Vision of Disorder

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Vision of Disorder

Left to right: Mike Fleischmann (bass), Matt Baumbach (guitar), Tim Williams (vocals), Mike Kennedy (guitar), Brendon Cohen (drums)
Origin Long Island, New York
Country United States
Years active 19922002
Genres Metalcore
Hardcore
Labels Roadrunner Records
TVT Records
Members Tim Williams
Matt Baumbach
Mike Kennedy
Mike Fleischmann
Brendon Cohen

Vision of Disorder was a hardcore / thrash metal band from Long Island, New York, USA. The band's frenetic and socially aware amalgam of hardcore and thrash metal gained the band a strong underground following before their demise in 2002.

Contents

[edit] History

Guitarists Matt Baumbach and Mike Kennedy formed the band in 1992 with vocalist/lyricist Tim Williams, drummer Brendon Cohen, and bassist Mike Fleischmann. Fleischmann left the band and VOD opted to perform during this fledgling period without a bass player.

Bassist Fleischmann later returned to the fold and the quintet went on to release a series of demos and songs on compilations before VOD released their seminal 7" record, Still (released on Striving for Togetherness Records) in 1996. This album includes the original versions of the songs Through My Eyes and D.T.O.

Around the time of the recording of that EP, the band was invited to participate in N.Y.H.C., a documentary on the New York hardcore scene. An in-depth interview was conducted with the band and two performances were captured; one in Newark, NJ and the other on their home turf of Northport, Long Island. The Northport show can be seen on the back cover of their 7".

The Still EP attracted a strong underground following, particularly within the Long Island's hardcore community. This was sufficient to earn the band a major label record deal. VOD's self-titled debut was released in 1996, on Roadrunner Records' subsidiary label, Supersoul. It was lauded by many old-school hardcore aficionados for its mixture of innovative sounds built on traditional hardcore roots.

The album Imprint (released on Roadrunner Records), followed the band's self-titled two years later. This album received ambivalent reviews: many old VOD fans disliked their new creative direction, whereas many of the fans that Imprint had attracted appreciated the band's seemingly innovative sound. Imprint created a permanent rift between Vision of Disorder and some longtime fans who couldn't get past the band's mutated sound and the "raw" production values that their major label sophomore record boasted.

The CD cover of 1998's Imprint.
The CD cover of 1998's Imprint.

After touring in support of Imprint, Vision of Disorder became relatively inconspicuous within the heavy music spectrum. However, they eventually returned to the public eye, divested of Roadrunner Records and announced their plans to release For the Bleeders, a compendium of 9 demo songs that VOD re-recorded specifically for this record. For the Bleeders was released in 1999 on independent label, Go Kart Records.

Staying true with their desire to explore what they were capable of musically, Vision of Disorder released the southern rock-influenced album, From Bliss to Devastation, released on TVT Records in 2001. Using their own signature musical ingredients in conjunction with musical elements reminiscent of Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, The band's TVT album debut was ultimately a commercial failure. The fans' reception was lukewarm as the old fans who withstood Vision of Disorder's approach with Imprint were even less impressed with this effort, and the fans who were introduced to VOD through their sophomore record were indifferent towards FBTD's new and uncharacteristic sound.

Apparently frustrated by a lack of record company support from both Roadrunner and TVT Records, Vision of Disorder went on an extended hiatus in 2002, and eventually disbanded, as singer Williams and guitarist Kennedy formed the touring and recording metalcore band bloodsimple.

FBTD-era Vision of Disorder.
FBTD-era Vision of Disorder.

VOD reunited briefly in order to play a 3-song "mini-set" during a September 24th show with the bands bloodsimple. and Karnov (drummer Brendon Cohen and bassist Mike Fleischmann's current musical ensemble). The response to the set was positive enough for the band to play a full reunion set at 2006's Super Bowl of Hardcore in Manhattan. The band is rumored to be planning a final reunion tour for sometime between 2006 and 2007[citation needed].

[edit] Members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Trivia

  • Vision of Disorder filmed and released music videos for the songs Imprint (a track taken from the album of the same name), and Southbound (a track taken from their last record, From Bliss to Devastation).
  • During the tumult with TVT records, vocalist Tim Williams and guitarist Matt Baumbach started a side-project called "DRAG", purportedly wrote 30 songs, and then languished until finally Tim Williams moved on to bloodsimple. with other VOD guitarist Mike Kennedy in tow.
  • Fix8 was the original moniker for Tim Williams and Mike Kennedy's latest band, bloodsimple.
  • Tim Williams found Vision of Disorder's name in a textbook while he was still attending high school.
  • Mike Fleischmann and Brendon Cohen are members of a new band, Karnov, which played their live debut in Sept 2005, opening up for bloodsimple. on Long Island, NY.
  • One of the longest tenured roadies for VOD was a fellow named B. Folly, who is now the singer for Karnov.
  • Drummer Brendon Cohen toured with bloodsimple. during the summer of 2006, resulting in 3/5's of VOD's classic lineup playing a limited number of shows.

[edit] External Links

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