Trap Them was an American hardcore punk band formed in Salem, New Hampshire in 2001. They released five studio albums and five EPs, including a split EP with Extreme Noise Terror.
Trap Them | |
|---|---|
 Ryan McKenney performing at the Knitting Factory, Brooklyn | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Trap Them + Kill Them, 77+K7 |
| Origin | Salem, New Hampshire, United States |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 2001–2017 |
| Labels | Prosthetic, Southern Lord, Trash Art!, Deathwish |
| Past members | Ryan McKenney Brian Izzi Brad Fickeisen Galen Baudhuin Stephen LaCour Mike Justian Mike Sharp Scott DeFusco Nat Coghlan Chris Maggio |
| Website | http://www.trapthem.net |
History
editTrap Them began in 2001 as a side-project for Ryan McKenney, who at the time was the vocalist of Backstabbers Incorporated and Brian Izzi, a brief second guitarist for Backstabbers Incorporated and consistent member of December Wolves. The pair first met as employees of Newbury Comics in Salem, New Hampshire.[1] They took the band's name from the 1977 film by Joe D'Amato called Trap Them And Kill Them, known also as Emanuelle E Gli Ultimi Cannibali and Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals.[2] In this early time they created a self released MCD under the moniker of Trap Them and Kill Them. Both departed from Backstabbers Incorporated in 2008 and soon became roommates, leading to Trap Them becoming their full-time project.[1][2]
On April 3, 2007, they released their debut album Sleepwell Deconstructor.[3] They toured Europe in early 2008 with the Ocean and Rotten Sound.[4]
Trap Them worked with crust punk band Extreme Noise Terror for a split EP[5] and toured the U.S. with Napalm Death. Their second album Seizures in Barren Praise, was released in November 2008. In May 2009, the band played on the year's bill for the annual Maryland Deathfest music festival in Baltimore, Maryland. The band went on US tours with Victims and Black Breath in May and June 2009, and Skeletonwitch and Saviours in mid-July.
In 2010 the band released the EP Filth Rations, initially only as a strictly limited cassette release restricted to just fifty copies available at their appearance at the Scion Rock Festival. The EP was later released on Southern Lord Records on 12" vinyl featuring an etching on the B-side by artist Justin Bartlett, who also drew the main cover.[6]
In late 2010, it was announced that in March 2011 the band would release their third full-length Darker Handcraft through Prosthetic Records - their first for the label since signing for them in mid-2009.[7] In April 2011, the band embarked on a European tour to promote the album as main support for Rotten Sound.[3]
On April 7, 2014, the band announced that they had completed work on their following album, titled Blissfucker, which was released on June 10, 2014.[8] It was the first album to feature their new bassist, Galen Baudhuin (Infera Bruo), and drummer Brad Fickeisen (No Salvation, ex-The Red Chord).[9]
Crown Feral, the band's fifth and final studio album, was released on September 23, 2016, via Prosthetic Records. The album was again recorded with producer Kurt Ballou at the God City recording studio and featured artwork from artist Mattias Frisk.[10]
The band performed their final three shows in November in New York City, Montreal and Boston before disbanding.[11]
Musical style and influences
editTrap Them's music has been categorised as grindcore,[12] crust punk, hardcore punk[13] and metalcore.[14] The band make heavy use of the Boss HM-2 guitar pedal, which creates a distinctive guitar tone that was first popularised by Swedish death metal bands.[14] Metal Injection writer Christopher described their sound as Luedtke "Bringing a hardcore/punk, d-beat, and grind attitude with death metal riffs ala Grave".[15]
The band's influences include hardcore and crust punk bands, such as Black Flag, Born Against, and Tragedy and metal bands like Dismember and Entombed.[16]
Members
edit- Final
- Brian Izzi - guitar (2001-2017)
- Ryan McKenney - vocals (2001-2017)
- Brad Fickeisen - drums (2013-2017)
- Galen Baudhuin - bass (2013-2017)
- Past
- Nat Coghlan - bass (2006-2007)
- Scott DeFusco - drums (2006-2007)
- Mike Sharp - drums (2007-2008)
- Derek Black - bass (2007)
- Stephen LaCour - bass (2007-2011)
- Mike Justian - drums (2008-2009)
- Chris Maggio - drums (2009-2013)
Timeline
Discography
editStudio albums
edit- Sleepwell Deconstructor (2007, Trash Art!)
- Seizures in Barren Praise (2008, Deathwish)
- Darker Handcraft (2011, Prosthetic)
- Blissfucker (2014, Prosthetic)
- Crown Feral (2016, Prosthetic)
EPs and splits
edit- 77K7 (2002, self-released)
- Cunt Heir to the Throne (2007, Trash Art!)
- Séance Prime (2007, Deathwish)
- Extreme Noise Terror / Trap Them (split with Extreme Noise Terror) (2008, Deathwish)
- Filth Rations (2010, Southern Lord)
Compilation contributions
edit- People Don't Take Pictures of Things They Want to Forget (2003)
References
edit- ^ a b Kamiński, Karol. "TRAP THEM announce a new pressing of "Darker Handcraft"". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b Synyard, Dave. "Trap Them's Ryan McKenney". Exclaim!. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ a b MCCORMICK, JANSSEN. "After a decade on the grind, Trap Them find their stride". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "THE OCEAN FOR TWO UK DATES". RockSound. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "Extreme Noise Terror / Trap Them Split [7 inch] (2008)". 23 May 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ Gordon, Scott (11 February 2011). "Record Review: Trap Them's Darker Handcraft". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Debenedictis, Matt (March 1, 2011). "Trap Them Go 'Huge and Intense' for 'Damage Prose' -- Song Premiere". Noisecreep. AOL Music. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
- ^ Ulrey, Jeremy (20 May 2014). "Album Review: TRAP THEM Blissfucker". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Cook, Toby. "Columnus Metallicus: The Best Metal Albums Of 2014 With Toby Cook". The Quietus. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Redrup, Zach. "ALBUM: Trap Them – Crown Feral". Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ "Trap Them Announce Final Shows In November". Metal Underground. August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
- ^ Paul Schwartz, "Rotten Sound + The Ocean + Victims + Trap Them", Terrorizer no. 171, June 2008, p. 83
- ^ Slessor, Dan (11 August 2020). "The 22 Most Essential Grindcore Albums". Kerrang!. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ a b Schneider, David. "The Buzzsaw Riffs of the Stockholm Scene". Premier Guitar. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
- ^ Luedtke, Christopher (4 October 2016). "Album Review: TRAP THEM Crown Feral". Retrieved 18 February 2022.
- ^ "Trap Them Is Angry". Times Leader. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 17 February 2022.