The Showdown (band)
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| The Showdown | |
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 The Showdown at Ozzfest 2007
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| Background information | |
| Origin | Elizabethton, Tennessee |
| Genre(s) | Experimental metal Thrash metal Heavy metal Metalcore Christian metal[1] Christian metalcore Southern rock [2] |
| Years active | 2004 - Present |
| Label(s) | Current: Solid State Records Former: Mono Vs Stereo Records |
| Website | The Showdown official site |
| Members | |
| David Bunton Josh Childers AJ Barrette Eric Koruschak |
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| Former members | |
| Travis Bailey Jeremy Swain Daniel Swain Andrew Hall |
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The Showdown is a Christian Metalcore, and now Southern Rock, band based in Elizabethton, Tennessee.
Lyrically, their writing tells of heroism, sojourns and battles of life. As of 2008, they are signed to Solid State Records.
Contents |
[edit] History
At one time they were a punk rock band named 2540. The starting line up was brothers Daniel and Jeremy Swain on bass and guitar with Brandon Forbes on drums. Daniel soon took over the drums and Brandon left the band. This was the first of many changes. The first year or two Jeremy and Daniel remained while many members came and went including guitarists Joe Measner and Josh Arney, and bassist Jon Muraski. At one point Josh Childers joined the band as a bass player but quit after a few shows. Travis Bailey and best pal David Bunton left their band "Upsideout" to join up as Bass player and Lead Vocalist respectively. Dave sang in a pop/punk voice, very different from his style of singing today. Josh Childers rejoined as a second guitarist making the band a fivesome but shortly thereafter, Jeremy, who had started the band and had up to that point been the primary songwriter, left the band for personal reasons. Josh Childers assumed the role of primary songwriter and the band continued on. For the next couple years this group played locally and recorded from time to time but never released a full-length album. Eventually Travis moved to guitar/occasional songwiter and Eric Koruchak joined the band as Bass player.
Over time longtime metalhead Josh's metal influences saw 2540 morph from punk to metal. This change in style prompted a change of the band's name to "Showdown" (or "The Showdown" depending on who you ask). In 2003, Daniel left the band to get married at which time Andrew Hall took the drumming position. With Andrew on board the fivesome headed to the studio and recorded their first Full length album "A Chorus of Obliteration". This album, produced by Bruce Fitzhugh, lead singer of Living Sacrifice, was mainly a mix of Hardcore and Metal. After a great deal of touring in both the US and Europe, Showdown went back to the studio to record their second full length album. This album took a different direction trading in the screaming double-bassing death metal for a more southern approach mixed with elements of their older style Such as heavy guitar riffs, some screams (although not as dominated by them), and amazing bass and drum lines, drawing also from 80's to early 90's-era metal like Pantera, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Metallica.
In Late 2006, after completing the album, Andrew announced he was leaving the band to get married (and possibly to pursue a career in professional wrestling - or so the rumor goes). Andrew was soon replaced by another Andrew - A.J. Barrette of "Still Remains". Although the album was already completed. The Showdown along with A.J. hit the studio once more to record the track "Head Down" which would be added to the album before its release. The Completed Album, "Temptation Come My Way" was released on February 20, 2007. Unknown to the public until release, two different versions were released, one with the song "Fanatics and Whores", and one without; probably to avoid controversy in the Christian market. This upset many fans who had pre-ordered the CD and received the incomplete album, even though most distributors list the song in their track listing.
On March 21st, 2007, it was announced that the band would be playing the much-publicized Ozzfest 2007. They have been known to play Pantera covers at these events, such as "Walk" and "Cowboys from Hell," in honor of the late Dimebag Darrell.
The Showdown announced on January 29th 2008 they have begun recording their next album.
On February 5, 2008, The Showdown announced on their myspace that Travis Bailey had become engaged and left the band
On April 19th 2008, The Showdown posted a bulletin on their myspace account stating they had finished their CD and that it was entitled BACK BREAKER
On April 26th, 2008, The Showdown have signed with Solid State Records. [3]Their new album entitled "Back Breaker" is expected to be released August 19.
Their famous taglines are "High Voltage Heavy Metal", "Heavy Metal is the Law", "Git Snake Bit", "777 24/7", and "Jammin' For The Lamb".
The Showdown has released an official music video for Temptation Come My Way.
[edit] Tours
On April 13th 2008, The Showdown began their first tour with Shadows Fall after recording their new album.
[edit] Members
- David Bunton - Vocals
- Josh Childers - Guitar, Vocals
- AJ Barrette - Drums (formerly from the band Still Remains)
- Eric Koruschak - Bass
[edit] Former Members
[edit] Discography
- The Showdown has also recorded a cover of "So Help Me God," by Christian rock/pop group dc Talk, which appears on the compilation album Freaked! A Gotee Tribute to dc Talk's "Jesus Freak."
[edit] References and footnotes
- Schwab, Andrew (January/February 2007). "Wide-Eyed Southern Boys". HM Magazine (123): 44–47. ISSN 1066-6923.
