Sledgeback
Encyclopedia
Sledgeback is a Seattle, Washington
punk rock
band formed in early 2004, with Hungarian
born American guitarist Gábor Szakácsi
as the front man. Former member of the long standing influential Hungarian rock outfit C.A.F.B.
, "Gabi Hun" moved to Seattle not knowing a word of English, and soon after formed Sledgeback.
to sold out crowds. With their first full length release "People's Choice" through Sliver Records, Sledgeback gained notoriety through bi coastal radio play and crowd pleasing shows due in large part to high intensity performances, while boasting powerfully raw, life inspired lyrics.
In addition with their second release, "Perception Becomes Reality" and after a few line up changes in their brief history, the band features Gabor Hun (Vocals, Guitar), Tim Mullen (Drums) and Shawn Trotter (Bass).
The band claims on its official website that, Sledgeback started as an attempt of the Gabor Hun to continue his previous project C.A.F.B.
which is undoubtedly the biggest influence of group, dates back to 1990.The previous accomplishments of Hun with C.A.F.B. helped build a loyal fanbase for Sledgeback around Hungary and gained attention in various European countries following the release of their second full length album by Rebellion records (Holland) in 2007.After months of negotiation to alleviate the agreement between the band and Sliver records regarding the release of the disputed second album “Perception becomes reality” to Rebellion records, Sledgeback departed the label.Rebellion signed Sledgeback and placed one the album’s song “Wonderland” to the “We are the underground” compilation in addition to the release of “Perception becomes reality” .The work was published as compact disc (CD) and vinyl (12”) format.
and the Angry Samoans
.
guitarist left to play for Queensryche
,the group continued working on their third full length album "Bite the bullet" as a trio.It released by Sliver records in November 2010 following a 12 track split cd (compact disc) "Reality bites" with UK punk veterans Foreign legion. One of the most popular songs of the band ("Pants off") from their debut album, was used in the soundtrack of the German action-comedy DVD feature "OTE" by Derik Rentrop in 2010.
and MDC
.
, The Freeze
as well as Gabor Hun's previous group from Hungary, C.A.F.B.
.
C.A.F.B.
which was an important part of the 1990s Hungarian punk and alternative
music revival. (As it mentioned in the most comprehensive Hungarian music
encyclopedia "Magyarock 2" ISBN 9789638707222). Hun left Hungary and with that his band C.A.F.B.
to
start a new life in Seattle where he later formed Sledgeback. The musical
structure of both bands are the same with the driving stripped down raw guitar
chords. The only difference between the two groups is the keyboard which was also
an essential element of C.A.F.B. in the latter albums, particularly their most
successful work "Zanza
" which launched the band into the Hungarian mainstream in
1997.
Tim Mullen
– Drums
Shawn S Trotter – Bass
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band formed in early 2004, with Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
born American guitarist Gábor Szakácsi
Gábor Szakácsi
Gábor Szakácsi is a Hungarian-born American rock guitarist and music producer. Best known as the frontman of Seattle punk group Sledgeback.He fronted one of the most influential Hungarian punk bands of the 1990s C.A.F.B. and released 5 full length albums with the band from 1993 to 2004...
as the front man. Former member of the long standing influential Hungarian rock outfit C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B. is a Hungarian alternative rock band from Budapest originally formed in1990 with Gabor Szakacsi and Mihaly Szita. The group has been through several line-up changes since its start but officially never broke up and released seven full-length...
, "Gabi Hun" moved to Seattle not knowing a word of English, and soon after formed Sledgeback.
Beginning 2004-2007
Gaining a large following early in their career, Sledgeback have toured both locally, and internationally, playing in 2005's Vans Warped Tour and even opening for the likes of Flogging MollyFlogging Molly
Flogging Molly is a seven-piece Irish-descendant band from Los Angeles, California, that is currently signed to their own record label, Borstal Beat Records.-Early years:...
to sold out crowds. With their first full length release "People's Choice" through Sliver Records, Sledgeback gained notoriety through bi coastal radio play and crowd pleasing shows due in large part to high intensity performances, while boasting powerfully raw, life inspired lyrics.
