Integrity is a

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...

band originally from

Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

but based in Belgium since 2003. It was formed in 1988 by lead vocalist Dwid Hellion. The band plays

punk Punk or punks may refer to: Genres, subculture, and related aspects * Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres * Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...

, hardcore, and

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

-related music, and has released nearly 50 recordings since 1988 as well as playing at hundreds of shows including numerous global festival appearances. Their sound is a mix of

noise Noise is unwanted sound considered unpleasant, loud or disruptive to hearing. From a physics standpoint, there is no distinction between noise and desired sound, as both are vibrations through a medium, such as air or water. The difference arise ...

, punk,

blues Blues is a music genre and musical form which originated in the Deep South of the United States around the 1860s. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads from the Afr ...

, hardcore and heavy metal, with influences including

industrial Industrial may refer to: Industry * Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry * Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems * Industrial city, a city dominate ...

and

experimental An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...

music. Lyrical themes include religion, the supernatural, art, philosophy, horror, as well as mental illness and the occult.

Musical style and legacy

According to its bio on

Relapse Records Relapse Records is an American independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990. The label features many grindcore, death metal, metalcore and sludge metal artists. History The label was ...

website, Integrity was formed in Cleveland in 1988 and is considered to be one of the first bands to mix

and

hardcore Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to: Arts and media Film * ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film * ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott * ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...

in a way that would later become popular. They have cited influences including

Celtic Frost Celtic Frost () was a Swiss extreme metal band from Zürich. They are known for their strong influence on the development of extreme metalBukszpan, Daniel. ''The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal''. Barnes & Noble Publishing, 2003. p.43 and avant-ga ...

Septic Death Septic Death was an American hardcore punk band active in the 1980s. The foursome from Boise, Idaho was a major influence for the development of grindcore, thrashcore and "speedcore". History Septic Death was formed in 1981 by Brian " Pushead ...

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath were an English rock music, rock band formed in Birmingham in 1968 by guitarist Tony Iommi, drummer Bill Ward (musician), Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. They are often cited as pioneers of heavy met ...

Samhain Samhain ( , , , ; gv, Sauin ) is a Gaelic festival on 1 NovemberÓ hÓgáin, Dáithí. ''Myth Legend and Romance: An Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition''. Prentice Hall Press, 1991. p. 402. Quote: "The basic Irish division of the year ...

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. The band was formed in 1981 in Los Angeles by vocalist/guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

Joy Division Joy Division were an English rock band formed in Salford in 1976. The group consisted of vocalist Ian Curtis, guitarist/keyboardist Bernard Sumner, bassist Peter Hook and drummer Stephen Morris. Sumner and Hook formed the band after attend ...

Bauhaus The Staatliches Bauhaus (), commonly known as the , was a German art school operational from 1919 to 1933 that combined crafts and the fine arts.Oxford Dictionary of Art and Artists (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 4th edn., 2009), , pp. 6 ...

and

Throbbing Gristle Throbbing Gristle were an English music and visual arts group formed in 1975 in Kingston upon Hull by Genesis P-Orridge, Cosey Fanni Tutti, Peter Christopherson, and Chris Carter (British musician), Chris Carter. They are widely regarded as pi ...

. Hellion has also had numerous side projects, including his electronic project, ''Psywarfare'' and horror-themed, ''Vermapyre''. He has also worked with the band ''Enforced''. In July 2017, Hellion was featured on the cover of ''Decibel'' magazine, No. 153. He is quoted as saying "I do not listen to much new music. When I need a new album to listen to, I make one." Previously, in 2013, Integrity's ''Systems Overload'' (1995, Victory Records) was featured in the ''Decibel'' "Hall of Fame". In feature, the album is referred to as "the landmark work in a grand and heretical oeuvre".

Members

; Current members * Dwid Hellion – vocals, keyboards (1988–present) * Domenic Romeo – guitar, bass, organ (2014–present) ; Touring members * Alex "The Beast" Henderson – drums (2011–present) * Francis "Darkest Prince" Kano – bass (2017–present) * Justin "Sexminn" Ethem – guitar (2018–present) ; Former members * Aaron Melnick – guitar, vocals (1988–1998) * Tom Front – bass (1988–1989) * Tiny Pines – drums (1988–1991) * Leon "Micha" Melnick – bass (1989–1998) * Frank Cavanaugh – guitar (1991) * Bill Mckinney – guitar (1991) * Chris Smith (II) – guitar (1991–1994) * David Nicholi Araca – drums (1991–1994) * Frank "3 Gun" Novineck – guitar (1994–1998) * Chris Dora – drums (1996–1998) * Dave "Gravy" Felton – guitar (1998–2000) * Steve Felton – drums (1998–2000) * Craig Martini – bass (1998–2000) * Vee Price – guitar, bass, vocals (2000–2002) * John Comprix – guitar (2003) * Blaze Tishko – guitar, vocals (2003) * Steve Rauckhorst – bass (2003–2009) * Matt Brewer – guitar (2005–2006) * Mike Jochum – guitar (2003–2009) * Nate Jochum – drums (2005–2009) * Rob Orr – guitar, bass, drums (2006–2014)

Discography

Source: * ''Those Who Fear Tomorrow'' (1991, Overkill) * ''Den of Iniquity'' (EP) (1993) * ''Hooked, Lung, Stolen Breath Cunt'' (EP) (1994) * ''Systems Overload'' (1995,

Victory The term victory (from Latin ''victoria'') originally applied to warfare, and denotes success achieved in personal Duel, combat, after military operations in general or, by extension, in any competition. Success in a military campaign constitu ...

) * ''Humanity is the Devil'' (1996, Victory) * ''Seasons in the Size of Days'' (1997, Victory) * ''Integrity 2000'' (1999, Victory) * ''Final Taste of Every Sin'' (EP) (1999) * ''Closure'' (2001, Victory) * ''In Contrast of Tomorrow'' (EP) (2001, 2006) * ''

To Die For ''To Die For'' is a 1995 satirical black comedy film directed by Gus Van Sant, and written by Buck Henry based on the novel of the same name by Joyce Maynard, which in turn was inspired by the story of Pamela Smart. It stars Nicole Kidman, Joa ...

'' (2003, Deathwish) * ''Palm Sunday'' (live album) (2006, Aurora Borealis) * ''

The Blackest Curse ''The Blackest Curse'' is a studio album by American hardcore punk band Integrity. it was released on June 8, 2010 through Deathwish Inc. ''The Blackest Curse'' is a concept album A concept album is an album whose tracks hold a larger purpo ...

'' (2010, Deathwish) * ''Suicide Black Snake'' (2013, A389/Magic Bullet) * '' Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume'' (2017, Relapse Records)

References

External links

Integrity
on

Bandcamp Bandcamp is an American online audio distribution platform founded in 2007 by Oddpost co-founder Ethan Diamond and programmers Shawn Grunberger, Joe Holt and Neal Tucker, with headquarters in Oakland, California, US. On March 2, 2022, Bandcamp ...

{{Integrity (band) Metalcore musical groups from Ohio Musical groups from Cleveland Musical groups established in 1988 Deathwish Inc. artists American musical duos Victory Records artists Good Life Recordings artists