Most Precious Blood is an American
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 p ...
band from New York City formed from the remnants of the band
Indecision. They blend the song structures of hardcore with
heavy metal, and the band cites
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1986 in Queens, New York City. The band's lineup consists of brothers Lou and Pete Koller on lead vocals and guitars respectively, Armand Majidi on drums, and Craig Setari on bass. Sick ...
,
Aphex Twin,
The Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is an English rock band, formed in 1980 in Leeds. After achieving early underground fame there, the band had their commercial breakthrough in the mid-1980s and sustained it until the early 1990s, when they stopped releasi ...
, and
The Obsessed
The Obsessed is an American heavy metal band from Potomac, Maryland, led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich. The band combines elements of doom metal, stoner rock, and punk rock. Formed in 1980, they recorded a few demos and played a handful of live ...
as influences, among others. They were signed to
Trustkill Records
Trustkill Records was an American independent record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle ...
until it dissolved in 2010. They are now with Trustkill president Josh Grabelle's new label Bullet Tooth.
The band and its members advocated the
straight edge movement, animal rights,
vegetarianism and
veganism
Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal product—particularly in diet (nutrition), diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is kn ...
. As of 2015, vocalist Rob Fusco is no longer. However, they deny being preachy in any way, saying "I'm not going around trying to change people because people are going to change when they want to... if I said something that you found truth in, or that you found made sense, cool – I'm glad I was a catalyst to help you come to your own conclusions."
History
Originally, the band featured former Indecision guitarists
Justin Brannan
Justin Lee Brannan (born October 14, 1978) is an American politician and musician. A Democrat, he is the current New York City Councilmember for the 43rd district, based in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. A former musician, he was a founding member of the ...
and Rachel Rosen, as well as on-again off-again Indecision vocalist, Tom Sheehan. On their debut full-length for Trustkill Records, ''Nothing in Vain'' (2001), Brannan played guitar, Rosen played bass, and Sheehan did vocals.
''Nothing in Vain'' was recorded in a 9' x 15' one room studio in an abandoned building near
Sailors Snug Harbor, Staten Island. The building was once an old age home for sick and dying wayward sailors. There were odd noises that ended up on the master tapes that the band never recalled hearing during the recording. The album was engineered/produced by long-time Indecision producer
Ron Thal who would later go on to play guitar for
Guns N' Roses.
Original Indecision drummer Pat Flynn played drums on ''Nothing in Vain'' but left the group immediately following the completion of the record. Flynn walked out of the studio once he finished his drums tracks; the cymbals still sizzling.
The band then recruited Sean McCann. He would stay with the group for several years and would play on 2003's ''Our Lady of Annihilation''. McCann then left the band in the middle of the night before the band was set to fly to Arizona for a gig. When the band woke up and McCann was nowhere to be found; only a
Dear John letter
A Dear John letter is a letter written to a man by his wife or romantic partner to inform him that their relationship is over, usually because his partner has found another lover. The man is often a member of the military stationed overseas, alth ...
was left behind underneath the wiper blade of the band's van parked outside. The band still boarded the plane and flew down to Arizona without a drummer. The band hooked up with the drummer from Where Eagles Dare, a hardcore punk outfit from
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
, and used their drummer for the show, teaching him the songs the night before the gig.
In 2003, after Sheehan departed the band to return to school, the band teamed up with former
One King Down
One King Down was a straight edge hardcore punk, hardcore band from Albany, New York, that recorded and performed from 1994 until 2001.
Background
One King Down played crunchy, danceable metalcore heavily influenced by such scene contemporari ...
vocalist Rob Fusco, added Matt Miller on bass, and moved Rosen to second guitar for their second album ''Our Lady of Annihilation''. Surprise hits "The Great Red Shift" and "Your Picture Hung Itself" launched the band's profile. The album also features a guest appearance from
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band formed in 1986 in Queens, New York City. The band's lineup consists of brothers Lou and Pete Koller on lead vocals and guitars respectively, Armand Majidi on drums, and Craig Setari on bass. Sick ...
's Lou Koller.
MPB contributed a cover of "Sweet Child Of Mine" to ''Bring You to Your Knees: A Tribute to Guns N' Roses'', a cover of "Rise Above" to ''Black on Black: A Tribute to
Black Flag'', and a cover of "Alone" to ''Our Impact Will Be Felt: A Tribute to Sick of It All'' with Paul Klein (A Lifeless Alliance,
Gotham Road
Gotham Road (or Gotham Rd.) is a horror punk/ heavy metal band formed after the demise of the band Graves by Michale Graves, Loki, J.V. Bastard and Paul Lifeless.
History
Formation
The band first formed under the assumed name of Graves an ...
,
The Banner) filling in on drums.
MPB was the first American Hardcore band to tour South Africa. They have also been to 50+ countries, including most of Europe, as well as Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and all over the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico.
Rachel Rosen and Justin Brannan appeared in minor roles in ''
Threat
A threat is a communication of intent to inflict harm or loss on another person. Intimidation is a tactic used between conflicting parties to make the other timid or psychologically insecure for coercion or control. The act of intimidation for co ...
'', an independent film produced in the
NYHC scene.
MPB has had 13 drummers over the history of the band. Sean McCann (2001–2003) and Colin Kercz (2004–present) are the longest serving.
Recent activity
The band has denied rumors of a breakup, claiming they have just been taking time off to relax and write a new album, after an over two-year non-stop global touring schedule.
The band has been quoted as saying they were interested in "bowing out of the mass appeal madness" that has struck the hardcore scene and wants nothing to do with the "glossy culture" anymore. The band has been finished with their fourth album, ''Do Not Resuscitate'', for some time. ''Do Not Resuscitate'' was released February 1, 2011 via Bullet Tooth, formerly
Trustkill Records
Trustkill Records was an American independent record label that started as a hardcore punk fanzine in April 1993. It started releasing hardcore, metal and rock records and merchandise in 1994. In 2010, the president of Trustkill, Josh Grabelle ...
.
Band members
Current members
*
Justin Brannan
Justin Lee Brannan (born October 14, 1978) is an American politician and musician. A Democrat, he is the current New York City Councilmember for the 43rd district, based in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. A former musician, he was a founding member of the ...
– guitar
*Rachel Rosen – guitar, vocals
*Rob Fusco – vocals
*Matt Miller – bass guitar
*Colin Kercz – drums
Former members
*Tom Sheehan – vocals (2000–2003)
*Sean McCann – drums (2001–2004)
*Pete LaRussa – drums (2000)
Discography
*''Nothing in Vain'' (2001)
*''Our Lady of Annihilation'' (2003)
*''Merciless'' (2005)
*''Do Not Resuscitate'' (2011)
;Music videos
* "The Great Red Shift" (2003)
* "Shark Ethic" (2006)
References
External links
*
Bullet ToothThe band's official biographyMost Precious Blood on TrustkillMost Precious Blood on PureVolume
{{Authority control
Hardcore punk groups from New York (state)
Musical groups established in 2001
Metalcore musical groups from New York (state)
Musical groups from Brooklyn
Straight edge groups
Trustkill Records artists
Good Life Recordings artists