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Harm's Way (band)

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For other uses, see Harm's Way.
Harm's Way
Harm's Way performing in 2018
Background information
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Years active2006–present
Labels
Members
  • James Pligge
  • Bo Lueders
  • Christopher Mills
  • Nick Gauthier
  • Casey Soyk
Past members
  • John Hoffman
  • Andrew Saba
  • Dave Cronin
  • Jay Jancetic
Websiteharmsway13.com

Harm's Way[N 1] is an American hardcore punk band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 2006. The band started as a side project, but ended up becoming a more serious and full-time band in their later years. Harm's Way has since released four studio albums: Reality Approaches (2009), Isolation (2011) and Rust (2015) and several EPs. On February 9, 2018, the band released their critically acclaimed Metal Blade Records debut, titled Posthuman. They have been recognized for their unique blend of metal, industrial, and hardcore music.

History

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In 2006,[5] the members of a straight edge punk band called Few and the Proud started a "side project-slash-joke"[1] band to have fun playing short-and-fast powerviolence songs influenced by Crossed Out and Infest.[6] Harm's Way drummer Chris Mills commented on the band's early days and progression, stating: "We'd play super fast powerviolence songs, and our singer would put on a mask and sing silly lyrics about beating up frat boys or whatever. Then, later as the band became more serious, we retired a lot of those elements and went in a more death metal direction—darker and less ridiculous, even if some aspects of it still weren't 100 percent serious."[1] Harm's Way released several albums, EPs and singles through Organized Crime Records and Closed Casket Activities in their early days.

After the release of their 2011 second studio album Isolation, Harm's Way emailed Jacob Bannon (Converge) and his label Deathwish Inc. after hearing that he was a fan of the band's music to ask if the label would be interested in signing them.[5] The band's signing to Deathwish was announced in March 2013.[7] Harm's Way released the EP Blinded on July 23, 2013 featuring artwork by Florian Bertmer,[5] and promoted it with a music video for the track "Mind Control" followed by a world tour.[7][8] Mills commented on their positive relationship with the label, stating: "It's been awesome—they've been really helpful, we have a bigger budget, we were able to do a music video. They've been willing to do anything we've really wanted. They're really supportive."[5] The Blinded EP also saw the band incorporating more Godflesh-influenced industrial metal into their sound.[5][9]

Harm's Way released its third studio album Rust through Deathwish on March 10, 2015 and promoted it with a music video for the track "Amongst the Rust."[10][11] Commenting on the band's musical and imagery changes with Rust, Mills said: "We're still locked into these niches in people's minds—you know, meathead tough guy hardcore band, Satan-worshipping death metal band, whatever. We see Rust as not just a new musical phase—we're changing up the old logo and taking a different direction with the imagery to try to steer people away from generalizations and assumptions based on stuff that really doesn't represent who we are as people or musicians."[1] The album was met with generally positive reviews. Writing for Rock Sound, Chris Hidden gave the album an eight-out-of-ten, and said: "This new record finds them in formidable form, with the likes of 'Amongst The Rust' and 'Cancerous Ways' blending the down-tuned riff attack of nu metal with groove-led thrash and the crushing intensity of hardcore to produce a sound that references everyone from Sepultura to Trapped Under Ice."[12] Harm's Way began touring in support of Rust with a March/April 2015 North American tour with Code Orange and others, a May/June European tour, the European leg of Deathwish Fest and US headlining tour in July, and touring North American with The Black Dahlia Murder in October.[11][13][14][15]

On 6 December 2017, the band announced their fourth studio album, and Metal Blade Records debut, titled Posthuman. The record was set for release on 9 February 2018, and was produced by Will Putney at Graphic Nature Audio.[16] After the album release and a February–March US tour, Luca Cimarusti wrote for the Chicago Reader, "...they’ve finally fully realized their fascination with [Godflesh]. ...Posthuman is one of the darkest, heaviest records you’ll hear this year."[17] A year later, Harm's Way released a four-song EP titled PSTHMN featuring industrial remixes of songs from Posthuman.[18]

Musical style

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The band's musical style has been described as metalcore,[19][20][21][22] hardcore punk,[3][23][24] and industrial death metal.[3] The band's early work has been described as powerviolence.[25][23] They also incorporate elements of groove metal,[24] industrial,[24] death metal, black metal, and nu metal into their sound.[26] The band's music has been compared to bands like Code Orange,[27] Slipknot,[28] and Godflesh.[24]

Band members

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Current members[29]

  • James Pligge – lead vocals (2006–present)
  • Bo Lueders – guitars (2006–present)
  • Christopher Mills – drums (2006–present)
  • Nick Gauthier – guitars (2017–present)
  • Casey Soyk – bass (2017–present)

Former members[23]

  • John "Caution" Hoffman – guitars/bass
  • Andrew Saba[citation needed]
  • Jay Jancetic – guitars
  • David Winslow Cronin[citation needed]
  • Eammon Riley - Drums

Discography

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Studio albums

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  • Reality Approaches (2009, Organized Crime)
  • Isolation (2011, Closed Casket Activities)
  • Rust (2015, Deathwish)
  • Posthuman (2018, Metal Blade)[17]
  • Common Suffering (2023, Metal Blade)

