Training for Utopia
Encyclopedia
- This article is about the band "Training for Utopia". "Training for Utopia" is also the name of a 2003 novel by Wally Jones.
Training for Utopia (TFU) was a metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
which existed from 1996–2000. The band first signed with Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a record label founded by Brandon Ebel in the U.S. state of California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington, where it is situated today...
and was later moved to Solid State Records
Solid State Records
Solid State Records is a Christian record label, a division of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore and metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, they have signed several bands that don't label themselves as Christian,...
, the Tooth & Nail sublabel
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
which promotes heavy Christian music
Christian music
Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely across the world....
. Training for Utopia subsequently became popular in the Christian metal
Christian metal
Christian metal, also known as white metal, is a form of heavy metal music usually defined by its message in a song's lyrics as well as the band's dedication to Christianity...
scene during its active years, although its music was not specifically religious.
Their brief existence included a tour with Zao and at the time the upcoming band Spitfire
Spitfire (US band)
Spitfire is a metalcore band from Virginia Beach, Virginia. They first formed in the late 1990s and are currently signed to Goodfellow Records.-History:...
. It was during this time that the band hired Carlos Colón
Carlos Colón
Carlos Colón may refer to:*Carlos Colón, Sr., wrestler*Carly Colón, wrestler whose real name is Carlos Colón, son of the above*The Deadlines' lead guitarist, Carlos Colón...
(later to join The Deadlines
The Deadlines
The Deadlines were a rock band that formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2002. Their musical style started as horror punk and later evolved toward glam rock...
) for their 1998 tour providing synthesizers & live guitar to their live show. Immediately following the tour Carlos left the band to pursue other aspirations. After a temporary hiatus the band returned with their second full length "Throwing a Wrench into the American Music Machine". After a small tour of the material the band disbanded.
At the demise of Training for Utopia, members Ryan and Don Clark announced that they were starting a new project called The American Spectator which never was realized. Don and Ryan Clark started "Asterik Studio" in Seattle, a graphic design
Graphic design
Graphic design is a creative process – most often involving a client and a designer and usually completed in conjunction with producers of form – undertaken in order to convey a specific message to a targeted audience...
shop where they completed many projects, including album artwork for former label-mates. In 2000, they founded the Christian metal band Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter
Demon Hunter is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, started in 2000 by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. All of Demon Hunter's members are Christians and express their love for Jesus in many of their songs. Although the brothers created the band, only one remains, Don Clark...
.
Members
- Ryan ClarkRyan Clark (musician)Ryan Clark is an American graphic designer and musician. He is best known as the lead vocalist of the heavy metal band Demon Hunter, which he co-founded with his brother, guitarist Don Clark.-Early life and career:...
– vocals, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(Currently with Demon HunterDemon HunterDemon Hunter is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, started in 2000 by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. All of Demon Hunter's members are Christians and express their love for Jesus in many of their songs. Although the brothers created the band, only one remains, Don Clark...
) - Don ClarkDon Clark (musician)Don Clark was the rhythm guitarist for the Christian metalcore band Demon Hunter, which he co-founded with his brother, vocalist Ryan Clark. Before Demon Hunter, Clark was a former guitarist and co-founder of Training for Utopia with Rob Dennler.Clark also founded Seattle-based Asterik Studio with...
– guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
(No longer with Demon HunterDemon HunterDemon Hunter is an American heavy metal band from Seattle, Washington, started in 2000 by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. All of Demon Hunter's members are Christians and express their love for Jesus in many of their songs. Although the brothers created the band, only one remains, Don Clark...
) - Steve Saxby – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(Currently with Out Of Place) - Morley Boyer – 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 ....
Other personnel
Don Clark has stated that Training for Utopia originally began with musician Rob Dennler as its lead vocalist, though Dennler was replaced by Ryan Clark before the band recorded its first demoDemo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
.
Carlos Colon
Carlos Colón
Carlos Colón may refer to:*Carlos Colón, Sr., wrestler*Carly Colón, wrestler whose real name is Carlos Colón, son of the above*The Deadlines' lead guitarist, Carlos Colón...
(later to join The Deadlines
The Deadlines
The Deadlines were a rock band that formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2002. Their musical style started as horror punk and later evolved toward glam rock...
) briefly played with the band during its 1998 tour with Zao playing synthesizers for their live shows.
Discography
| Title | Release date | Notes | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Falling Cycle EP | 1997-07-29 | Solid State | |
| Plastic Soul Impalement | 1998-03-03 | Solid State | |
| Split EP Split EP (Training For Utopia & Zao) Split EP is a split EP featuring songs by Metalcore bands Training for Utopia and Zao.-Track listing:# "Modus Operandi" Training for Utopia – 4:31# "Skin Like Winter" Zao – 2:25# "Police John Police Red" Training for Utopia – 7:43... |
1998-08-18 | Split with Zao. | Solid State |
| Throwing a Wrench Into the American Music Machine | 1999-11-02 | Solid State | |
| Technical Difficulties | 2004-04-20 | Best Of/Greatest Hits | Solid State |