Posthumous (EP)
Encyclopedia
Posthumous is a five track EP
from the American hardcore punk
/metalcore
band, The Banner
. Originally recorded as the band's first (and unnamed) demo
(while the band was still known by their original moniker, Bruce Banner), it was handed at out the band's local shows to fans and attendees. As a result of the popular demo
tape, the band won a contract with local New Jersey
punk specialist label, Blackout! Records. The demo was then renamed "Posthumous" and re-released as a CD-EP. It was the first of two recordings the band released with Blackout! before leaving for Ferret Music. It was released in June, 2003.
qualities – including Slayer
-like riff flourishes, but the vocal style throughout is undeniably hardcore punk
.
"Rattlesnakes", "The Screaming", and "Marked For Life", on the other hand are more in the straightforward hardcore punk
mould, especially influenced by the New York hardcore
sub-genre. Fast-paced songs with trademark refrains – commonly referred to as breakdowns. While "The Screaming" does contain a small amount of metal influence, "Marked For Life" is probably more comparable to an early Black Flag
track. The EP's closing track, "Trial By Fire", brings all these influences together to form a song which is, in the early part, quite technical metal. It has a mellow, Bane
-like interlude in the middle which then breaks out into a typical hardcore punk
, complete with background gang chants. Despite the credits, founding member Jon Morozowski played bass on this recording.
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
from the American hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
/metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
band, The Banner
The Banner (band)
The Banner is a hardcore punk and metalcore band from Bloomfield, New Jersey with influences that range from late '80s hardcore, punk rock, heavy metal and NYHC-style metalcore....
. Originally recorded as the band's first (and unnamed) demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
(while the band was still known by their original moniker, Bruce Banner), it was handed at out the band's local shows to fans and attendees. As a result of the popular demo
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
tape, the band won a contract with local New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
punk specialist label, Blackout! Records. The demo was then renamed "Posthumous" and re-released as a CD-EP. It was the first of two recordings the band released with Blackout! before leaving for Ferret Music. It was released in June, 2003.
Overview
Debate continues over what genre this band fits into and this EP was probably where it all started. The opening track, "Outgunned", has metalThrash 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...
qualities – including Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
-like riff flourishes, but the vocal style throughout is undeniably hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
.
"Rattlesnakes", "The Screaming", and "Marked For Life", on the other hand are more in the straightforward hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
mould, especially influenced by the New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
sub-genre. Fast-paced songs with trademark refrains – commonly referred to as breakdowns. While "The Screaming" does contain a small amount of metal influence, "Marked For Life" is probably more comparable to an early Black Flag
Black Flag (band)
Black Flag was an American punk rock band formed in 1976 in Hermosa Beach, California. The band was established by Greg Ginn, the guitarist, primary songwriter and sole continuous member through multiple personnel changes in the band...
track. The EP's closing track, "Trial By Fire", brings all these influences together to form a song which is, in the early part, quite technical metal. It has a mellow, Bane
Bane (band)
Bane, a hardcore punk band, began as a side project between Aaron Dalbec and Damon Bellardo. Aaron approached Matt Firestone to sing and they played under the moniker of Gateway for a few shows, before Firestone departed ways to focus on other projects...
-like interlude in the middle which then breaks out into a typical hardcore punk
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
, complete with background gang chants. Despite the credits, founding member Jon Morozowski played bass on this recording.
Track listing
- All songs written by The BannerThe Banner (band)The Banner is a hardcore punk and metalcore band from Bloomfield, New Jersey with influences that range from late '80s hardcore, punk rock, heavy metal and NYHC-style metalcore....
- "Outgunned" – 4:28
- "Rattlesnakes" – 2:27
- "The Screaming" – 2:46
- "Marked For Life" – 2:28
- "Trial By Fire" – 4:01
External links
- The Banner Official Website (Archive) 2003-08-04 (original website now the subject of domain parkingDomain parkingDomain parking is the registration of an Internet domain name without using it for services such as e-mail or a website i.e without placing any content on the domain. This may be done to reserve the domain name for future development, to protect against the possibility of cybersquatting, or to...
) - Blackout Records band page (Archive) 2006-10-15 (original link now redirects to Blackout RecordsBlackout RecordsBlackout! Records was an independent record label which specialized in the hardcore punk genre.It was formed in 1988 by Bill Wilson – now forever known as "Bill Blackout" – and, together with friend Jim Gibson, the label released its first record – a New York hardcore compilation...
blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
) - Ferret Music band page