Killing the Dream
Encyclopedia
Killing the Dream was an American hardcore punk
band that formed in 2002 and broke up in 2011. The group signed to Deathwish Inc.
in 2004, and released three studio albums through the label: In Place Apart
(2005), Fractures
(2008) and Lucky Me
(2010).
, California
in 2002 with guitarist Joel Adams of Embrace the End
, bassist Chris Chase, drummer Isaac Fratini and vocalist Elijah Horner. After recording a five-song demo tape in 2003, the group added second guitarist Bart Mullis—also of Embrace the End. The songs from this demo made up half of their self-titled debut album, released in 2004 through Rival Records.
Killing the Dream signed to Deathwish Inc.
in December 2004, and first released the 7" EP I Rewrote It through the label in early 2005. This EP has been referred to as an "introductory" release by Isaac Fratini. Their proper full-length follow-up album, In Place Apart
, was released on September 13, 2005. In Place Apart was produced by Kurt Ballou
and the cover art was designed by Jacob Bannon
; both of which are from the hardcore band Converge
. Alternative Press magazine declared the album to be the best hardcore record of 2005. In November 2005, the band toured in support of In Place Apart with No Trigger
and Crime in Stereo
. Support continued into 2006 and 2007 when Killing the Dream toured internationally in Japan and Europe.
The band released their second studio album Fractures
was on June 10, 2008 through Deathwish. Killing the Dream recorded the music for the studio album in May 2007, however by August 2007 the vocal tracks had yet to be recorded. After extensive touring following part of the recordings, vocalist Elijah Horner wanted to allow his throat to rest for optimal performance in the studio causing extensive delays in the release. Fractures was produced by J. Robbins
of Jawbox
fame. In early 2009, Killing the Dream toured with The Carrier
in Europe. They were also a part of The Great American Hardcore Fest in September 2009.
Their third and final studio album, Lucky Me
, was released on November 23, 2010. The Zach Ohren and Pat Hills produced album took Killing the Dream in a more melodic
direction musically, featuring more clean vocals and string arrangements along with their typical screamed vocals
and hardcore
stylings. The title of the album, created by vocalist Elijah Horner, is meant to be partly sarcastic and partly genuine. This idea is continued through the lyrics as Lucky Me is a reflection of Horner's life and how he feels lucky to be where he was with his band and teaching job at the time of the recording. Musically, the band wrote whatever came naturally to them without any preconceived idea of how they wanted it to turn out.
Killing the Dream performed their final show on July 2, 2011 at 924 Gilman Street
in California with The Carrier
, All Teeth, and DCOI. In the group's final statement Killing the Dream said, "We only ever wanted to do a 7" EP. The fact that we stayed a band for so long, made it all across the globe, we are truly spoiled. Thank you everyone for the support."
Former members
EPs
Compilations
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band that formed in 2002 and broke up in 2011. The group signed to Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish, Inc. is a independent record label founded by Jacob Bannon and Tre McCarthy. The label was originally used to release early albums by Bannon's own band Converge starting in late 1991. It wasn't until late 1999 that McCarthy and Bannon discussed turning Deathwish into a full-fledged label...
in 2004, and released three studio albums through the label: In Place Apart
In Place Apart
In Place Apart is the debut studio album by the American hardcore band Killing the Dream. The album was released on September 13, 2005 through Deathwish Inc....
(2005), Fractures
Fractures (album)
Fractures is the second studio album by the American hardcore punk band Killing the Dream. The album was released on June 10, 2008 through Deathwish Inc.. Fractures was produced by J...
(2008) and Lucky Me
Lucky Me (album)
Lucky Me is the third and final studio album by the American hardcore punk band Killing the Dream. The album was released on November 22, 2010 through Deathwish Inc.....
(2010).
History
Killing the Dream formed in SacramentoSacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 2002 with guitarist Joel Adams of Embrace the End
Embrace the End
Embrace the End are a five-piece metalcore band from Sacramento, California, formed in 1999.Originally consisting of only four members, the band has gone through several line-up changes, at one point having as many as six members, including two vocalists. However, after the departure of vocalist...
, bassist Chris Chase, drummer Isaac Fratini and vocalist Elijah Horner. After recording a five-song demo tape in 2003, the group added second guitarist Bart Mullis—also of Embrace the End. The songs from this demo made up half of their self-titled debut album, released in 2004 through Rival Records.
Killing the Dream signed to Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish Inc.
Deathwish, Inc. is a independent record label founded by Jacob Bannon and Tre McCarthy. The label was originally used to release early albums by Bannon's own band Converge starting in late 1991. It wasn't until late 1999 that McCarthy and Bannon discussed turning Deathwish into a full-fledged label...
in December 2004, and first released the 7" EP I Rewrote It through the label in early 2005. This EP has been referred to as an "introductory" release by Isaac Fratini. Their proper full-length follow-up album, In Place Apart
In Place Apart
In Place Apart is the debut studio album by the American hardcore band Killing the Dream. The album was released on September 13, 2005 through Deathwish Inc....
