Charles Bronson (band)

Charles Bronson
Origin	DeKalb, Illinois, USA
Genres	Powerviolence, thrashcore
Years active	1994–1997
Labels	Disgruntled Six Weeks Knot Music Evil Noise Trackstar Lengua Armada Discos Bad People Pessimiser/Theologian Probe Bovine Same Day Nat 625 Thrashcore Pessimiser Agitate 96 Kill Music Slap-a-Ham Deep Six Sound Pollution Amendment Youth Attack
Associated acts	Los Crudos MK-ULTRA Holy Molar Das Oath
Past members
Mark McCoy Jon Arends Ebro Vinumbrales James DeJesus Mike Suffin Aaron Aspinwall Jeff Jelen Max Ward

Charles Bronson was a prolific^[1][2] powerviolence band from DeKalb, Illinois, existing from 1994 to 1997. Although they were often associated with the straight edge scene, only two of the members actually abstained from drug and alcohol use.^[3]

Musical style

Charles Bronson borrowed from the early powerviolence of Infest, who blended youth crew hardcore with the velocity and dissonance of thrashcore.^[1] Songs were very brief, and sometimes punctuated by samples taken from various media (including Charles Bronson films). Lyrically, the group tended towards satirical commentary on the hardcore punk scene. The group has been described as a "fast, screaming mess of tall, skinny guys with a lot to say (which you would only know if you read the liner notes)".^[4] The group was sometimes criticized for its conceptual take on hardcore and art school tendencies, maintaining a long-standing feud with Felix Havoc of Code 13.^[5]

Subsequent endeavors

Mark McCoy went on to form the thrashcore group Das Oath,^[5][6][7] with Dutch musicians; Holy Molar, with members of The Locust; and Ancestors, a black metal project.^[8] Guitarist Mike Sutfin later became an artist.^[9]

Discography

Albums

• Demo Tape (1994) – self released
• Self-titled (Diet Rootbeer) 7" (1995) – Six Weeks Records/Youth Attack Records
• Charles Bronson / Spazz Split 7" (1995) – 625, Evil Noise and Disgruntled Records
• Charles Bronson / Unanswered split 7" (1995) – Trackstar Records
• Charles Bronson / Ice Nine split 7" (1996) – Bovine Records
• Charles Bronson / Quill split 7" (1996) – Nat Records (Japan)
• Youth Attack! LP (1997) – Lengua Armada/Coalition Records
• Complete Discocrappy 2xCD (2000) – Youth Attack Records

Compilations

• All That and a Bag o Dicks (1995) – Disgruntled Records
• Double Dose of Dicks – Disgruntled Records
• Speed Freaks (1995) – Knot Music
• Vida Life (1996) – Lengua Armada
• No Royalties (1996) – Bad People Records
• Cry Now, Cry Later Vol. 4 (1996) – Pessimiser/Theologian
• Another Probe 7" with a Girl on the Cover (1996) – Probe
• El Guapo (1996) – Same Day Records
• Possessed to Skate (1996) – 625 and Pessimiser Records
• Deadly Encounters (1997) – Agitate 96 and Kill Music Records
• Bllleeeeaaauuurrrrgghhh! A Music War (1997) – Slap A Ham Records
• Reality 3 (1997) – Deep Six Records
• Tomorrow will be Worse (1997) – Sound Pollution Records
• Mandatory Marathon (1997) – Amendment Records
• Hurt Your Feelings (2001) – Six Weeks Records
• Chicago's on Fire Again (2001) – Lengua Armada
• Skeletal Festival (2003) – self-released

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Middle America brought Illinois' Charles Bronson, a band that took a page both from Infest's youthcrew/grind combo and Spazz's unabashed sense of humor on their many EP, 7", and comp. appearances". "Powerviolence: The Dysfunctional Family of Bllleeeeaaauuurrrgghhh!!". Terrorizer no. 172. July 2008. p. 36-37.
2. ^ Josh Hooten, "Live Fast Die Young: Hilarity, Sincerity, Obscurity", Portland Mercury, January 3, 2002. [1] Access date: August 15, 2008.
3. ^ "And yes only half our band was straight edge." http://www.myspace.com/charlesmuthafuckinbronson
4. ^ Jeralyn Mason, Das Oath review, Prefix Mag, August 1, 2006
5. ^ ^{a b} Felix von Havoc, Maximum Rock'n'Roll #219 [2] Access date: June 19, 2008
6. ^ Steve Lowenthal, "The Not-So-New Face of Punk", Spin web exclusive, December 13, 2004. [3] Access date: August 15, 2008.
7. ^ Zach Baron, Pitchfork Media, Some Girls review, March 15, 2006. [4] Access date: August 8, 2008.
8. ^ Brandon Stosuy, "Show No Mercy", Pitchforkmedia, October 11, 2006. [5] Access date: August 15, 2008.
9. ^ Jan, Interview with Mike Sutfin, Enough fanzine, March 24, 2003. [6] Access date: August 15, 2008.

External links

• Charles Bronson's MySpace
• Charles Bronson's second MySpace