Verse (band)
Encyclopedia
Verse was a hardcore
band from Providence, Rhode Island
. They released three full-length albums and an EP on Rivalry and Bridge 9 Records
and conducted a number of full U.S. tours. For most of its six-year history Verse was a straight edge band.
On February 8, 2009, the band issued a statement on their MySpace
page announcing their breakup.
, Verse went into the studio to record their follow-up to Rebuild, From Anger and Rage.
, Down to Nothing
, Shipwreck, and Have Heart
. After a solid year and a half of touring in support of From Anger and Rage, Verse signed with Bridge 9 Records
to release their third full length, Aggression. This Album was also released in Germany through Prügelprinz Records
said, "these boys bring a progressive and conceptual approach to their brain-caving brutality that provides a refreshing spin on the norm." After the release of Aggression, Verse set back out on their heavy touring schedule, having already done one US tour with Have Heart, and two European tours with Have Heart, Shipwreck, and I Rise.
principles. The article quoted a posting from Berg on a Bridge 9 message board that read, in part, "about two weeks ago I decided that I no longer wanted to be straight edge so I made some changes in my life. This means that Verse is no longer a straight edge band and I'm not going to pretend like Verse was never a straight edge band because that would just be lame".
In his message, Berg said Verse would continue as a band, but on February 9, 2009, Punknews.org reported the band's breakup. They never grew again.
Chris Berg played bass for the band Mountain Man
, which features former members Patrick Murphy (Drums) and Jesse Menard (Guitar) of Last Lights and I Rise.
Eric Lepine plays guitar in Don the Beachcomber
, a relevant nu-metal act.
Zak Drummond is now a wedding DJ.
Sean Murphy is now a wizard and will be teaching a few courses adjunct at Hogwarts
next semester.
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 from Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. They released three full-length albums and an EP on Rivalry and Bridge 9 Records
Bridge 9 Records
Bridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...
and conducted a number of full U.S. tours. For most of its six-year history Verse was a straight edge band.
On February 8, 2009, the band issued a statement on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page announcing their breakup.
History
Verse started as a side project for What Feeds the Fire frontman Sean Murphy. At its inception, Verse consisted of Murphy playing drums, Matt Amore on bass, and Eric Lepine (also of What Feeds the Fire) and Mark Lennon playing guitars, they still had not found a singer. Following the breakup of What Feeds the Fire, Mark from The Distance took over on drums and Murphy was free to take on the role of vocalist. Verse released their first recording, the Four Songs EP, in early 2003 on Contrast Records. Later that year, Mark Lennon left the band, his place being filled by Brian Wilcox of the band Rampage. Once Wilcox had joined the band, Mark left his drumming duties in the Distance, allowing Verse to tour and record music as a full-time band.Rebuild
Upon solidifying their lineup, Verse signed to Rivalry Records for their first full length Rebuild, which was recorded in May 2004. After the release of Rebuild, Verse went onto a heavy touring schedule. During August 2004, when the band was touring through South Carolina, they encountered some van troubles. While the van was getting fixed, approximately $10,000 worth of musical equipment and a sentimental childhood lava lamp belonging to Murphy were stolen from Verse’s trailer. After finishing their tour of the United States and a tour of Europe with Another BreathAnother breath
Another Breath is the third studio album by Ellen Foley.- Track listing :...
, Verse went into the studio to record their follow-up to Rebuild, From Anger and Rage.
From Anger and Rage
From Anger and Rage was recorded by Dean Baltulonis at Atomic Studios in Brooklyn New York. Upon completing the second album, Verse continued on their rigorous touring schedule, going on multiple US and European tours with bands like Guns Up!, Crime in StereoCrime 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...
, Down to Nothing
Down To Nothing
Down to Nothing is a straight edge hardcore band based out of Richmond, Virginia. Since their inception in 2000, DTN have toured all over the world. Their most recent studio recording is a CD/vinyl release titled "The Most" on Revelation Records which was released on July 15, 2007...
, Shipwreck, and 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...
. After a solid year and a half of touring in support of From Anger and Rage, Verse signed with Bridge 9 Records
Bridge 9 Records
Bridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...
to release their third full length, Aggression. This Album was also released in Germany through Prügelprinz Records
Aggression
Aggression was recorded at Godcity Studios, and The Getaway Group Studios by engineer Jay Maas, and was released on June 10, 2008. Allmusic reviewer Greg Prato described it as "straight-ahead, hard-hitting hardcore"., while Chris Hidden of Rock SoundRock Sound
Rock Sound is a British magazine which champions rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, whilst also giving coverage to more well known acts.-History:...
said, "these boys bring a progressive and conceptual approach to their brain-caving brutality that provides a refreshing spin on the norm." After the release of Aggression, Verse set back out on their heavy touring schedule, having already done one US tour with Have Heart, and two European tours with Have Heart, Shipwreck, and I Rise.
Breakup
According to an article on KillYourStereo.com, in late 2008, Verse bassist Chris Berg "broke edge"—meaning he decided to stop adhering to straight edgeStraight 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...
principles. The article quoted a posting from Berg on a Bridge 9 message board that read, in part, "about two weeks ago I decided that I no longer wanted to be straight edge so I made some changes in my life. This means that Verse is no longer a straight edge band and I'm not going to pretend like Verse was never a straight edge band because that would just be lame".
In his message, Berg said Verse would continue as a band, but on February 9, 2009, Punknews.org reported the band's breakup. They never grew again.
Chris Berg played bass for the band Mountain Man
Mountain man
Mountain men were trappers and explorers who roamed the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through the 1880s where they were instrumental in opening up the various Emigrant Trails allowing Americans in the east to settle the new territories of the far west by organized wagon trains...
, which features former members Patrick Murphy (Drums) and Jesse Menard (Guitar) of Last Lights and I Rise.
Eric Lepine plays guitar in Don the Beachcomber
Don the Beachcomber
Donn Beach , born Ernest Raymond Beaumont Gantt, is the founding father of tiki restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The many so-called "Polynesian" restaurants and pubs that enjoyed great popularity are directly descended from what he created...
, a relevant nu-metal act.
Zak Drummond is now a wedding DJ.
Sean Murphy is now a wizard and will be teaching a few courses adjunct at Hogwarts
Hogwarts
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry or simply Hogwarts is the primary setting for the first six books of the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling, with each book lasting the equivalent of one school year. It is a fictional boarding school of magic for witches and wizards between the ages of...
next semester.