In addition with their second release, "Perception Becomes Reality" and after a few line up changes in their brief history, the band features Gabor Hun (Vocals, Guitar), Tim Mullen (Drums) and Shawn Trotter (Bass).
The band claims on its official website that, Sledgeback started as an attempt of the Gabor Hun to continue his previous project C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B. is a Hungarian alternative rock band from Budapest originally formed in1990 with Gabor Szakacsi and Mihaly Szita. The group has been through several line-up changes since its start but officially never broke up and released seven full-length...
which is undoubtedly the biggest influence of group, dates back to 1990.The previous accomplishments of Hun with C.A.F.B. helped build a loyal fanbase for Sledgeback around Hungary and gained attention in various European countries following the release of their second full length album by Rebellion records (Holland) in 2007.After months of negotiation to alleviate the agreement between the band and Sliver records regarding the release of the disputed second album “Perception becomes reality” to Rebellion records, Sledgeback departed the label.Rebellion signed Sledgeback and placed one the album’s song “Wonderland” to the “We are the underground” compilation in addition to the release of “Perception becomes reality” .The work was published as compact disc (CD) and vinyl (12”) format.
Intermission 2008
Due to several member changes Sledgeback remained relatively silent throughout 2008 with only a handful of Seattle area performances,supporting bands like the AccusedThe Accüsed
The Accüsed is a crossover thrash band from Seattle, WA, founded in 1981. They are considered to be an important progenitor of the crossover style that bridged the gap between thrashcore and thrash metal, later influencing grindcore and some crust punk bands; as well as an influential band in the...
and the Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
The Angry Samoans are an American punk rock band in the first wave of American punk. Formed in August 1978 in Los Angeles, California by early 1970s rock writer "Metal" Mike Saunders and his sibling lead guitarist bonze blayk, along with co-conspirator Gregg Turner and original recruits bassist...
.
Revival 2009-2010
In 2009 former Himsa drummer Tim Mullen joined Sledgeback.After Parker LundgrenParker Lundgren
Parker Lundgren is an American guitarist.He worked with Geoff Tate and later joined Queensrÿche. He is a former member of Seattle punk group Sledgeback. He was married to Tate's step-daughter Miranda Tate. He is a graduate of Port Townsend High School and the son of Julie Clouse and Scott...
guitarist left to play for Queensryche
Queensrÿche
thumb|250px|right|Queensrÿche's classic line-up performing at the [[Sauna Open Air Metal Festival]] 2011 in [[Tampere]], [[Finland]]. Left to right: bass Eddie Jackson, lead vocals Geoff Tate, drums Scott Rockenfield and guitars Michael Wilton....
,the group continued working on their third full length album "Bite the bullet" as a trio.It released by Sliver records in November 2010 following a 12 track split cd (compact disc) "Reality bites" with UK punk veterans Foreign legion. One of the most popular songs of the band ("Pants off") from their debut album, was used in the soundtrack of the German action-comedy DVD feature "OTE" by Derik Rentrop in 2010.
2011
Sledgeback appeared on a (vinyl) 7" compilation titled "Shut the f*** up and listen Vol.IV" with a sixty seconds long track, "Oi generation".Released by PIG Records, the disc contains artists like the legendary GG AllinGG Allin
Kevin Michael "GG" Allin was an American punk rock singer-songwriter, who performed and recorded with many groups during his career. GG Allin is perhaps best remembered for his notorious live performances, which often featured transgressive acts, including coprophagia, self-mutilation, and...
and MDC
MDC (band)
MDC is an American hardcore punk band formed in Austin, Texas in 1979. The band were subsequently based in San Francisco, California, and are currently based in Portland, Oregon. MDC originally formed as The Stains before changing their name...
.
Style and sound
The sound of Sledgeback originates in the Hungarian front man's vocal style that defines the whole structure of the group with lyrics that often describe painful moments of life taken from Hun's personal experiences. Sledgeback may sound close to its influences but still is easily recognizable, creating a unique mixture of the so called "street punk" style with the timeless sound of '90s west coast punk and successfully incorporating the vocals of Gabor Hun that sets them aside from other similar bands.Possibly because of the frontman’s Central European heritage, Sledgeback’s musical style is comparable with bands like the German Böhse OnkelzBöhse Onkelz
The Böhse Onkelz were a German rock group that existed from 1980 to 2005. Although being ignored by the mass media for their controversial past, since Viva los tioz in 1998 almost every album reached number one on the German album charts. According to record certifications and additional sources...
