MK-ULTRA (Chicago band)
Encyclopedia
MK-ULTRA was a hardcore
/thrash
band from Chicago, Illinois
formed in 1993. They were known for their fast music and outspokenness on political and social topics ranging from capitalism
to Christianity
. Due to "legal troubles", the band was forced to drop the name "MK-ULTRA" in 1999. They finally broke up in 2000, although the band continued donating songs to compilations for some years afterwards. MK-ULTRA went on 3 tours, including "roughly 26 states
and Montreal
".
Drummer Ebro Virumbrales also played in well-known hardcore bands Charles Bronson
and Los Crudos
at the same time as MK-ULTRA. Singer Frank Hanney went on to form Fourteen or Fight and The O.S.S. Jeff Jelen went on to form Punch in the Face with Ebro Virumbrales on vocals, VMW with Mark McCoy
on vocals, and American Mosquito with former vocalist Jeff Bachner. Kirk Syrek played session bass with Nachtmystium
, and is currently in Sick/Tired. Original drummer Gary Cihak went on to form Government for Hire.
A 56-track double LP
with nearly all of their recorded songs was released by Mark McCoy's Youth Attack! Records on August 12, 2009. The band announced a one-time reunion show to be held on October 3, 2009 in Chicago.
Their name was taken from the secret CIA Project MKULTRA
.
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...
/thrash
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...
band from Chicago, Illinois
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
formed in 1993. They were known for their fast music and outspokenness on political and social topics ranging from capitalism
Capitalism
Capitalism is an economic system that became dominant in the Western world following the demise of feudalism. There is no consensus on the precise definition nor on how the term should be used as a historical category...
to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
. Due to "legal troubles", the band was forced to drop the name "MK-ULTRA" in 1999. They finally broke up in 2000, although the band continued donating songs to compilations for some years afterwards. MK-ULTRA went on 3 tours, including "roughly 26 states
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
".
Drummer Ebro Virumbrales also played in well-known hardcore bands Charles Bronson
Charles Bronson (band)
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.-Musical style:...
and Los Crudos
Los Crudos
Los Crudos was an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois that existed from 1991 to 1998. The band played in the hardcore punk style, and were a popular act within the DIY underground of the 1990s. Being Latino, they paved the way for later Spanish-speaking punk bands and helped to...
at the same time as MK-ULTRA. Singer Frank Hanney went on to form Fourteen or Fight and The O.S.S. Jeff Jelen went on to form Punch in the Face with Ebro Virumbrales on vocals, VMW with Mark McCoy
Mark 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...
on vocals, and American Mosquito with former vocalist Jeff Bachner. Kirk Syrek played session bass with Nachtmystium
Nachtmystium
Nachtmystium is an American psychedelic black metal band formed by Blake Judd, formerly known as Azentrius, and Pat McCormick. The band's name is derived from the German word Nacht meaning "night", and the made-up term mystium which resembles the Latin adjective mysticum...
, and is currently in Sick/Tired. Original drummer Gary Cihak went on to form Government for Hire.
A 56-track double LP
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
with nearly all of their recorded songs was released by Mark McCoy's Youth Attack! Records on August 12, 2009. The band announced a one-time reunion show to be held on October 3, 2009 in Chicago.
Their name was taken from the secret CIA Project MKULTRA
Project MKULTRA
Project MKULTRA, or MK-ULTRA, was the code name for a covert, illegal CIA human experimentation program, run by the CIA's Office of Scientific Intelligence. This official U.S. government program began in the early 1950s, continued at least through the late 1960s, and used U.S...
.
Members
- Jeff Jelen - Guitar (1993–2000)
- Kirk Syrek - Bass/Vocals (1993–2000)
- Frank Hanney - Vocals (1994–2000)
- Ebro Virumbrales - Drums (1997–2000)
- Gary Cihak - Drums (1993–1997)
- Jeff Bachner - Vocals (1993–1995)
EPs
- Stick Figure 7" (self released, 1995)
- Melt 7" (Lengua Armada DiscosLengua Armada DiscosLengua Armada Discos is an American punk and hardcore independent record label run by Limp Wrist/Los Crudos frontman, Martin Sorrondeguy. It features such bands as Look Back and Laugh, Charles Bronson, Severed Head of State and Sin Orden....
, 1996) - EP collection (27 song tour cassette, 1999)
Splits
- Network of Friends Part 3 CD/LP with Seein' RedSeein' Red"Seein' Red" is a song by the San Diego-based rock band Unwritten Law, released as the second single from the band's 2001 album, Elva. It was written by singer Scott Russo and produced by Michael "Miguel" Happoldt...
(Coalition Records, 1998) - Split 7" with Los CrudosLos CrudosLos Crudos was an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois that existed from 1991 to 1998. The band played in the hardcore punk style, and were a popular act within the DIY underground of the 1990s. Being Latino, they paved the way for later Spanish-speaking punk bands and helped to...
(Lengua Armada Discos, 2003)
Compilations
- All That and a Bag o' Dicks 7" (Disgruntled Records, 1995)
- No Royalties LP (Bad People Records, 1996)
- Vida/Life: Benefit 7" for Project Vida 7" (Lengua Armada Discos, 1997)
- Blindspot Mailorder Distro CD (No Idea RecordsNo Idea RecordsFor other uses, see No Idea .No Idea Records is an independent record label based in Gainesville, Florida which produces both vinyl records and compact discs...
and Toybox Records, 1997) - Limited Options...Sold as Noble Endeavors: Benefit Compilation 10" (Half-Mast Records, 1997)
- Double Dose of Dicks 2x7" (Disgruntled Records, 1997)
- The 49th Parallel CD (Disillusion Records/Lake Eerie Hi-Fi, 1997), re-released on LP (Old Glory Records, 1998)
- Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh!: A Music War 7" (Slap-a-Ham RecordsSlap-a-Ham RecordsSlap A Ham Records was a hardcore punk, thrash metal and grindcore label from San Francisco, California owned and operated by Chris Dodge of Spazz, Despise You, Lack Of Interest and several other bands.-Discography:Published albums include:...
, 1998), later re-released on CD as Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh!: The CD (Goatsucker Records, 2003) - Reality Part #3 CD/LP (Deep Six Records, 1999)
- Thrash of the Titans LP (Know Records, 2000)
- Chicago’s on Fire Again 7" (Lengua Armada Discos, 2001)
- Tomorrow Will Be Worse Volume 2 LP (Sound Pollution Records, 2001)
- Deadly Sins 4x7" (Hater of God Records, 2001)
- Off Target CD (Coalition Records, 2004)
- Discography 2xLP (Youth Attack! Records, 2009)