Biography
The band formed in 1995 as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential
New York Hardcore scene. At its original inception the band centered around founding members: vocalist Sal Lococo, lead guitarist Lorenzo Antonucci, 2nd guitarist Mike Raffinello, bass player Mike Palmer and drummer Zoli.
The band's early output as Mindset was limited to a demo, an appearance on the
New Found Hope II - The First Amendment
compilation CD, and a 3 song
7 inch named
State Of Mind
.
Soon after the
State Of Mind
release, another band named Mindset appeared on the underground
metal scene, having existed as Mindset before the
Queens Mindset. Therefore, Sal and crew changed their name to Sworn Enemy.
The band continued to play shows and garner attention in the scene. In 2001 the band released
Negative Outlook
on
Jamey Jasta's
Stillborn Records. The record was a mix of old school
hardcore punk and new school breakdowns, and it quickly gained the band attention in the entire
hardcore scene. Soon after came
Integrity Defines Strength
, the title being a play on the I.D.S. crew that Sworn Enemy claimed loyalty to. It contained 3 new songs and a live set at
CBGB.
Sworn Enemy's signed a release deal with
Elektra Records in 2003. The result was
As Real As It Gets
. The band changed their style as the CD featured a large
thrash metal influence, as well as abrasive, near-
black metal. The new style and worldwide distribution led to tours with bands such as
Anthrax.
In early 2006
The Beginning Of The End
was released on
Abacus Records, a division of
Century Media focusing on underground
metal and
hardcore inspired bands. The new record displayed more
thrash influence, and was immediately followed with a national tour with
Six Feet Under. They have also toured with Dying Fetus, Hatebreed, and were apart of Ozzfest in 2005.
In 2007, they were on the Trendkill Tour alongside
Kataklysm,
As Blood Runs Black, Too Pure To Die, and
Suicide Silence.
They were asked by long time friends, Earth Crisis, to be a part of their reunion tour.
On March 29, 2008 the music video for the first single debuted on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. The video for "A Place of Solace" from the
Maniacal
CD was directed and shot by and edited by Allison Woest.
A new record
Total World Domination
will be released June 16th in US and June 22nd in
Europe via
Century Media records. The record will be once again produced by
Tim Lambesis from
As I Lay Dying.
Lorenzo Antonucci (guitars, vocals) further comments: “I'm very excited about this album and its writing process was better then ever. I've been a part of all the writing for every record and I feel this is our best foundation yet. We took it back to
As Real As It Gets
with a little of
Beginning of the End
and
Maniacal
in it. The sound is way faster and more pissed off than ever, harder than ever and a lot more ignorant. It was also fun working with Tim again. This also marks our first recording with Sid (bass) and JRad (drums), so we are all very excited about that. We couldn’t be more proud of this effort and prepare to have your faces melted!”
Discography
As Mindset
| Released
| Record label
|
Demo
| 1998
|
|
State Of Mind 7"
| 1998
| Back ta Basics
|
New Found Hope II - The First Amendment
(compilation appearance)
| 1997
|
|
As Sworn Enemy
|
Negative Outlook
| 2001
| Stillborn Records
|
Integrity Defines Strength
| 2002
| Stillborn Records
|
As Real as it Gets
| 2003
| Elektra/Stillborn Records
|
Internet Promo
| 2005 (two new demo mp3s spread by lead singer Sal Lococo through the East Coast Hardcore Messageboard)
|
The Beginning of the End
| 2006
| Abacus Records
|
Maniacal
| 2008
| Century Media
|
Total World Domination
| 2009
| Regain Records
|
Members
Current members
- Sal Lococo - Vocals
- Lorenzo Antonucci - Guitar
- Jamin Hunt - Guitar
- Sid - Bass
- Jerad Buckwalter - Drums
Former members
- Guitar
- * Mike Raffinello
- Bass
- * Edward Kilpatrick
- * Shawn "Tootsie" Cox
- * Mike Couls
- * Jimmy "Hardcore"
- Drums
- * Paul Antignai
- * Timmy Mycek
- * Paul Wallmaker