Behind Enemy Lines (band)
Encyclopedia
Behind Enemy Lines is an American crust punk
band, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
. They play in a crossover
style of anarchist crust punk and thrash metal
. 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 reported in the news for their political commentary.
, 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.
In 2007, Chamberlain was replaced by Ken Houser.
Aus-Rotten was known primarily for their political lyrics. After Aus-Rotten disbanded, Behind Enemy Lines lyrics covered subjects untouched by Aus-Rotten.
contemporaries, cover a range of political topics, including: animal rights
, environmentalism
, human rights
, feminism
(especially on issues of domestic violence
, gender roles and abortion
), LGBT rights, anti-religion and anti-capitalism
. The band is noted for its 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 a strong distaste for 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 I see this movement fall in my lifetime."
website.
Crust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
band, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
. They play in a crossover
Crossover thrash
__FORCETOC__Crossover thrash, often abbreviated to crossover, is a form of thrash metal that contains more hardcore punk elements than standard thrash. The genre lies on a continuum between heavy metal and punk rock...
style of anarchist crust punk and thrash metal
Thrash metal
Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
. The band features vocalist Dave Trenga and drummer Matt Garabedian, both of Aus-Rotten
Aus-Rotten
Aus-Rotten was an American crust punk band, from 1991 to 2001 formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Part of the DIY underground, its members practiced and promoted a philosophy of anarchism and far-left sociopolitics....
, and formerly guitarist Bill Chamberlain of The Pist
The Pist
The Pist was an American hardcore punk band that was formed in Connecticut in the winter of 1992 by Al Ouimet on vocals & bass, Bill Chamberlain on guitar, and Greg Bennick on drums. They were a popular band in the DIY punk scene of the 1990s. After a few lineup changes, the band eventually...
and Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ were a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were on Havoc Records.- History :In late 2000, Bill Chamberlain quit his band React and moved from Connecticut to Pittsburgh to start a band with guitarist/vocalist Eric Good and bassist Corey Lyons of Aus-Rotten...
. 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 reported in the news for their political commentary.
Origins
In late 2000, after the dissolution of Aus-RottenAus-Rotten
Aus-Rotten was an American crust punk band, from 1991 to 2001 formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Part of the DIY underground, its members practiced and promoted a philosophy of anarchism and far-left sociopolitics....
, two former members of that band, Dave Trenga and Matt Garabedian, formed Behind Enemy Lines along with Bill Chamberlain (also of The Pist
The Pist
The Pist was an American hardcore punk band that was formed in Connecticut in the winter of 1992 by Al Ouimet on vocals & bass, Bill Chamberlain on guitar, and Greg Bennick on drums. They were a popular band in the DIY punk scene of the 1990s. After a few lineup changes, the band eventually...
and Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ
Caustic Christ were a hardcore punk band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They were on Havoc Records.- History :In late 2000, Bill Chamberlain quit his band React and moved from Connecticut to Pittsburgh to start a band with guitarist/vocalist Eric Good and bassist Corey Lyons of Aus-Rotten...
) on guitar, and Matt Sachs, formerly of Devastation on bass. Mary Bielich and Matt Tuite (both former members of Pittsburgh doom metal band Penance
Penance (band)
-Biography:Penance was born from the ashes of Dream Death, when several members decided to pursue a more traditional doom direction. Dream Death existed during mid eighties and played a mixture of doom, hardcore and thrash metal....
) joined later, playing bass and guitar respectively.
In 2007, Chamberlain was replaced by Ken Houser.
Aus-Rotten was known primarily for their political lyrics. After Aus-Rotten disbanded, Behind Enemy Lines lyrics covered subjects untouched by Aus-Rotten.
Lyrical themes
Lyrics, as present with their crust punkCrust punk
Crust punk is a form of music influenced by anarcho-punk, hardcore punk and extreme metal. The style, which evolved in the mid-1980s in England, often has songs with dark and pessimistic lyrics that linger on political and social ills...
contemporaries, cover a range of political topics, including: animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
, environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
(especially on issues of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, gender roles and abortion
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
), LGBT rights, anti-religion and anti-capitalism
Anti-capitalism
Anti-capitalism describes a wide variety of movements, ideas, and attitudes which oppose capitalism. Anti-capitalists, in the strict sense of the word, are those who wish to completely replace capitalism with another system....
. The band is noted for its harsh criticism of George W. Bush, especially on issues concerning the Iraq war, Abu Ghraib
Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse
Beginning in 2004, human rights violations in the form of physical, psychological, and sexual abuse, including torture, rape, sodomy, and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq came to public attention...
, human rights subverting under the Patriot Act (as seen in "As Long as I'm Safe") and most recently his response to Hurricane Katrina
Criticism of government response to Hurricane Katrina
The criticism of the government response to Hurricane Katrina consisted primarily of condemnations of mismanagement and lack of preparation in the relief effort in response to Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath. Specifically, there was a delayed response to the flooding of New Orleans, Louisiana...
. Lyrics often make Bush analogous to fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
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 a strong distaste for 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 I see this movement fall in my lifetime."
Discography
- Know Your Enemy (2002) 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 MySpaceMySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
website.
Current lineup
- Matt Sachs – bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, vocals - Dave Trenga – vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
- Matt Garabedian – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
, vocals - Matt Tuite – guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, vocals
Former members
- Bill Chamberlain- guitar, vocals (2000–2007)
- Matt Sachs- bass, vocals (2000–2002)
- "Metal" Mary Bielich- bass, vocals (2002–2008)
- Ken Houser- guitar, vocals (2007)