I Declare War (band)

I Declare War is an American deathcore band from Seattle, Washington. As of 2012, the band has no original members left.

History

The band was founded in 2005. The band's name has its roots in hip-hop, with Jay-Z previously naming a tour so, and Pacewon publishing a phonogram with that name. The original line up consisted of: Johnathan Huber (Vocals), Evan Hughes (Guitar), Jake Paulson (Guitar), Randy Carpenter (Drums), and Zack Ring (Bass).^[1]

In 2006 the group released their first album, the independently released "What You Deserve" and began touring soon after. In 2007 the band released their second album and first on a record label, "Amidst the Bloodshed" on the now defunct Compton Records.^[2] During a tour in the same year, the group came in contact with fellow deathcore band Whitechapel and established a close friendship with them.^[3]

Two years later, in 2009 the band would experience its first major lineup change "with Chris Fugate stepping in to replace Paulson, Ryan Cox coming in for Carpenter, and Brent Eaton taking over for Ring.” ^[4] This would leave Huber as the only original member in the band. Also in 2009, the band was contacted by the up-and-coming Artery Recordings after Whitechapel guitarist Alex Wade “was approached by Artery in regards to possible bands to sign” and recommended I Declare War.^[5]

The following year the band released their third album, 2010's "Malevolence". This would mark the group's last release to feature original vocalist, Jonathan Huber. He would leave the band in 2010 “due to the fact that he wanted to incorporate grindcore elements to their music.” ^[4] Huber would then go on to join death metal outfit Pathology. The band was quick to find a replacement vocalist in Jamie Hanks. Hanks had previously been the long time vocalist of death metal band Those Who Lie Beneath and had toured with I Declare War before.^[6]

In 2011, Hanks made his first recorded appearance with the band on the group's fourth record, the self-titled "I Declare War". This release being titled "I Declare War" was a bit ironic, for the group definitely didn't appear to be the band its fans were used to seeing. Guitarist Evan Hughes was the only member in the band left from the original 2005 lineup. However, even this was about to change.

In early 2012, the band’s lineup again went through a drastic change. Every single member of the band other than their newly appointed vocalist found themselves quitting or being asked to leave I Declare War. Hughes wrote about this experience in his blog and expressed that he “felt like there wasn’t much hope for us to continue to grow.” ^[7] With Hanks now finding himself the senior member of the band, the group gained a new lineup in 2012. This third and current incarnation of the group consists of guitarist John Winters, drummer Colin Bradford, bassist Gordon McPherson, and vocalist Jamie Hanks. They eventually expanded to once again include a second guitarist, this one being Jacob Hansen. The group continued to tour as I Declare War and began to work on new music.

In 2014, this new lineup released its first album together, “We Are Violent People by Nature”, which would be I Declare War’s fifth full-length album and would reach #13 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart.^[8]

Band members

Discography

Albums

• 2006: What You Deserve (Album, self-released)
• 2007: Amidst The Bloodshed (Album, Compton Records)
• 2010: Malevolence (Album, Artery Recordings)
• 2011: I Declare War (Album, Artery Recordings) U.S. Heatseekers #16^[9]
• 2014: We Are Violent People By Nature (Album, Artery Recordings) U.S. Heatseekers #13^[9]

EPs

• 2007: Bring the Season (Compton Records)

References

External links

• Official website