COMMON WOUNDS: Phoenix post-hardcore crew (ex-Run with the Hunted, Landmine Marathon) delivers self-titled debut EP; new music video streaming now
Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, Common Wounds marries post-hardcore heart and noise-rock heft, in songs that are as poignant as they are bruising.
Stream the official music video for the EP's first single, "Phantom Limb," here: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2023/02/06/video-premiere-common-wounds-phantom-limb/
Pre-order the EP, here: https://protagonistmusic.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-11
Guitarist/vocalist Ian Lanspeary first teamed up with bassist Matt Martinez in 2016 at a time when the two friends were both closing the books on other musical endeavors. As a member of Run with the Hunted, Lanspeary had risen to the top of the straightedge hardcore scene, with Timm McIntosh of the legendary Trial releasing the band's albums on his label and hailing it as "the greatest band I've had the pleasure of working with." As a member of Landmine Marathon, Martinez had endured a dizzying run – in the span of a few years the quintet went from underground obscurity to next-big-thing status, earning the cover of Revolver Magazine, getting handpicked by Metallica to play Orion Fest, and touring the nation with the likes of Skeletonwitch and Misery Index. With the dust still settling on those chapters, Lanspeary and Martinez joined forces; seeking a new sound and a new pace, they began work together under the name Dead History.
Martinez states: "Dead History was formed in early 2016 by myself and Ian. We formed the band as both of our previous bands had wound down after exhausting and fulfilling lifespans. We found ourselves coming into sounds that were rooted in post-hardcore and early emotional hardcore... filtered through the ultra low tunings that my instruments were already set up for."
Fueled by the classic recordings of labels like Dischord and Ebullition, as well as Amphetamine Reptile and Touch and Go, Dead History released one self-titled EP and played shows with peers such as Portrayal of Guilt right up until March 2020.
Emerging from the fog of the pandemic, Lanspeary and Martinez are back, having reset, recharged, and rechristened themselves as Common Wounds. Picking up where Dead History left off, and now featuring guitarist Corey Rial (Seas Will Rise) and drummer Steven Campbell (War Tongue, Bog Oak) in its ranks, Common Wounds comes forth with five songs, possessed by the fire of the original post-hardcore greats and bolstered by the muscle of noise-rock. Reference points might include Rites of Spring, Unwound, and Helmet.
Pre-order the EP, here: https://protagonistmusic.bandcamp.com/album/self-titled-11
Guitarist/vocalist Ian Lanspeary first teamed up with bassist Matt Martinez in 2016 at a time when the two friends were both closing the books on other musical endeavors. As a member of Run with the Hunted, Lanspeary had risen to the top of the straightedge hardcore scene, with Timm McIntosh of the legendary Trial releasing the band's albums on his label and hailing it as "the greatest band I've had the pleasure of working with." As a member of Landmine Marathon, Martinez had endured a dizzying run – in the span of a few years the quintet went from underground obscurity to next-big-thing status, earning the cover of Revolver Magazine, getting handpicked by Metallica to play Orion Fest, and touring the nation with the likes of Skeletonwitch and Misery Index. With the dust still settling on those chapters, Lanspeary and Martinez joined forces; seeking a new sound and a new pace, they began work together under the name Dead History.
Martinez states: "Dead History was formed in early 2016 by myself and Ian. We formed the band as both of our previous bands had wound down after exhausting and fulfilling lifespans. We found ourselves coming into sounds that were rooted in post-hardcore and early emotional hardcore... filtered through the ultra low tunings that my instruments were already set up for."
Fueled by the classic recordings of labels like Dischord and Ebullition, as well as Amphetamine Reptile and Touch and Go, Dead History released one self-titled EP and played shows with peers such as Portrayal of Guilt right up until March 2020.
Emerging from the fog of the pandemic, Lanspeary and Martinez are back, having reset, recharged, and rechristened themselves as Common Wounds. Picking up where Dead History left off, and now featuring guitarist Corey Rial (Seas Will Rise) and drummer Steven Campbell (War Tongue, Bog Oak) in its ranks, Common Wounds comes forth with five songs, possessed by the fire of the original post-hardcore greats and bolstered by the muscle of noise-rock. Reference points might include Rites of Spring, Unwound, and Helmet.
A lifelong resident of Phoenix, Martinez speaks on that city's impact upon Common Wounds' sound: "Phoenix has always influenced creativity, with this band and every creative endeavor that I have been involved in. There's the desolation of the desert – the brown and hazy texture of the landscape creates a dismal tone. The heat tends to elevate tension all around. I think this lends itself to the abundance of 'pissed off' bands that have come from Arizona. Furthermore, we suffer from a literal physical disconnection from other cities. San Diego, LA, and Vegas, the closest cities, are a journey. And within our city, sprawl, masked as progress, creates a homogenization and lack of culture that causes creative people to lash out, in the best way. There are a lot of young kids working hard to make things happen here. A new generation, driving things their way. We adapt and thrive in the desert. Much like the wildlife. We are tough and resilient."
"Phantom Limb," the self-titled debut EP's first single, hits like a sweet deluge of rain, breaking the tension of darkening desert skies. Emotive and urgent, the song surges forward with a thunderous rhythm section carrying a churning riff, brightened by feedback and harmonics that pierce like rays of light through the storm. Lanspeary's impassioned bellows are as real as they come; many vocalists tell stories or impart a worldview, but once in a while a recording captures a person in a genuine state of searching and it is a beautiful thing. "Lyrics function as an emotional outlet, with the purpose of addressing and exploring life," he says.
The Common Wounds EP was recorded and mixed by Zachary Rippy (Power Trip, Wristmeetrazor) at Sound Signal Recording Studios in Mesa, AZ and mastered by Nick Zampiello (Torche, KEN mode) at New Alliance East.
Releasing the EP is Arizona-based label Protagonist Music, home to recordings by Gatecreeper, Self Defense Family, and founder Brendan DeSmet's own band, metallic hardcore pioneers Groundwork.
Tracklist:
1) Lament
2) Hit or Miss
3) High/Low
4) No Exit
5) Phantom Limb
Lineup:
Ian Lanspeary - guitar, vocals
Corey Rial - guitar
Matt Martinez - bass
Steven Campbell - drums
Photo by Kindness Photo Co
Cover art by Matt Martinez
Releasing the EP is Arizona-based label Protagonist Music, home to recordings by Gatecreeper, Self Defense Family, and founder Brendan DeSmet's own band, metallic hardcore pioneers Groundwork.
1) Lament
2) Hit or Miss
3) High/Low
4) No Exit
5) Phantom Limb
Lineup:
Ian Lanspeary - guitar, vocals
Corey Rial - guitar
Matt Martinez - bass
Steven Campbell - drums
Photo by Kindness Photo Co
Cover art by Matt Martinez
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