Extended plays

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  • Imprisoned (2007, Organized Crime)
  • Harm's Way (2008, Organized Crime)
  • No Gods, No Masters (2010, Closed Casket Activities)
  • Blinded (2013, Deathwish)
  • PSTHMN (2019, Metal Blade)[18]

Singles

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  • "Breeding Grounds" (2011, Closed Casket Activities)

Music videos

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  • "Mind Control" (2013)[8]
  • "Amongst the Rust" (2015)[11]
  • "Left to Disintegrate" (2015)[30]
  • "Become a Machine" (2018)
  • "Silent Wolf" (2023)
  • "Devour" (2023)
  • “Undertow” (2023)[31]

Notes

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  1. ^ The band often drops the apostrophe and present their name as HARMS WAY on album art, merchandise and other promotional materials for "aesthetic reasons".[3][4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Macomber, Shawn (April 2015). "Playtime's over: Mechanized groove is in hardcore vets' hearts". Decibel (126). Philadelphia: Red Flag Media Inc.: 28. ISSN 1557-2137.
  2. ^ Crane, Matt (April 22, 2015). "Wolfnote (Harm's Way members) stream new song, 'Luna'". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c Thrashnkill, Joe (January 3, 2018). "Toilet Radio Gets Swole with Harm's Way". Toilet Ov Hell Radio (Podcast). Event occurs at 50:25. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  4. ^ Neilstein, Vince (December 6, 2017). "Apostrophe-Challenged Harms Way Release Ripping New Single 'Human Carrying Capacity'". MetalSucks. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cragun, Alex (September 24, 2013). "An Interview with Chris Mills, Drummer of Harm's Way". Slug Magazine. Archived from the original on April 13, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  6. ^ Ludwig, Jamie (January 27, 2015). "Destroy Everything in Your Path with a New Song from Chicago Crushers Harm's Way". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  7. ^ a b Flynn, John (March 15, 2013). "Tours: Deathwish Inc. signs Harm's Way". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Paul, Aubin (June 13, 2013). "Videos: Harm's Way: 'Mind Control'". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  9. ^ Harrington, Gregg (September 5, 2013). "Interviews: Chris Mills (Harms Way)". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  10. ^ Chichester, Sammi (March 5, 2015). "Harm's Way Premiere New Album, 'Rust'". Revolver. NewBay Media. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c Macomber, Shawn (February 25, 2015). "Get Into Harm's Way: Exclusive Video Premiere!". Decibel. Red Flag Media Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  12. ^ Hidden, Chris (March 11, 2015). "Harm's Way – Rust". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on September 7, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  13. ^ Adams, Gregory (March 5, 2015). "Harm's Way 'Rust' (album stream)". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  14. ^ Neilstein, Vince (June 2, 2015). "Harm's Way Still Do Not Understand Apostrophes, Will Tour Anyway". MetalSucks. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  15. ^ Adams, Gregory (July 15, 2015). "The Black Dahlia Murder Take Harm's Way, Iron Reagan on Canada-Heavy Tour". Exclaim!. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  16. ^ "Harms Way Premiere Song, Announce New Album". Lamb Goat. December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  17. ^ a b Cimarusti, Luca (March 22, 2018). "Harms Way". Chicago Reader. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  18. ^ a b Bellino, Vince (April 19, 2019). "Full EP Stream: Harm's Way - 'PSTHMN'". Decibel. Red Flag Media. Retrieved April 19, 2019.
  19. ^ Cimarusti, Luca (2023-11-13). "Local metalcore masters Harm's Way welcome Common Suffering alongside a reunited Weekend Nachos". Chicago Reader. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  20. ^ "Harm's Way (USA-IL) reviews, music, news - sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. Retrieved 2024-03-06.
  21. ^ "HARM'S WAY". MetalMusicArchives.com. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  22. ^ Smith, Joe (March 14, 2018). "Harm's Way — Posthuman". Medium. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  23. ^ a b c Thomas, Fred. "Harms Way | Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  24. ^ a b c d O'Connor, Andy (February 10, 2018). "Harm's Way: Posthuman Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  25. ^ Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (February 6, 2018). "Harm's Way Reveal Why They Embraced Industrial on 'Posthuman'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  26. ^ Cimarusti, Luca (March 16, 2018). "With Posthuman Harm's Way deliver one of the scariest, heaviest records you'll hear this year". Chicago Reader. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  27. ^ Pemental, Michael (February 7, 2018). "Album Review: Harm's Way Posthuman". Metal Injection. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  28. ^ Smith-Engelhardt, Joe (February 5, 2018). "Harm's Way – Posthuman". Exclaim!. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  29. ^ "Harm's Way - Posthuman & PSTHMN". Metal Blade. Retrieved December 25, 2021.
  30. ^ Carter, Emily (May 18, 2015). "Harm's Way Unleash New Video, Left To Disintegrate". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  31. ^ "Harm's Way Debut Music Video for "Devour", Announce Fall Tour with Fleshwater, Ingrown & Jivebomb". 16 August 2023.
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