, was released on September 13, 2005. In Place Apart was produced by Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou
Kurt Ballou is the guitarist from Massachusetts-based band Converge. Aside from his role in Converge, he is a prolific producer, engineering and producing out of his own Godcity studio.- GodCity studio :...
and the cover art was designed by Jacob Bannon
Jacob Bannon
Jacob Bannon is the vocalist, lyricist, and graphic artist for the American metalcore band Converge. He is also the founder and owner of the label Deathwish Inc...
; both of which are from the hardcore band Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
. Alternative Press magazine declared the album to be the best hardcore record of 2005. In November 2005, the band toured in support of In Place Apart with No Trigger
No Trigger
No Trigger is a melodic punk/hardcore band from Massachusetts, United States. The band formed in 2000, with a sound which takes cues from like-minded outfits such as Strike Anywhere and None More Black. The band self-released two demos, one of them a split with Wasteland...
and Crime in Stereo
Crime In Stereo
Crime in Stereo was a Long Island-based melodic hardcore band. Comparable to Dag Nasty, Brand New, and Lifetime, the band released their debut, a split with New York's Kill Your Idols, in 2003 on hardcore label Blackout! Records...
. Support continued into 2006 and 2007 when Killing the Dream toured internationally in Japan and Europe.
The band released their second studio album Fractures
Fractures (album)
Fractures is the second studio album by the American hardcore punk band Killing the Dream. The album was released on June 10, 2008 through Deathwish Inc.. Fractures was produced by J...
was on June 10, 2008 through Deathwish. Killing the Dream recorded the music for the studio album in May 2007, however by August 2007 the vocal tracks had yet to be recorded. After extensive touring following part of the recordings, vocalist Elijah Horner wanted to allow his throat to rest for optimal performance in the studio causing extensive delays in the release. Fractures was produced by J. Robbins
J. Robbins
James Robbins is an American rock music artist. He began his career as a bassist for Government Issue, and has also led four of his own bands: Jawbox, Rollkicker Laydown, Burning Airlines, and Channels. He was a touring bassist for Scream and played bass on the debut 7" from Jack Potential, which...
of Jawbox
Jawbox
Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...
fame. In early 2009, Killing the Dream toured with The Carrier
The Carrier (band)
The Carrier is an American melodic hardcore band that was formed in 2006.In 2006, the band released their debut demo whom they recorded with Jay Maas at the Getaway Group Studios. After a year of playing shows, in the summer of 2007 the band teamed up with Words of War Records to release a...
in Europe. They were also a part of The Great American Hardcore Fest in September 2009.
Their third and final studio album, Lucky Me
Lucky Me (album)
Lucky Me is the third and final studio album by the American hardcore punk band Killing the Dream. The album was released on November 22, 2010 through Deathwish Inc.....
, was released on November 23, 2010. The Zach Ohren and Pat Hills produced album took Killing the Dream in a more melodic
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
direction musically, featuring more clean vocals and string arrangements along with their typical screamed vocals
Screaming (music)
Screaming is a vocal technique that is most popular in subgenres of heavy metal, punk and hard rock, including metalcore, deathcore, post-hardcore, groove metal, black metal, and grindcore...
and hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
stylings. The title of the album, created by vocalist Elijah Horner, is meant to be partly sarcastic and partly genuine. This idea is continued through the lyrics as Lucky Me is a reflection of Horner's life and how he feels lucky to be where he was with his band and teaching job at the time of the recording. Musically, the band wrote whatever came naturally to them without any preconceived idea of how they wanted it to turn out.
Killing the Dream performed their final show on July 2, 2011 at 924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street
924 Gilman Street is an all-ages, not for profit, collectively organized music club usually referred to by its fans simply as "The Gilman." It is located in the West Berkeley area of Berkeley, California about a mile and a half west of the North Berkeley BART station and a quarter-mile west of San...
in California with The Carrier
The Carrier (band)
The Carrier is an American melodic hardcore band that was formed in 2006.In 2006, the band released their debut demo whom they recorded with Jay Maas at the Getaway Group Studios. After a year of playing shows, in the summer of 2007 the band teamed up with Words of War Records to release a...
, All Teeth, and DCOI. In the group's final statement Killing the Dream said, "We only ever wanted to do a 7" EP. The fact that we stayed a band for so long, made it all across the globe, we are truly spoiled. Thank you everyone for the support."
Members
Final lineup- Chris Chase – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Isaac Fratini – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Pat Guild – guitars
- Elijah Horner – vocals
- DJ Rogers – guitars
Former members
- Joel Adams – guitars
- Bart Mullis – guitars
- Phil Jones – guitars
Discography
Studio albums- In Place ApartIn Place ApartIn Place Apart is the debut studio album by the American hardcore band Killing the Dream. The album was released on September 13, 2005 through Deathwish Inc....
(2005) - FracturesFractures (album)Fractures is the second studio album by the American hardcore punk band Killing the Dream. The album was released on June 10, 2008 through Deathwish Inc.. Fractures was produced by J...
(2008) - Lucky MeLucky Me (album)Lucky Me is the third and final studio album by the American hardcore punk band Killing the Dream. The album was released on November 22, 2010 through Deathwish Inc.....
(2010)
EPs
- Demo (2003)
- I Rewrote It (2005)
Compilations
- Killing the Dream (2004)