Verse was 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 punk ...

band from

Providence, Rhode Island Providence is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Rhode Island. One of the oldest cities in New England, it was founded in 1636 by Roger Williams, a Reformed Baptist theologian and religious exile from the Massachusetts Bay ...

. They released three full-length albums and an EP on Rivalry and

Bridge 9 Records Bridge 9 Records is an American 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. The label is name ...

and conducted a number of full U.S. tours. The band broke up in 2009, but reformed in December 2011. Bassist Chris Berg played in

Mountain Man A mountain man is an explorer who lives in the wilderness. Mountain men were most common in the North American Rocky Mountains from about 1810 through to the 1880s (with a peak population in the early 1840s). They were instrumental in opening up ...

, which features former members Patrick Murphy (Drums) and Jesse Menard (Guitar) of Last Lights and I Rise.

History

''Rebuild'' and ''From Anger and Rage'' (2004–2007)

Upon solidifying their lineup, Verse signed to Rivalry Records for their first full length ''Rebuild'', which was recorded in May 2004. After the release of ''Rebuild'', Verse went on to a heavy touring schedule. During August 2004, when the band was touring through South Carolina, they encountered some van troubles. While the van was getting fixed, approximately $10,000 worth of musical equipment and a sentimental childhood lava lamp belonging to Murphy were stolen from Verse’s trailer. After finishing their tour of the United States and a tour of Europe with

Another Breath ''Another Breath'' is the third studio album by Ellen Foley. Track listing Personnel *Ellen Foley - vocals *Phil Grande - guitar *Tony Bridges - bass *Tommy Mandel - keyboards, synthesizer *Benjy King - synthesizer *Bob Riley - drums *Lenny ...

, Verse went into the studio to record their follow-up to ''Rebuild'', ''From Anger and Rage''. ''From Anger and Rage'' was recorded by Dean Baltulonis at Atomic Fireball Studios in Brooklyn New York. Upon completing the second album, Verse continued on their rigorous touring schedule, going on multiple US and European tours with bands like Guns Up!, Crime in Stereo,

Down to Nothing Down to Nothing (or DTN) was a straight edge hardcore punk band from Richmond, Virginia. Since their inception in 2000, the band has toured all over the world. Their most recent studio recording is the 2013 LP ''Life on the James'' on Revelati ...

Shipwreck A shipwreck is the wreckage of a ship that is located either beached on land or sunken to the bottom of a body of water. Shipwrecking may be intentional or unintentional. Angela Croome reported in January 1999 that there were approximately ...

, and

Have Heart Have Heart was an American straight edge hardcore punk band formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2002. The band recorded a demo that was released in 2003. In 2004, they released the ''What Counts'' EP ( Think Fast! Records), with their debut ...

. After a solid year and a half of touring in support of ''From Anger and Rage'', Verse signed with

to release their third full length, ''Aggression''. This album was also released in Germany through Prügelprinz Records

''Aggression'' and breakup (2008–2010)

''Aggression'' was recorded at Godcity Studios, and The Getaway Group Studios by engineer Jay Maas, and was released on June 10, 2008.

Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

reviewer Greg Prato described it as "straight-ahead, hard-hitting hardcore"., while Chris Hidden of ''

Rock Sound ''Rock Sound'' is a British magazine that covers rock music. The magazine aims at being more "underground" and less commercial, while also giving coverage to better-known acts. It generally focuses on pop punk, post-hardcore, metalcore, punk, e ...

'' said, "these boys bring a progressive and conceptual approach to their brain-caving brutality that provides a refreshing spin on the norm." After the release of ''Aggression'', Verse set back out on their heavy touring schedule, having already done one US tour with Have Heart, and two European tours with Have Heart, Shipwreck, and I Rise. According to an article on KillYourStereo.com, in late 2008, Berg "broke edge" - meaning he decided to stop adhering to

straight edge Straight edge (sometimes abbreviated sXe or signified by XXX or X) is a subculture of hardcore punk whose adherents refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, and other recreational drugs, in reaction to the excesses of punk subculture. For some, thi ...

principles. The article quoted a posting from Berg on a Bridge 9 message board that read, in part, "about two weeks ago I decided that I no longer wanted to be straight edge so I made some changes in my life. This means that Verse is no longer a straight edge band and I'm not going to pretend like Verse was never a straight edge band because that would just be lame". In his message, Berg said Verse would continue as a band, but on February 8, 2009, the band issued a statement on their MySpace page announcing their breakup; and on February 9, 2009, Punknews.org reported the band's breakup. Following the breakup front man Sean Murphy took up making pizza at the uber-hip Nice Slice pizza parlor on Providence's esteemed Thayer St. and formed the band Mouth of Flowers.

Reformation and indefinite hiatus (2011–2013)

On December 9, 2011,

announced Verse has reformed and will be touring and recording a new album in 2012, titled ''Bitter Clarity, Uncommon Grace'', to be released on July 17 on Bridge 9. On January 27, 2012 the band were confirmed to be playing at

Hevy Music Festival Hevy Music Festival was a rock festival established by Claire Baker and James that took place annually near Folkestone, Kent, in the UK. It was originally held on 1 August 2009 on Folkestone seafront as a one-day festival with Feeder (band), Fe ...

. On May 17, they premiered their new song "The Selfless of the Earth" on AbsolutePunk.net. The band has been inactive since the release of the album.

Discography

*''Four Songs'' (EP) (2003) *''Rebuild'' (2004) *'' From Anger and Rage'' (2006) *''

Aggression Aggression is overt or covert, often harmful, social interaction with the intention of inflicting damage or other harm upon another individual; although it can be channeled into creative and practical outlets for some. It may occur either reacti ...

'' (2008) *'' Bitter Clarity, Uncommon Grace'' (2012)

References

{{Authority control Hardcore punk groups from Rhode Island Melodic hardcore groups Musical groups established in 2003 Musical groups disestablished in 2009 Bridge 9 Records artists