Leviathan (punk)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Leviathan | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York, New York |
| Country | USA |
| Years active | 2002 -- 2005 |
| Genres | Heavy Metal |
| Labels | Seventh Level Records |
| Website(s) | seventhlevelrecords.com |
Leviathan were a Heavy Metal and Punk Rock band that were formed in New York City, New York in 2002 and played until 2005. During their brief time, they played with Glenn Danzig, The Exploited, Nuclear Assault, Body Count, Jello Biafra, Clutch, Michale Graves, The Misfits, Hirax, Six Feet Under, and Testament, to name a few. Before their demise, Caustic Truths Magazine named the band alongside Sum 41 and The Hellacopters as one of the fifty "hardest touring bands in the USA" in 2004. By mixing traditional metal with horror punk, the band was very versatile and experimental, able to open for many types of audiences.
The band formed after lengthy auditions for a guitarist and drummer beginning in July 2001, and ending in March of 2002, since it was especially hard to organize a group after the September 11th attacks in New York. After practicing with Mike Otero and Danny Rivera for three months, the band decided to record a demo at Spike Recording with the help of engineer/producer Matt Chiravalle, who had worked with Kittie and Warren Zevon. This recording was released as their self-titled debut EP in August of 2002. The band donated 20% of the money made from this record to benefit the West Memphis Three defence fund, and the liner notes indicate this.
In late 2003, the band again began the recording process, this time at Smash Studios in New York City, with tensions from touring and monetary pressures running high. This recording was to be the band's only full-length record, titled "Internal Inferno", it was released at their performance at the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas in March 2004.
The band lineup seen most often in their shows consisted of Shane Tierney (vocalist), Mike Otero (guitar), along with Chris Gardiner (bass), and Danny Rivera (drums). The band's frequent infighting lead to Danny being fired, replaced, and then rejoining the group on two occasions.
One of the band's main marketing campaigns was done through old school concert posters, and were a very big part of their notoriety. These posters, illustrated by JayJay Jackson (Marvel Comics, Valiant Comics, Broadway Comics), still can be seen on online auction sites like Ebay, due to their limited number and collectability.
The band's label was the independent Judas Cradle Productions, founded by Shane Tierney, and later renamed to Seventh Level Records.
Since their breakup, Shane Tierney has gone on to sing for Primer Black and the other members formed a new band named Guileface.
[edit] Trivia
Shane Tierney and Chris Gardiner had known each other since kindergarten, and grew up less than a block away from one another, in Westchester, New York. They had a band inhigh school named "All For Nothing".
The vehicle that Leviathan used for their touring was a 1993 Ford Econoline ambulance, repainted black with graphics applied. Despite all the odd looks it would get, and the occasional impromptu meeting with law enforcement officers, it served them well and clocked in over 200,000 miles in 3 years.
[edit] Discography
- Leviathan (2002)
- Internal Inferno (2004)
