Wisdom in Chains 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 punk ...

band based out of Northeastern

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania (; ( Pennsylvania Dutch: )), officially the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, is a state spanning the Mid-Atlantic, Northeastern, Appalachian, and Great Lakes regions of the United States. It borders Delaware to its southeast, ...

. The band's name is taken from the lyrics of a song by the New York hardcore band Killing Time. "Wisdom", from Killing Time's 1989 debut album, '' Brightside'', opens with, "Wisdom in chains, unlocked too late".

Biography

Originally, Wisdom in Chains started as an international collaboration between members of Daredevil in the Netherlands and members of Krutch in the United States. Maarten, guitarist of Daredevil (Dutch hardcore band), contacted Mad Joe Black and Richie Krutch, who were both in Krutch at the time, about forming a

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 ...

band with heavy

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 ...

and

oi! Oi! is a subgenre of punk rock that originated in the United Kingdom in the late 1970s. The music and its associated subculture had the goal of bringing together punks, skinheads, and other disaffected working-class youth. The movement was p ...

influences. In September 2001 Maarten came to the U.S. for a recording session with Mad Joe, Richie, and Shawn (drummer for Krutch). The tracks recorded during this session were eventually released in 2003 on GSR as the band's self-titled debut. After Out To Win/Mushmouth disbanded, Richie and Mad Joe decided to restart Wisdom in Chains and, after receiving Maarten's blessing for the project, recruited a new American line-up. Apart from Richie and Mad Joe, the new line-up included Tony Meltdown from The Ninth Plague on guitar, Shannon from Out To Win/Mushmouth on drums, and Greg "Big Show", a local Stroudsburg musician, on bass. With this line up they would record their first official full length "Die Young". This lineup remained stable for the band's next several full length and minor releases. During this period the band began to develop its sound by incorporating various metal, crossover, and hard rock elements into its songs. After the completion of "Everything You Know" longtime member Tony Meltdown left the band for personal reasons. Soon after the release of the "Pocono Ghosts" 7", longtime member Greg "Big Show" also left the band due to an injury. They were replaced by Evan, from Mad Joe's old band Feeble, on bass and Mav, from Richie's old band Krutch, on guitar. As of 2015, three members of the band are

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 ...

Current members

*Mad Joe Black — vocals *Richie Krutch — guitar, backing vocals *Luke — drums *Evan 'Boy' One — bass, backing vocals *Mav — guitar

Past members

*Maarten – guitar *Shawn – drums *Roel – drums *Harry – bass *Greg "Big Show" – bass, backing vocals *Tony Meltdown – guitar, backing vocals *Shannon Sparky – drums

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

Split EPs

Videography

§ ''Die for Us'' DVD contains live material (14 songs) recorded at show from May 2006 at Backstage Enterprises in

Kingston, Pennsylvania Kingston is a borough in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located on the western bank of the Susquehanna River opposite the city of Wilkes-Barre. Kingston was first settled in the early 1770s; it was incorporated as a borough in ...

, interview with Mad Joe Black and a three-song recording from live performance at the First Unitarian Church in

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

References

External links

SK: Underground Music Reviews, Music Hosting & Message Boards – Hardcore, Metal, Hip-Hop, Emo, Indie and Punkband's page on Eulogy Recordings siteThe band's page on I Scream Records site
{{Authority control Hardcore punk groups from Pennsylvania Musical groups established in 2002 Musical quintets 2002 establishments in Pennsylvania Straight edge groups Demons Run Amok Entertainment artists Eulogy Recordings artists