Behind Enemy Lines (band)

Behind Enemy Lines is an American anarchist crust punk and heavy metalcite news |title=Encyclopaedia Metallum's Entry on Behind Enemy Lines |urlhttp://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=38510 | work =Encyclopaedia Metallum |accessdate = 2007-08-29 ] band, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The band features vocalist Dave Trenga and drummer Matt Garabedian, both of Aus-Rotten, and formerly guitarist Bill Chamberlain of The Pist and Caustic Christ. Behind Enemy Lines has released three albums so far.

Behind Enemy Lines, though only enjoying a small fanbase of devoted crust punks, feminists, and anarchists, has been covered by the news for their political commentary.cite news |first= |last= |title= Pittsburgh Calling: A capsule look at Pittsburgh bands making news.|format= |work= Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|publisher= Pittsburgh Post Gazette Publishing Co.|id= |pages= |page= WE. 17|date= 2007-02-01|url= http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07032/758295-42.stm |quote=]

Biography

Origins

In late 2000, after the dissolution of Aus-Rotten, two former members of that band, Dave Trenga and Matt Garabedian, formed Behind Enemy Lines along with Bill Chamberlain (also of The Pist and Caustic Christ on guitar), and Matt Sachs, formerly of Devastation on bass. Mary Bielich and Matt Tuite (both former members of Pittsburgh doom metal band Penance) joined later, playing bass and guitar respectively.cite news | first=Justin | last=Hopper | coauthors= | title=Crust-punks Behind Enemy Lines release One Nation Under The Iron Fist of God | date=2007-02-01 | publisher= | url =http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A22082 | work =Pittsburgh City Paper | pages = | accessdate = 2007-08-24 | language = ]

In 2007 Chamberlain was replaced by Ken Houser.cite news |title=Behind Enemy Lines' myspace page |url=http://www.myspace.com/behindenemylines | work =Myspace |accessdate = 2007-08-29 ] .

Aus-Rotten was known primarily for their political lyrics. After Aus-Rotten disbanded, Behind Enemy Lines lyrics covered subjects untouched by Aus-Rotten.

Behind Enemy Lines debuted with the album "Know Your Enemy" on Tribal War Records, which was later reissued on CD by Profane Existence in 2005.

Behind Enemy Lines then released "The Global Cannibal" on Antagony Media in the US and on Alerta Antifascista in Europe.

Behind Enemy Lines' latest release, "One Nation Under The Iron Fist of God", is on Profane Existence records.

Lyrical themes

Lyrics, as present with their crust punk contemporaries, cover a range of political topics, including: animal rights, environmentalism, human rights, feminism (especially on issues of domestic violence and abortion), LGBT rights, anti-religion, and anti-capitalism. The band is noted for their harsh criticism of George W. Bush, especially on issues concerning the Iraq war, Abu Ghraib, human rights subverting under the Patriot Act (as seen in "As Long as I'm Safe") and most recently his response to Hurricane Katrina. Lyrics often make Bush analogous to Fascism in addition to depicting him as a religious extremist and tyrant.

Dave Trenga often writes essays detailing his political opinion on both his myspace blog and Behind Enemy Line's website. He demonstrated strong distaste with Christianity, stating "I have never seen such a hateful and intolerant movement infiltrate every aspect of our lives as the current Christian movement in America has" and concluded, "I only hope see I see this movement fall in my lifetime."

Discography

* "Know Your Enemy" (2001) Tribal War Records
**Re-released 2005 on Profane Existence Records
* "The Global Cannibal" (2003) US LP & CD on Antagony Media, European LP on Alerta Antifascista Records
* "One Nation Under the Iron Fist of God" (2006) Profane Existence Records

Members

These are former and current members of the band, according to their MySpace website.

Current lineup

*Dave Trenga – vocals
*Matt Garabedian – drums, vocals
*Matt Tuite – guitar, vocals
*Matt Sachs – bass, vocals

Former members

*Ken Houser – guitar, vocals
*"Metal" Mary Bielich – bass, vocals
*Bill Chamberlain – guitar, vocals

References

External links

* [http://www.wearebehindenemylines.com/ Official Website]
* [http://users.telerama.com/~ausrot/BEL/index.html Official Website Mirror]
* [http://www.metal-archives.com/band.php?id=38510 Encylopaedia Metallum band entry]
* [http://www.cparchives.com/archive.cfm?type=Featured%20Music%20Preview&action=getComplete&ref=1146 City Paper Featured Music Preview]
* [http://www.myspace.com/behindenemylines Behind Enemy Lines' Official MySpace Page]