Rayny Forster

Rayny Forster is a Canadian singer and founder of Moshpit Tragedy Records.

The Posers

Forster was born in Windsor Ontario Canada where he fronted the thrash-punk outfit The Posers, a band who "single handily rejuvenated the punk rock scene – making it relevant to a whole new generation – as well as inspiring the city’s young thrash scene and giving birth to Windsor’s hardcore scene." [http://wscene3.tripod.com/id35.html] A string of vinyl and cd releases were issued on DIY labels from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US before the band caught the attention of Cargo Music, who signed them for their 2000 full-length "Anti-Christian Animosity". [http://www.cargomusic.com/bands/poser/] Despite mild criticism over signing to the label who spawned Blink 182, reviews of the album were generally well-received. [http://www.exclaim.ca/musicreviews/generalreview.aspx?csid1=10&csid2=846&fid1=8211] [http://www.impactpress.com/articles/augsep00/musicr8900.html] In a review of the album, Heckler Magazine was quoted as saying "When front man Rayny Forster lets out a primal scream of rage, you literally feel it in the pit of your stomach. I still get chills when I hear it." [http://www.heckler.com/articles/heckler_43/html/music_reviews.html] The group disbanded in 2004.

Hulluus

In 2005 Forster and John Bellon relocated to Kenosha Wisconsin to join the crust punk band Hulluus. The project ultimately lasted only six months however during that time they toured the midwest consistently, and released a split CD with The Murder Squad T.O. on Wounded Paw Records. [http://www.bravewords.com/news/75597]

Moshpit Tragedy Records

In 2006 while living in Montreal Quebec, Forster launched Moshpit Tragedy Records, [http://www.bravewords.com/news/47412] which after one year abandoned releasing cds in favour of a new sliding-scale download format. After becoming the first record label to allow visitors to their website to set their own price, and even download entire albums for free, Metal Hammer printed an article in which Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rob Nicholson stated "This model could very well be the future of all indie labels." [http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/article/?id=47668] With virtually no budget, in only one year since their split from traditional physical formats more than 11,430 complete albums have been downloaded. [http://www.metalmaniacs.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2950]

Film

In 2007 in was announced that Forster would take part in the upcoming record industry documentary Behind The Suit and Tie. The film, which will be available on DVD format through retailers in early 2009, will take a look inside the current problems with the record industry as well as its future and also features interviews with Relapse Records, Roadrunner Records, Metal Blade Records, Earache Records, Century Media Records, Ferret Records and Megaforce Records, among others. [http://www.bravewords.com/news/74598]

Forster also filmed segments which will be included in the upcoming Amebix "Risen" DVD, which is also scheduled for an early 2009. The film features a comprehensive history of the band, never before seen concert footage, and interviews with others involved or influenced by the band such as Jello Biafra, Neurosis, Disorder, Flux of Pink Indians and more. [http://toxicwastebelfast.co.uk/Home.html]

References

External links

* [http://www.moshpittragedy.com Moshpit Tragedy Records]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEoUK1ijExQ Trailer for Amebix "Risen" DVD]
* [http://www.myspace.com/hulluus Hulluus on Myspace]