Sounds of Mass Production

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sounds of Mass Production


Img_capt = Jason Bazinet of SMP
Img_size =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Seattle, WA, USA
Genre = Cyberpunk, rap, nu metal, industrial music
Occupation =
Years_active = 1992 —
Label = Re-Constriction Records (1995 – 1999) ADSR Musicwerks (1999 – 2001) Invisible Records (2001 – 2003) Music Ration Records (2003 – )
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.smphq.com/ Official website]
Current_members = Jason Bazinet
Past_members = Sean Ivy Matt Sharifi Paul Furio Charlie Lormé Chris Roy Scott Brovan Garrick Antikajian

Sounds of Mass Production is a cyberpunk/rap/nu metal/Industrial music band from Seattle, WA (US). The band name is often referred to by the acronym SMP. Founded in 1992 (under various names, including 12 Inch Penis and Synthesia Murder Program) by musicians Jason Bazinet and Sean Ivy, the band has gone through numerous lineup changes, with Bazinet remaining as the sole constant member and primary songwriter.

History

SMP debuted in 1995 with "Stalemate", their first album, released on Re-Constriction Records. A raw, DIY sound, lo-fi movie samples, and lyrics with a retro-punk take on technology quickly set SMP apart from other industrial bands of the time. Three years later, SMP followed up with their second album, "Ultimatum", which spawned their first underground hit song, "Militia Love". Drummer Matt Sharifi of Omnibox had also joined their studio and live crew around this time.

By the end of the '90s, SMP had moved to the Seattle based label "ADSR Musicwerks". Through this label, they released "Terminal" in 2000. The track "Policy" became a dance club hit, but was indicative of a growing musical rift between Ivy and Bazinet. Songs on Terminal penned by Ivy tended towards more electronica and dance friendly tunes, while Bazinet held true to his gritty rap roots with songs like "File 484" and "Megaton". Sometime in 2001, Ivy and Bazinet parted ways, with Bazinet retaining the rights to the band. Sharifi also left the live lineup around this time.

Seeking to expand on the growing popularity of SMP, Bazinet left ADSR and signed on with Chicago based Invisible Records for the release of the remix album "Hacked" in 2001, and the re-release of "Terminal" (with an altered track listing) a year later. Touring to support the new releases, Bazinet enlisted keyboarist Paul Furio of Static Engine, drummer Charlie Lormé of Lifelike Feel, and guitarist Chris Roy of Doll Factory. This period saw a tour of the American Southwest, as well as SMP opening for acts such as Pigface, Gravity Kills, and Meg Lee Chin. Lormé and Roy left SMP in 2002, and Scott Brovan of Uglyhead filled in on Guitar.

In 2003, SMP left Invisible Records due to contractual disagreements, and Furio left the live lineup, to be replaced on keyboards by Garrick Antikajian of Doll Factory. Bazinet formed his own label, "Music Ration Records", for the release of the next album, "Crimes of the Future". SMP enlisted Wade Alin of Christ Analogue to produce Crimes, resulting in the most polished album yet, with booming drums and an in-your-face sound usually reserved only for major label releases.

In 2005, SMP released its first music video for "This Perfect Day", the lead track on Crimes. Filmed in Seattle by Resonance Digital Arts, and directed by former keyboardist Furio, the video was made available both as a promotional DVD and as an [http://www.smphq.com/smp_thisperfectday.mp4 online download] . By 2005, SMP had also signed to Static Sky Records, pending the release of a new album.Fact|date=October 2007

On September 13th, 2007, SMP released their fifth original studio album "The Treatment", which includes 11 new tracks. [ [http://cdbaby.com/cd/smp5 CD Baby: SMP: The Treatment ] ]

Trivia

An accomplished drummer in his own right, Bazinet has performed live and studio drums for the following bands: Chemlab, Doll Factory, Static Engine, 64k, Christ Analogue, and Uglyhead.

Bazinet is a strict vegetarian.

The cover art for "Terminal" and "Hacked" was created by Heather Ivy, wife of SMP founder Sean Ivy.

Discography

Albums

* "Stalemate" (1995)
* "Ultimatum" (1998)
* "Terminal" (2000)
* "Hacked" (2001)
* "Terminal" - Reissue on Invisible Records (2002)
* "Crimes of the Future" (2004)
* "The Treatment" (2007)

Notes

External links

* [http://www.smphq.com/ Official website]
* [http://www.staticskyrecords.net/ Static Sky Records]