The Hope Conspiracy
Encyclopedia
The Hope Conspiracy is a hardcore punk
band from Boston
, Massachusetts
that formed late 1999. They were picked up by Equal Vision Records
and Bridge 9 Records
before signing a deal with Deathwish Records.
and Hydra Head Records
, The Hope Conspiracy headed to Godcity Studios in Norwood
, Massachusetts
to record their first demo in November 1999. It consisted of three songs ("Escapist", "Divinity Sickness", and "When the Doves Fly"). They produced 1000 copies of the tape, and managed to present 200 copies at their first show with black and white covers (which were quickly made on the way to the gig). Then they produced 800 more color copies of the demo cover based on a design by Aaron Turner
. In early 2000, Turner brought up the idea of the demo cassette being put on CD and 7" vinyl, and the band accepted the invitation. The CD version contained one extra song, "It Meant Nothing". In both demos, the song "When the Doves Fly" was renamed to "Regret Kills". This demo is now out of print.
In July 2000, The Hope Conspiracy set out recording their debut full-length entitled Cold Blue
on Equal Vision Records
. The 10-song album was recorded in a week in both Godcity Studios and The Outpost in Stoughton, Massachusetts
. It was released on October 23, 2000. In the next two years the band toured off of this album, contributed a cover of "Nervous Breakdown" to the Back on Black 7" Black Flag
tribute on Initial Records
, and released an EP called File 03
on Bridge 9 Records
. File 03 was a rerelease of their original demo tracks plus two new tracks (one song of original material called "No Love Goes Unpunished" and a cover of Naked Raygun
's "Treason"). The European version of "File 03" is available from Join the Team Player Records.
When it came time to record their second full-length, the band had gone through what they called "a long overdue lineup solidification." The album, entitled Endnote
, was recorded during May and June 2002 in Brooklyn
, New York
's Atomic Studios. The 12-song album was produced by Dean Baltunosis and was released on October 17, 2002. In November 2002, Deathwish Records released a limited split 7" with The Suicide File
with a song called "Failure", which was an outtake from earlier recording sessions.
The band went on a hiatus in 2004. In that time, Kevin Baker did vocals for Bars, while Jared Shavelson played drums for None More Black
.
Their third album, Death Knows Your Name
, was released on September 19, 2006 on Deathwish Records. The album has received favorable reviews.http://www.stuffmagazine.com/hype/review.aspx?id=11640http://www.altpress.com/reviews/420.htmhttp://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/nov2006/hopeconspiracy.aspx As a teaser, the record label released the Hang Your Cross EP in July 2006.
With high anticipation surrounding new material (recorded by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios) "True Nihilist EP 7"" was released in 2009 on Deathwish Inc.
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...
band from Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
that formed late 1999. They were picked up by Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
and Bridge 9 Records
Bridge 9 Records
Bridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...
before signing a deal with Deathwish Records.
Biography
With the help of Mark Thompson of TortugaTortuga
Tortuga is a Caribbean island that forms part of Haiti, off the northwest coast of Hispaniola. It constitutes the commune of Île de la Tortue in the Port-de-Paix arrondissement of the Nord-Ouest Department of Haiti. The island covers an area of 180 km² and its population was 25,936 at the...
and Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records
Hydra Head Records is an independent record label which specializes in heavy metal music, founded in New Mexico by Aaron Turner in 1993...
, The Hope Conspiracy headed to Godcity Studios in Norwood
Norwood, Massachusetts
Norwood is a town and census-designated place in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 28,602. The community was named after Norwood, England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to record their first demo in November 1999. It consisted of three songs ("Escapist", "Divinity Sickness", and "When the Doves Fly"). They produced 1000 copies of the tape, and managed to present 200 copies at their first show with black and white covers (which were quickly made on the way to the gig). Then they produced 800 more color copies of the demo cover based on a design by Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner
Aaron Turner is a musician, singer, graphic artist, and founder of label Hydra Head Records. He is most widely known for his role as guitarist and vocalist for the post-metal band Isis, while also participating in several other bands and projects such as Old Man Gloom and Lotus Eaters.Though raised...
. In early 2000, Turner brought up the idea of the demo cassette being put on CD and 7" vinyl, and the band accepted the invitation. The CD version contained one extra song, "It Meant Nothing". In both demos, the song "When the Doves Fly" was renamed to "Regret Kills". This demo is now out of print.
In July 2000, The Hope Conspiracy set out recording their debut full-length entitled Cold Blue
Cold Blue
Cold Blue is the debut full-length album from hardcore punk band The Hope Conspiracy.-Track listing:#"Fragile" - 2:35#"Bled Across The Wire" - 2:37#"Truth And Purpose" - 1:48#"Carved Out" - 1:52#"Hope Bound Heart" - 2:06...
on Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records
Equal Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
. The 10-song album was recorded in a week in both Godcity Studios and The Outpost in Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton, Massachusetts
Stoughton is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 26,962 at the 2010 census. The town is located approximately from Boston, from Providence, and from Cape Cod.-History:...
. It was released on October 23, 2000. In the next two years the band toured off of this album, contributed a cover of "Nervous Breakdown" to the Back on Black 7" 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...
tribute on Initial Records
Initial Records
Initial Records was an iconic Louisville based independent record label during the Nineties and early part of the new millennium. Initial released records from hardcore punk to indie rock over its 12-year span...
, and released an EP called File 03
File 03
-Track listing:#"No Love Goes Unpunished"#"Treason"#"It Meant Nothing"#"Divinity Sickness"#"Regret Kills"#"Escapist"...
on Bridge 9 Records
Bridge 9 Records
Bridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...
