Sworn Enemy is a crossover thrash band from New York City.
Biography
The band formed in 1995 as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential New York Hardcore scene. At its original inception the band centered around founding members: vocalist Sal Lococo, lead guitarist Lorenzo Antonucci, 2nd guitarist Mike Raffinello, bass player Mike Palmer and drummer Zoli.
The band's early output as Mindset was limited to a demo, an appearance on the New Found Hope II - The First Amendment compilation CD, and a 3 song 7 inch named State Of Mind.
Soon after the State Of Mind release, another band named Mindset appeared on the underground metal scene, having existed as Mindset before the Queens Mindset. Therefore, Sal and crew changed their name to Sworn Enemy.
The band continued to play shows and garner attention in the scene. In 2001 the band released Negative Outlook on Jamey Jasta's Stillborn Records. The record was a mix of old school hardcore punk and new school breakdowns, and it quickly gained the band attention in the entire hardcore scene. Soon after came Integrity Defines Strength, the title being a play on the I.D.S. crew that Sworn Enemy claimed loyalty to. It contained 3 new songs and a live set at CBGB.
Sworn Enemy's signed a release deal with Elektra Records in 2003. The result was As Real As It Gets. The band changed their style as the CD featured a large thrash metal influence, as well as abrasive, near-black metal. The new style and worldwide distribution led to tours with bands such as Anthrax as well as a stint on Ozzfest that year.
In early 2006 The Beginning Of The End was released on Abacus Records, a division of Century Media focusing on underground metal and hardcore inspired bands. The new record displayed more thrash influence, and was immediately followed with a national tour with Six Feet Under. They have also toured with Dying Fetus and Hatebreed.
In 2007, they were on the Trendkill Tour alongside Kataklysm, As Blood Runs Black, Too Pure To Die, and Suicide Silence.
They were asked by long time friends, Earth Crisis, to be a part of their reunion tour.
On March 29, 2008 the music video for the first single debuted on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. The video for "A Place of Solace" from the Maniacal CD was directed and shot by David Brodskyand edited by Allison Woest.
A new record Total World Domination will be released June 16 in US and June 22 in Europe via Century Media records. The record will be once again produced by Tim Lambesis from As I Lay Dying. Lorenzo Antonucci (guitars, vocals) further comments: “I'm very excited about this album and its writing process was better then ever. I've been a part of all the writing for every record and I feel this is our best foundation yet. We took it back to As Real As It Gets with a little of Beginning of the End and Maniacal in it. The sound is way faster and more pissed off than ever, harder than ever and a lot more ignorant. It was also fun working with Tim again. This also marks our first recording with Sid (bass) and JRad (drums), so we are all very excited about that. We couldn’t be more proud of this effort and prepare to have your faces melted!”
Discography
Members
Current members
- Sal Lococo - Vocals
- Lorenzo Antonucci - Guitar
- Jamin Hunt - Guitar
- Sid - Bass
- Jerad Buckwalter - Drums
Former members
- Guitar
- Bass
- Edward Kilpatrick
- Shawn "Tootsie" Cox
- Mike Couls
- Jimmy "Hardcore"
- Drums
- Paul Antignai
- Timmy Mycek
- Paul Wallmaker
External links