, The Freeze
The Freeze
The Freeze are a hardcore punk rock band from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The Freeze formed in late 1978. At the time all members were in high school. The Freeze are generally considered to be a Boston hardcore band, but they never truly fit into the typical Boston mold. Like most hardcore groups, the...
as well as Gabor Hun's previous group from Hungary, C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B. is a Hungarian alternative rock band from Budapest originally formed in1990 with Gabor Szakacsi and Mihaly Szita. The group has been through several line-up changes since its start but officially never broke up and released seven full-length...
.
Roots
The roots of Sledgeback can be traced back to Gabor Hun's previous group,C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B. is a Hungarian alternative rock band from Budapest originally formed in1990 with Gabor Szakacsi and Mihaly Szita. The group has been through several line-up changes since its start but officially never broke up and released seven full-length...
which was an important part of the 1990s Hungarian punk and alternative
music revival. (As it mentioned in the most comprehensive Hungarian music
encyclopedia "Magyarock 2" ISBN 9789638707222). Hun left Hungary and with that his band C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B.
C.A.F.B. is a Hungarian alternative rock band from Budapest originally formed in1990 with Gabor Szakacsi and Mihaly Szita. The group has been through several line-up changes since its start but officially never broke up and released seven full-length...
to
start a new life in Seattle where he later formed Sledgeback. The musical
structure of both bands are the same with the driving stripped down raw guitar
chords. The only difference between the two groups is the keyboard which was also
an essential element of C.A.F.B. in the latter albums, particularly their most
successful work "Zanza
Zanza (album)
-Basic information:Zanza is the second full length album of the Hungarian rock band C.A.F.B.. It has been released by Premier Art Records in 1997.-Members by instrument:Gabor Hun Szakacsi – Vocals, guitar Lajos Suto – Bass, vocals...
" which launched the band into the Hungarian mainstream in
1997.
Current members
Gabor Hun – Vocals, GuitarTim Mullen
Tim Mullen (drummer)
Tim Mullen is an American rock drummer. He was the member of the well known heavy metal outfit Himsa from 2000 to 2003. Mullen joined Seattle punk rock band Sledgeback in 2009.-Musical career:Tim Mullen was a member of Seattle heavy metal outfit, Himsa...
– Drums
Shawn S Trotter – Bass
Discography
- People's ChoicePeople's Choice (album)People's Choice is Sledgeback's first full length album. The sound of the album is general punk rock.-Basic information:People's Choice is the first full length album of the Seattle rock band Sledgeback...
(2004) - Perception Becomes RealityPerception Becomes RealityPerception Becomes Reality is Sledgeback's second full length album. The sound of the album is general punk rock.-Basic information:Perception Becomes Reality is the second full length album of the Seattle rock band Sledgeback. Originally released in 2006 by Sliver Records in the United States...
(2006) - Reality Bites – Split with Foreign legionForeign Legion (band)Foreign Legion was a punk band from South Wales, often referred to as the longest running punk group in Wales.-1984–1991:Foreign Legion formed in 1984 from the ashes of a band called Society . The band released their first EP on their own label 'Rent a Racket'. Their first full-length album...
(2010) - Bite the bulletBite the bullet(album)Bite the bullet is Sledgeback's third full length album.The sound of the album is general punk rock. The album contains 13 tracks.There are twelve songs on the album...
(2010)
Compilations
- Punks And Pints – Seattle's Best Punk 1 January 2004
- Music Is Stupid. We Like Noise! 1 January 2005
- Punks And Pints – Seattle's Best Punk – Vol.2 1 January 2006
- We are the underground 2007 (Rebellion records) 2007
- Punks and pints Vol. 3 2007
- Shut the f*** up and listen (Vol IV) March 2011 (PIG Records)
- Zombie pit (2011)