Harm's Way (band)

Harm's Way
Origin Chicago, Illinois, US
Genres Hardcore punk, industrial metal, powerviolence
Years active 2006–present
Labels Deathwish, Closed Casket, Organized Crime
Associated acts Few and the Proud,[1] Wolfnote[2]

Harm's Way is an American hardcore band from Chicago, Illinois and founded in 2006. The band started as a fun side project, but ended up becoming a more serious and full-time band in their later years. Harm's Way has since released three studio albums: Reality Approaches (2009), Isolation (2011) and Rust (2015).

History

In 2006,[3] the members of a straight edge punk band called Few and the Proud started a "side project-slash-joke"[1] band to have fun playing short-and-fast powerviolence songs influenced by Crossed Out and Infest.[4] Harm's Way drummer Chris Mills commented on the band's early days and progression, stating: "We'd play super fast powerviolence songs, and our signer would put on a mask and sing silly lyrics about beating up frat boys or whatever. Then, later as the band became more serious, we retired a lot of those elements and went in a more death metal direction—darker and less ridiculous, even if some aspects of it still weren't 100 percent serious."[1] Harm's Way released several albums, EPs and singles through Organized Crime Records and Closed Casket Activities in their early days.

After the release of their 2011 second studio album Isolation, Harm's Way emailed Jacob Bannon (Converge) and his label Deathwish Inc. after hearing that he was a fan of the band's music to ask if the label would be interested in signing them.[3] The band's signing to Deathwish was announced in March 2013.[5] Harm's Way released the EP Blinded on July 23, 2013 featuring artwork by Florian Bertmer,[3] and promoted it with a music video for the track "Mind Control" followed by a world tour.[5][6] Mills commented on their positive relationship with the label, stating: "It's been awesome—they've been really helpful, we have a bigger budget, we were able to do a music video they've been and willing to do anything we've really want. They're really supportive."[3] The Blinded EP also saw the band incorporating more Godflesh-influenced industrial metal into their sound.[3][7]

Harm's Way released is third studio album through Deathwish on March 10, 2015 and promoted it with a music video for the track "Amongst the Rust."[8][9] Commenting on the band's musical and imagery changes with Rust, Mills said: "We're still locked into these niches in people's minds—you know, meathead tough guy hardcore band, Satan-worshipping death metal band, whatever. We see Rust as not just a new musical phase—we're changing up the old logo and taking a different direction with the imagery to try to steer people away from generalizations and assumptions based on stuff that really doesn't represent who we are as people or musicians."[1] The album was met with generally positive reviews. Writing for Rock Sound, Chris Hidden gave the album an eight-out-of-ten, and said: "This new record finds them in formidable form, with the likes of 'Amongst The Rust' and 'Cancerous Ways' blending the down-tuned riff attack of nu metal with groove-led thrash and the crushing intensity of hardcore to produce a sound that references everyone from Sepultura to Trapped Under Ice."[10] Harm's Way began touring in support of Rust with a March/April 2015 North American tour with Code Orange and others, followed by a May/June European tour.[9][11]

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Singles

Music videos

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Macomber, Shawn (April 2015). "Playtime's over: Mechanized groove is in hardcore vets' hearts". Decibel (Philadelphia: Red Flag Media Inc.) (126): 28. ISSN 1557-2137.
  2. ↑ Crane, Matt (April 22, 2015). "Wolfnote (Harm's Way members) stream new song, 'Luna'". Alternative Press. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Cragun, Alex (September 24, 2013). "An Interview with Chris Mills, Drummer of Harm's Way". Slug Magazine. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  4. ↑ Ludwig, Jamie (January 27, 2015). "Destroy Everything in Your Path with a New Song from Chicago Crushers Harm's Way". Noisey. Vice. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Flynn, John (March 15, 2013). "Tours: Deathwish Inc. signs Harm's Way". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Paul, Aubin (June 13, 2013). "Videos: Harm's Way: 'Mind Control'". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  7. ↑ Harrington, Gregg (September 5, 2013). "Interviews: Chris Mills (Harms Way)". Punknews.org. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  8. ↑ Chichester, Sammi (March 5, 2015). "Harm's Way Premiere New Album, 'Rust'". Revolver. NewBay Media. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Macomber, Shawn (February 25, 2015). "Get Into Harm's Way: Exclusive Video Premiere!". Decibel. Red Flag Media Inc. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  10. ↑ Hidden, Chris (March 11, 2015). "Harm's Way – Rust". Rock Sound. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  11. ↑ Adams, Gregory (March 5, 2015). "Harm's Way 'Rust' (album stream)". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 27, 2015.

External links