. File 03 was a rerelease of their original demo tracks plus two new tracks (one song of original material called "No Love Goes Unpunished" and a cover of Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun
Naked Raygun is a Chicago-based punk rock group. Initially active from 1980 to about 1992, Naked Raygun had several short-lived reunions afterwards and a full-time reformation in 2006....
's "Treason"). The European version of "File 03" is available from Join the Team Player Records.
When it came time to record their second full-length, the band had gone through what they called "a long overdue lineup solidification." The album, entitled Endnote
Endnote (album)
Endnote is the second full-length album by Boston hardcore band The Hope Conspiracy.-Track listing:#"Departed" – 1:00#"Defiant Hearts" – 2:24#"Holocaust" – 2:59#"Fallen" – 2:27#"Violent And Grey" – 2:00#"Just A Lie" – 2:58#"Distant" – 1:28...
, was recorded during May and June 2002 in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Atomic Studios. The 12-song album was produced by Dean Baltunosis and was released on October 17, 2002. In November 2002, Deathwish Records released a limited split 7" with The Suicide File
The Suicide File
The Suicide File was a short-lived American hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in April 2001. The band wrote songs with a mostly political message, although many songs also dealt with social and personal problems. Most of the band's output was released on the Southern California...
with a song called "Failure", which was an outtake from earlier recording sessions.
The band went on a hiatus in 2004. In that time, Kevin Baker did vocals for Bars, while Jared Shavelson played drums for None More Black
None More Black
None More Black is a New Jersey-based melodic punk outfit on Fat Wreck Chords, formed by lead singer / guitarist Jason Shevchuk after the demise of his previous band, Philadelphia's Kid Dynamite...
.
Their third album, Death Knows Your Name
Death Knows Your Name
Death Knows Your Name is the third full-length album from hardcore punk band The Hope Conspiracy. It was released September 19, 2006 through Deathwish Inc.-Track listing:# "They Know Not" – 3:35# "Deadtown Nothing" – 2:16...
, was released on September 19, 2006 on Deathwish Records. The album has received favorable reviews.http://www.stuffmagazine.com/hype/review.aspx?id=11640http://www.altpress.com/reviews/420.htmhttp://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/nov2006/hopeconspiracy.aspx As a teaser, the record label released the Hang Your Cross EP in July 2006.
With high anticipation surrounding new material (recorded by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios) "True Nihilist EP 7"" was released in 2009 on Deathwish Inc.
Members
- Kevin Baker - Vocals (1999–present)
- Neeraj Kane - Guitar (1999–2001; 2006–present; mainly participates in songwriting)
- Jonas Feinberg - Bass (1999–present)
- Jared Shavelson - Drums (2002–present)
- Jim Carroll - Guitar (live appearances 2003–present; usually replaces Kane for live dates)
Former members
- Adam Patterson - Drums (1999–2002)
- Dan Zimmerman - Guitar (1999–2002)
- Aaron LisiAaron LisiAaron Lisi was born and raised in Orange County, California and was one of the original guitarists for the Orange County based hardcore group Adamantium, appearing on all of their recordings. After their demise in 2001, he moved to Boston and played guitar for The Hope Conspiracy, recording both...
- Guitar (2001–2003) - Jarrod AlexanderJarrod AlexanderJarrod Alexander is an American drummer, who has played with many hardcore bands. Alexander currently drums for the band My Chemical Romance. He also drummed for The Suicide File, A Static Lullaby and most recently Dead Country.-Bands:...
- Drums (2002) - Tim Cossar - Guitar (2005–2008)
Discography
- Self-titled Demo (1999, 2000 Life Recordings)
- Cold BlueCold BlueCold Blue is the debut full-length album from hardcore punk band The Hope Conspiracy.-Track listing:#"Fragile" - 2:35#"Bled Across The Wire" - 2:37#"Truth And Purpose" - 1:48#"Carved Out" - 1:52#"Hope Bound Heart" - 2:06...
(2000 Equal Vision RecordsEqual Vision RecordsEqual Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
) - File 03File 03-Track listing:#"No Love Goes Unpunished"#"Treason"#"It Meant Nothing"#"Divinity Sickness"#"Regret Kills"#"Escapist"...
(2001 Bridge 9 RecordsBridge 9 RecordsBridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...
/ European Version on Join the Team Player Records) - EndnoteEndnote (album)Endnote is the second full-length album by Boston hardcore band The Hope Conspiracy.-Track listing:#"Departed" – 1:00#"Defiant Hearts" – 2:24#"Holocaust" – 2:59#"Fallen" – 2:27#"Violent And Grey" – 2:00#"Just A Lie" – 2:58#"Distant" – 1:28...
(2002 Equal Vision RecordsEqual Vision RecordsEqual Vision Records is a record label based in Albany, New York, which has a focus in metal or punk-based rock genres. Equal Vision Records was founded in the early 1990s by Ray Cappo ....
) - Limited Split 7" with The Suicide FileThe Suicide FileThe Suicide File was a short-lived American hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed in April 2001. The band wrote songs with a mostly political message, although many songs also dealt with social and personal problems. Most of the band's output was released on the Southern California...
(2002 Deathwish Records) - Hang Your Cross EP (2006 Vinyl Version on Deathwish Records / CD Version licensed to Resist RecordsResist RecordsResist Records is an independent record label and retail store based in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. The store was opened by Toe To Toe vocalist, Scott McFadyen in 1996 before expanding to a record label in 1998...
) - Death Knows Your NameDeath Knows Your NameDeath Knows Your Name is the third full-length album from hardcore punk band The Hope Conspiracy. It was released September 19, 2006 through Deathwish Inc.-Track listing:# "They Know Not" – 3:35# "Deadtown Nothing" – 2:16...
(2006 Deathwish Records) - True Nihilist 7' (2009 Vinyl Deathwish Records)