
Thrashcore
Thrashcore is a fast tempo subgenre of hardcore punk that emerged in the early 1980s. Thrashcore is essentially sped-up hardcore punk, with bands often using blast beats. Songs can be very brief, and thrashcore is in many ways a less dissonant, less metallic forerunner of grindcore...
group Das Oath
Das Oath
Das Oath was a thrashcore band from New York, originating from The Netherlands. They formed in 1999. After two rehearsals the band recorded their 7" eight song debut in Rotterdam. It was not until a year later when Das Oath started to play shows. With only one 7" released the band hit the road and...
, with Dutch musicians; Holy Molar
Holy Molar
Holy Molar is a noise rock band from San Diego, composed of members that play or have played in The Locust, Antioch Arrow, Charles Bronson, Heroin, Cattle Decapitation, The Crimson Curse, Glass Candy, Get Hustle, Swing Kids, Das Oath, Struggle and Some Girls. They play a similar style of music as...
, with members of The Locust
The Locust
The Locust is a musical group from San Diego, California, United States known for their unique mix of grindcore speed and aggression, mathcore complexity, and new wave weirdness.- Style :...
; and Ancestors, a black metal
Black metal
Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include fast tempos, shrieked vocals, highly distorted guitars played with tremolo picking, blast beat drumming, raw recording, and unconventional song structure....
project. Guitarist Mike Sutfin later became an artist.
Albums
- Demo Tape (1994) – self released
- Self-titled (Diet Rootbeer) 7" (1995) – Six Weeks Records/Youth Attack Records
- Charles Bronson / Spazz Split 7" (1995) – 625, Evil Noise and Disgruntled Records
- Charles Bronson / Unanswered split 7" (1995) – Trackstar Records
- Charles Bronson / Ice Nine split 7" (1996) – Bovine Records
- Charles Bronson / Quill split 7" (1996) – Nat Records (Japan)
- Youth Attack! LPYouth Attack! LPYouth Attack! is an album by powerviolence/thrashcore band Charles Bronson. The album was originally released on 12" vinyl on Lengua Armada Discos in 1997. Its fourth pressing was later released in August 1999 as a Dutch version on 10" vinyl as opposed to 12".-Track listing:-Sources:# Contains...
(1997) – Lengua Armada/Coalition Records - Complete DiscocrappyComplete DiscocrappyComplete Discocrappy is a double-disc discography album by Charles Bronson. The album consists of two discs featuring the band's entire recorded repertoire, and was released by 625 Thrashcore and Youth Attack! Records...
2xCD (2000) – Youth Attack Records
Compilations
- All That and a Bag o Dicks (1995) – Disgruntled Records
- Double Dose of Dicks – Disgruntled Records
- Speed Freaks (1995) – Knot Music
- Vida Life (1996) – Lengua Armada
- No Royalties (1996) – Bad People Records
- Cry Now, Cry Later Vol. 4 (1996) – Pessimiser/Theologian
- Another Probe 7" with a Girl on the Cover (1996) – Probe
- El Guapo (1996) – Same Day Records
- Possessed to Skate (1996) – 625 and Pessimiser Records
- Deadly Encounters (1997) – Agitate 96 and Kill Music Records
- Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! A Music War (1997) – Slap A Ham Records
- Reality 3 (1997) – Deep Six Records
- Tomorrow will be Worse (1997) – Sound Pollution Records
- Mandatory Marathon (1997) – Amendment Records
- Hurt Your Feelings (2001) – Six Weeks Records
- Chicago's on Fire Again (2001) – Lengua Armada
- Skeletal Festival (2003) – self-released