Downset.
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- The correct title of this article is downset.. The initial letter is shown capitalized due to technical restrictions.
| downset. | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 1989–present |
| Genres | Hardcore Rapcore Funkcore |
| Labels | Mercury Records Epitaph Records Hawino Records |
| Members | Rey Oropeza Ares Schwager Chris Lee Rico Villasenor |
downset. is a rapcore / hardcore punk group hailing from Los Angeles, California's infamous underground hardcore scene.
Contents |
[edit] Band history
The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They released their debut album, Unity is Strength, in 1989 and the EP I Refuse to Lose under this name. They are also known for being one of the first hardcore bands to incorporate hip hop and funk influences into their music.
In 1992, Social Justice (1987-92) changed their name to downset., and released their self-titled debut album on Abstract Records in 1994.
The album was praised by critics, exploring various social issues in their songs, such as the unjust death of lead singer Rey Oropeza's father by the hands of the LAPD.
Later in 1994, downset. signed a deal with Mercury Records, a subsidiary of Polygram Records, and released their self-titled effort in the same year. In 1996, the band released their most commercially successful album, Do We Speak a Dead Language?, through Mercury.
Making their departure from Mercury Records, downset. were scooped up by Epitaph Records and released their 3rd album, Check Your People in 2000. That same year, rumours circulated that Oropeza was to resume Rage Against the Machine's Zach de la Rocha vocalist position after Zach left. Other replacement contenders were Chris Cornell, Chuck D, and B-Real of Cypress Hill. Cornell was ultimately chosen, and Rage Against the Machine transfigured into Audioslave.
After many line-up changes (most notably, the loss of long-time downset. guitar player, Rogelio Lozano and the addition of original drummer, Chris Lee), in 2004 downset. released their latest album, Universal, on independent record label Hawino Records.
Though downset. has never breached the Billboard charts or experienced any mainstream success, they are still regarded as a noteworthy influence within the nu-metal & rap-metal subgenres. In addition to headlining the second stage at Ozzfest 1997, they've toured with Linkin Park, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax, among many other eminent metal names.
[edit] Band members
[edit] Current
[edit] Former
- Don Ward - Guitar
- Rogelio Lozano - Guitar
- Andrew Klein - Guitar
- James Morris - Bass
- Chris Hamilton - Drums
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio
- downset. (Self-Titled) (1994)
- Do We Speak a Dead Language? (1996)
- Check Your People (2000)
- Universal (2004)
[edit] EP
- Unity is Strength (As Social Justice, 1989)
- I Refuse to Lose (Also as Social Justice, EP, 1989)
- Our Suffocation (EP, 1994)
- Cold Blue Coma (EP, 2000)
