Vitamin X
Encyclopedia
Vitamin X or VX is a hardcore punk
and thrashcore
band from Amsterdam
, Netherlands
that was formed in 1997. They are named as one of the best and most important hardcore punk bands going. Their unique sound is characterized by furious hardcore punk mixed with turbo-charged thrash, 70's rock riffage and wild guitar solos. The members are straight edge
but this does not reflect their lyrics or music. Their current line-up consists of four members: Marko Korac (vocals), Alex Koutsman (bass guitar), Wolfi (drums), and Marc Emmerik (songwriter, guitar).
Known for their witty socio-political lyrical themes and energetic live performances the band recorded several seminal full-length albums and singles on various international labels, mainly US label Havoc Records
(Kylesa
, Wolfbrigade
, Fucked Up
, From Ashes Rise
, etc). The band has completed multiple tours of North America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South East Asia and Russia. In 2001 and 2004 they played CBGB
's, New York to a sold-out crowd. At a 2006 MTV
live studio performance in Brasil a riot broke out after the band smashed their instruments.
Their 2008 album Full Scale Assault was recorded in Chicago by Steve Albini
featuring a guest appearance by Negative Approach
singer John Brannon and artwork by John Baizley of Baroness
. It received critical acclaim from publications such as Metal Maniacs
, Maximumrocknroll, Profane Existence
, Suburban Voice
, Exclaim!
, and many more, several of them naming it as one of the best hardcore punk albums of 2008/2009.
They have also released multiple "best of" collections and discography tapes, mainly for overseas tours.
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...
and 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...
band from Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
that was formed in 1997. They are named as one of the best and most important hardcore punk bands going. Their unique sound is characterized by furious hardcore punk mixed with turbo-charged thrash, 70's rock riffage and wild guitar solos. The members are 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...
but this does not reflect their lyrics or music. Their current line-up consists of four members: Marko Korac (vocals), Alex Koutsman (bass guitar), Wolfi (drums), and Marc Emmerik (songwriter, guitar).
Known for their witty socio-political lyrical themes and energetic live performances the band recorded several seminal full-length albums and singles on various international labels, mainly US label Havoc Records
Havoc Records
Havoc Records is an underground crust punk record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Havoc Records was founded in 1992 by Felix Havoc. According to Felix, "I learned a lot about how to produce and distribute records in this period. Havoc Records began in 1992 as the vehicle to realize the "Burn...
(Kylesa
Kylesa
Kylesa is a metal band that was formed in Savannah, Georgia. Their music incorporates experimentalism with sludgy riffs, drop-tuned guitars and elements of psychedelic rock. The group was established in 2001 by the former members of Damad, with the addition of guitar player Laura Pleasants who is...
, Wolfbrigade
Wolfbrigade
Wolfbrigade are a Swedish D-beat crust punk band, formed in 1995. Their line-up has included members of Asta Kask, To What End?, Today's Overdose, Cosa Nostra, Anti Cimex, Obscure Infinity and Harlequin. Their music was a groundbreaking mix of Swedish hardcore punk and death metal that paved the...
, Fucked Up
Fucked Up
Fucked Up is a hardcore punk band from Toronto, Canada. The band won the 2009 Polaris Music Prize for the album The Chemistry of Common Life.-History:The band formed and played their first shows in early 2001...
, From Ashes Rise
From Ashes Rise
From Ashes Rise is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Nashville, Tennessee in the mid-'90s. They helped define the gloom-heavy thrash sound attributed to groups like His Hero is Gone and Tragedy...
, etc). The band has completed multiple tours of North America, South America, Europe, Japan, Australia, South East Asia and Russia. In 2001 and 2004 they played CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
's, New York to a sold-out crowd. At a 2006 MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
live studio performance in Brasil a riot broke out after the band smashed their instruments.
Their 2008 album Full Scale Assault was recorded in Chicago by Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
featuring a guest appearance by Negative Approach
Negative Approach
Negative Approach is an American hardcore punk band, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1981. The band is considered among of the pioneers of hardcore punk, particularly in the Midwest region. Like most hardcore bands, Negative Approach was little known in its day outside of its hometown...
singer John Brannon and artwork by John Baizley of Baroness
Baroness (band)
Baroness is a band from Savannah, Georgia whose members grew up together in Lexington, Virginia.-Formative years:Baroness formed in mid-2003, founded by former members of the punk/metal band Johnny Welfare and the Paychecks...
. It received critical acclaim from publications such as Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs
Metal Maniacs was a heavy metal magazine founded in 1989 by Mike G. and Katherine Ludwig of Metal Shop. It was focused largely on covering extreme metal, with emphasis on the black and death metal genres...
, Maximumrocknroll, Profane Existence
Profane Existence
The Profane Existence Collective is a Minneapolis-based anarcho-punk collective. Established in 1989, the collective publishes a nationally-known zine , as well as releasing and distributing anarcho-punk, crust, and grindcore music, and printing and publishing pamphlets and literature...
, Suburban Voice
Suburban Voice
Suburban Voice is a punk zine published by Al Quint. Originally started in 1982, it was titled Suburban Punk for the first 10 issues, and then the titled changed to Suburban Voice. Although the zine has other contributors, Al is the primary writer for most of the material...
, Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
, and many more, several of them naming it as one of the best hardcore punk albums of 2008/2009.
Discography
- 1998 Straight Edge Crew EP (Commitment)
- 1999 Once Upon a Time... EP (Commitment)
- 2000 See Thru Their Lies LP/CD (Underestimated)
- 2001 We Came Here For Fun EP (Underestimated)
- 2001 People That Bleed EP (HavocHavoc RecordsHavoc Records is an underground crust punk record label based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Havoc Records was founded in 1992 by Felix Havoc. According to Felix, "I learned a lot about how to produce and distribute records in this period. Havoc Records began in 1992 as the vehicle to realize the "Burn...
) - 2002 Down the Drain LP/CD (Havoc/Underestimated)
- 2003 Random Violence (Japanese tour CD, Good Luck)
- 2003 split 7" with Blind Society (King Friday)
- 2004 Bad Trip LP/CD (Havoc)
- 2005 Rip It Out EP (Havoc)
- 2008 Full Scale Assault LP/CD (TankCrimes, Agipunk, Thrashbastard)
They have also released multiple "best of" collections and discography tapes, mainly for overseas tours.
Members
- Marko Korac - vocals
- Marc Emmerik - guitar, songwriter
- Alex Koutsman - bass
- Wolfi - drums
Former members
- Wimmy "Zero" Koster - drums
- Boka (Ratos De PoraoRatos de PorãoRatos de Porão is a Brazilian hardcore punk band from São Paulo. They were formed in 1980, toured South America, North America, and Europe and still continue to play today...
) - drums - Johan X - drums
- Eric - guitar
External links
- Vitamin X US tour at Punknews.orgPunknews.orgPunknews.org is a website founded by Aubin Paul which launched in 1999. The website publishes music news and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, indie rock and heavy metal...
- Vitamin X - Bad Trip at ScenePointBlank
- Vitamin X Interview in Podcast at Punk.by