Chokehold (band)
| Chokehold | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Hamilton, Ontario, Canada |
| Genres | Hardcore punk |
| Years active | 1990-1996, 2015 (reunion) |
| Labels | Cosmic Note, A398 Recordings, Rhythm of Sickness, The Great American Steak Religion, Conquer the World, Grinding Edge |
| Past members |
Chris Logan Jeff Beckman Josh Fletcher Matt Beckman Sandy Robertson Jon Sharron |
Chokehold were a Canadian vegan straight edge hardcore/punk band from Hamilton. They were active from 1990 to 1996, and came together again for a reunion tour in 2015.
History
Choked was formed in 1990 in Hamilton.[1] Their first release More Than Ever was in 1991. This was followed in 1992 by a split EP with Crisis of Faith and the Life Goes On EP that same year. Their rise in popularity paralleled that of other vegan straight edge bands such as Earth Crisis and hardline bands like Vegan Reich and Raid.
In 1993 Chokehold released the Prison of Hope LP through American label Conquer the World Records (CTW). They released their next record, 1994's Instilled EP, on Philadelphia's Bloodlink Records. This EP featured some of their most political material to date, notably the anti-religious song "Anchor" and the anti-homophobia song "Mindset", and their kind of manifesto "Burning Bridges", that proclaim the Animal, Earth and Human Liberation.
They followed this in the next year with their second LP, Content With Dying. This album contained "Not a Solution," a vehemently pro-choice hardcore song.
They signed in 1996 to Germany's Mad Mob Records and recorded four new songs to be released as a split CD with Feeding the Fire, but after a European tour in 1996 the band decided to break up. They played their last show in March at the New Bedford Fest in Massachusetts.[2] These four songs were released as a self-titled EP on Jawk Records the following year. Members went on to play in such bands as The Swarm, Brutal Knights, Left for Dead, Haymaker, Our War and Seventy-Eight Days.
In 2015, remixed versions of the band's albums Prison of Hope and Content with Dying were re-released.[3] The band reunited and began touring in support of the new releases. Comments by a band member and a subsequent confrontation at their first performance led to allegations of racism which were denied by the band members and their label.[4][5]
Discography
Demos, EPs and Splits
- The Whole World Is an Addiction (1991), self-released
- Split w/ Crisis of Faith (1992), Grinding Edge Records
- Life Goes On (1992), Arm's Reach Records
- More Than Ever (1992), self-released - demo tape
- Instilled (1994), Bloodlink Records
- Split with Left for Dead, Rhythm of Sickness Records
- Tooth and Nail (1997), Jawk Records
Full Lengths
- Prison of Hope (1993), Conquer the World Records
- Content with Dying (1995), Bloodlink Records/The Great American Steak Religion
Compilation Appearances
- Negative Approach Cover Track on the Reproach compilation EP, 1998, Ugly Pop
- Breakdown Cover Track on the Redstar Records compilation "The Sound and the Fury," 1999
References
- ↑ "Chokehold, A389 Recordings, and Social Complacency in Hardcore". The Rainbow Hub, by Emory Lorde July 26, 2015.
- ↑ "Interview with Chris Logan from CHOKEHOLD". Live High Five, GG Allis. January 4, 2013
- ↑ "Chokehold Talk Their Newfound Second Life, Stream A389 Reissues". Exclaim!, By Bradley Zorgdrager. Jul 17, 2015
- ↑ "Chokehold Responds to Calls to Remove Them From Mesa Hardcore Festival Lineup". Phoenix New Times, July 29, 2015 By David Accomazzo
- ↑ "Stray From The Path Talk The Changing Politics Of The Hardcore Scene". Music Feeds, David James Young on August 12, 2015