- downset.
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downset. 
downset., 1994Background information Also known as Social Justice Origin Los Angeles, California, U.S. Genres Hardcore punk
Alternative metal
Rap metal
RapcoreYears active 1989–2009 Labels Mercury Records
Epitaph Records
Hawino RecordsMembers Rey Oropeza
Ares Schwager
Chris Lee
Rico VillasenorPast members Don Ward
Rogelio Lozano
Andrew Klein
James Morris
Chris Hamiltondownset. was a rapcore group hailing from Los Angeles, California.
Contents
Band history
The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They released their debut album, Unity Is Strength, in 1989 and the EP I Refuse To Lose under this name with a different lineup in 1992. They are also known for being one of the first hardcore bands to incorporate hip hop and funk influences into their music.
In 1992, Social Justice (1987–92) changed their name to downset., and released their Our Suffocation demo in 1993. The album, which explored various social issues such as the death of lead singer Rey Oropeza's father by the hands of the LAPD, was praised by critics.
Later in 1994, downset. signed a deal with Mercury Records, a subsidiary of Polygram Records, and released their self-titled effort in the same year. Especially in Europe downset. got very popular. In 1994 they went out on tour in Europe with Biohazard and Dog Eat Dog followed by a tour with Pantera and The Almighty later that year. Early 1995 downset. returned to Europe with Sullen for a massive headlining tour. In 1995 they also appeared at some major rock festivals throughout the continent including Roskilde and Dynamo. In 1996, the band released their most commercially successful album, Do We Speak A Dead Language?, through Mercury.
Making their departure from Mercury Records, downset. were scooped up by Epitaph Records and released their third album, Check Your People, in 2000. That same year, rumours circulated that Oropeza was to resume Rage Against the Machine's Zack de la Rocha vocalist position after Zack left. Other replacement contenders were Chris Cornell, Chuck D, and B-Real of Cypress Hill. Cornell was ultimately chosen, and Rage Against the Machine transfigured into Audioslave.
After many line-up changes (most notably, the loss of longtime downset. guitar player, Rogelio Lozano, and the addition of original drummer, Chris Lee), in 2004 downset. released their latest album, Universal, on independent record label Hawino Records.
Though downset. has never breached the Billboard charts or experienced any mainstream success, they are still regarded as a noteworthy influence within the nu metal and rap metal subgenres. In addition to headlining the second stage at Ozzfest 1997, they've toured with Linkin Park, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax, among many other prominent metal names.
downset. officially split in May 2009, claiming the band had "officially run its course".[1]
Band members
Current
- Rey Oropeza - vocals
- Ares Schwager - Guitar
- Rico Villasenor - Bass Guitar
- Chris Lee - drums
Former
- Rogelio Lozano - Guitar
- Andrew Klein - Guitar
- James Morris - Bass
- Chris Hamilton - Drums
Discography
Albums
- Downset. (1994)
01 - Anger 02 - Ritual 03 - Take 'Em Out 04 - Prostitutionalized 05 - Downset 06 - My American Prayer 07 - Holding Hands 08 - About to Blast 09 - Breed the Killer 10 - Dying of Thirst
- Do We Speak A Dead Language? (1996)
01 - Intro 02 - Empower 03 - Eyes Shut Tight 04 - Keep On Breathing 05 - Hurl A Stone 06 - Fire 07 - Touch 08 - Against The Spirits 09 - Sickness 10 - Pocket Full Of Fatcaps 11 - Sangre De Mis Manos 12 - Horrifying 13 - Sickness (Reprise) 14 - Permanent Days Unmoving 15 - Ashes In Hand
- Check Your People (2000)
01 - Fallen Off 02 - Coming Back 03 - Together 04 - Play Big 05 - Check You People 06 - No Home (Steady!) 07 - Which Way 08 - Chemical Strangle 09 - Tear Us Apart 10 - 2000 11 - En el Aire 12 - Test of My Heart 13 - Pure Trauma
- Universal (2004)
01 - All Crews 02 - Forever 03 - Stay In The Game 04 - Black Glock 05 - Jumping Off 06 - The Rush 07 - Hectic 08 - Make This Happen 09 - What they Want 10 - Smiles & Cries 11 - Universal
EPs
"Rarities (2000)
01 - Heart Of A Rebel (Feat. DJ Muggs & Ray Oropeza) 02 - Body Cry (Live Short Version) 03 - Prostitutionalized (Live In Houston Texas) 04 - Global Domination (Feat. Rey Oropeza) 05 - Iron Man (Alternate Version) 06 - Touch (Unreleased Version) 07 - Supertouch & Shitfit (Bad Brains Cover)
- Code Blue Coma (2000)
01 - Code Blue Coma 02 - Act Of Faith 03 - Wreck It 04 - Iron Man
- Eyes Shut Tight EP' (Live At CBGB's) (1997)
01 - Eyes Shut Tight 02 - Eyes Shut Tight (Live) 03 - Empower (Live) 04 - Fire (Live Version) 05 - Burning Fight (Live)
- No More Freedom In A Cage (1996)
01 - Downset 02 - A Cry For Truth 03 - Prostitutionalized (Live)
"Live At Foundation's Forum (1995)
01 - Downset (Radio Edit) 02 - Touch (Live) 03 - My American Prayer (Live) 04 - Body Cry (Live Radio Edit)
- Generation Of Hope (With Shootyz Groove) (1995)
01 - Touch (Live At CBGB's) 02 - Body Cry 03 - The Craze (Live At CBGB's) 04 - Soul Freak
"Downset EP' (1995)
01 - Downset (Radio Edit) 02 - Downset (Album Version) 03 - Anger! (Live) 04 - Prostitutionalized (Live) 05 - Breed The Killer (Live)
- Our Suffocation (Demo) (1994)
01 - Anger! 02 - Breed The Killer 03 - Body Cry 04 - About To Blast 05 - Spoken Protest (Ritual)
Singles
"Split With Mindbug 7 (1999)
01 - Annihilation 02 - Bring Meaning
- Empower (1996)
01 - Empower 02 - Bring Meaning 03 - Keep On Breathing 04 - Horrifying (Alternate Version)
- Anger (1994)
01 - Anger 02 - Ritual
References
- ^ http://www.downset.net/%7CDownset split news
External links
Categories:- Musical groups established in 1989
- Musical groups disestablished in 2009
- Rap rock groups
- Rapcore groups
- Hardcore punk groups from California
- Epitaph Records artists
- Musical groups from Los Angeles, California
- Chicano rock musicians
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