Yakuza (band)
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| Yakuza | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genre(s) | Progressive metal, metalcore, jazz, avant-garde metal, psychedelic rock, punk jazz |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Label(s) | Century Media Prosthetic |
| Website | yakuzadojo.com |
| Members | |
| Jim Staffel Matt McClelland Bruce Lamont John E. Bohmer |
|
| Former members | |
| Eric Plonka Eric Clark Jackson |
|
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Yakuza is an experimental metal/jazz/psychedelic rock band, formed in Chicago in 1999.
Contents |
[edit] History
Yakuza was formed in 1999 by the Chicago quartet of instrumentalists Jim Staffel, Eric Plonka, Bruce Lamont and Eric Clark. Using unusual instruments like the saxophone and clarinet and incorporating the musical styles of freestyle jazz, world music, and psychedelic music, the band debuted with its first independently-released album Amount to Nothing in 2001, which was met with heavy critical acclaim from Terrorizer and the Chichago Sun-Times. Yakuza followed its release with a tour alongside Candiria and Burnt by the Sun, eventually leading to a slot on the hugely-popular Vans Warped Tour.
Such exposure led to a record contract and the release of their second album, Way of the Dead, through Century Media Records in 2002. Gaining positive coverage in Rolling Stone, Metal Maniacs, Brave Words & Blood Knuckles, Terrorizer, and editions of Metal Hammer, alongside hometown newspapers The Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Tribune, and Village Voice, Yakuza then saw themselves sharing the stage with like-minded metal bands Opeth, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Mastodon. After the release of this album they were dropped by Century Media since the album was not as commercially successful as the label had hoped.
The band then signed to Prosthetic Records, on which the third album, Samsara, was released in 2006, followed by Transmutations a year later, in collaboration with various improvisational solo artists and members of bands like Mastodon and Minsk.
[edit] Discography
- Amount to Nothing (2001)
- Way of the Dead (2002), Century Media Records
- Samsara (2006), Prosthetic Records
- Transmutations (2007), Prosthetic Records
[edit] Band members
[edit] Current members
- Bruce Lamont – saxophone, clarinet, vocals, effects
- James Staffel – drums, percussion, keyboard
- Matt McClelland – guitar, vocals
- John E. Bohmer – bass guitar
[edit] Former members
- Eric Plonka – guitar, vocals, mixing
- Eric Clark – bass guitar, vocals
- Jackson – bass guitar
