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Madball

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For the line of toys, see Madballs.

Madball
Madball in 2018
Madball in 2018
Background information
OriginNew York City, U.S.
Genres
Years active1988−2001, 2002−present
LabelsGood Fight, Ferret, Wreck-Age, Roadrunner, Epitaph, I Scream, Thorp, Nuclear Blast
Spinoff ofAgnostic Front
MembersFreddy Cricien
Mike Justian
Mike Gurnari
Brendan Porray
Past membersVinnie Stigma
Rob Rosario
Will Shepler
John Lafata
Darren Morgenthaler
Rigg Ross
Roger Miret
Matt Henderson
Walter Ryan
Ben Dussault
Mackie Jayson
Igor Wouters
Jay Weinberg
Brian "Mitts" Daniels
Jorge "Hoya Roc" Guerra
Websitemadballhc.com

Madball is an American New York hardcore band. Originated in the late 1980s as a side project of Agnostic Front,[1] the band developed after Agnostic Front's vocalist Roger Miret would let his younger half-brother Freddy Cricien take the microphone and perform lead vocals during Agnostic Front shows. Following Agnostic Front's 1992 disbandment, Madball became the members' main project and many became a part of the band who were never in Agnostic Front. They have released nine studio albums and four EPs.

History

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Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members. Madball consisted of Agnostic Front's vocalist Roger Miret on bass, Vinnie Stigma on guitar, Will Shepler on drums, and then 12-year-old vocalist Freddy Cricien, Miret's younger half-brother.[1] Madball's first few performances consisted of previously unused Agnostic Front songs. Madball's first release was the Ball of Destruction EP in 1989. After years of playing regional shows in and around the New York area, a second guitarist, Matt Henderson, joined the band. By then, they recorded and released the EP, Droppin' Many Suckers, for Wreck-Age Records.[1] One year later, Miret left the band and was replaced on bass by Jorge "Hoya Roc" Guerra — a good friend of Freddy Cricien — who was looking for a new band as his band, Dmize, was breaking up. The new incarnation of the band was signed by Roadrunner Records in 1994 and released a pair of full-lengths; Set It Off in 1994[1] and Demonstrating My Style in 1996. Touring steadily, the band built a sizable fan base outside their hometown.[2]

1995 saw the band participating in the N.Y.H.C. documentary. Extensive interviews were conducted with Freddy as well as a performance on July 29, 1995, at the now-defunct "Coney Island High". Freddy's brother, Roger, broke several vertebrae in his back at that show, requiring him to be in traction for the better part of a year.

Consisting of Cricien, Henderson, Guerra, and new drummer John Lafata (former drummer in Neglect), the band recorded Look My Way, which was released in early 1998. Hold It Down followed two years later. The band announced their dissolution in 2001 but decided to reform in late 2002 with a new line-up featuring Brian "Mitts" Daniels and Rigg Ross. They began touring and recording at the end of 2002. Since then, Madball has come out with: Best of Madball in 2003, N.Y.H.C. EP (EP) in 2004, Legacy in 2005, and Infiltrate The System in 2007. In 2009, Rigg Ross left to join Skarhead and was replaced by Ben Dussault.

Along with bands such as Agnostic Front, Vietnom, Bulldoze, Resistance, H2O and Boston/New York Hip-hop group Special Teamz (Slaine, Ed O.G., Jaysaun, DJ Jayceeoh), they comprise a part of New York's DMS Crew. Vocalist Cricien and bass player Hoya are also in the band Hazen Street, along with members of H2O and Cro-Mags.

In 2010, after the departure of the Ferret Records owners from the label, Madball followed them to their new and present label Good Fight Music. In February 2010 Madball signed a deal with Nuclear Blast for the European release of their new studio album, Empire, produced by Erik Rutan.[3] Jay Weinberg, son of E Street Band and Max Weinberg 7 drummer Max Weinberg, joined Madball for the album and for touring.[4]

Madball then dismissed Weinberg in September 2010, citing personality conflicts.[5] Weinberg said that he had already quit the group by that time, due to lifestyle issues.[6] Born From Pain drummer Igor Wouters replaced Weinberg for live performances.

On March 10, 2014, the band began recording its eighth studio album, Hardcore Lives, which was released in June of that year.[7]

In October 2017, Brian "Mitts" Daniels had exited Madball.[8] Madball released their ninth studio album, For the Cause, on June 15, 2018.[9]

In January 2019, Madball announced that their touring guitarist, Mike Gurnari, would become an official member.

In August 2023, Jorge "Hoya Roc" Guerra announced his intention to leave the band. Guerra cited the band's decrease in activity and the resulting financial hardship as his reasons for leaving. He made it known that he would remain with the band through their two upcoming European tours.[10]

Musical style and influences

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Madball are a hardcore punk band.[11][12] The band's music put an emphasis on a metal-influenced groove, breakdowns and use of lyrics based on street life, as opposed to the speed of punk rock and the riffing of crossover thrash which were dominate in the genre when they began.[13][14][15] This difference led to them helping to define the sound hardcore would take on in the 1990s, as well as the beatdown hardcore genre.[13][14] They have also been categorised as tough guy hardcore.[16][17]

They have cited influences including Sick of It All, Agnostic Front, the Bad Brains,[18] Cro-Mags,[19] Killing Time, Breakdown,[20] Discharge,[21] hip hop music[22] and funk music.[23]

Band members

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  • Madball live at With Full Force 2018
  • Freddy Cricien
    Freddy Cricien
  • Jorge Guerra
    Jorge Guerra
  • Mike Justian
    Mike Justian
  • Dominik Stammen
    Dominik Stammen

Timeline

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Discography

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Studio albums

  • Set It Off (1994)
  • Demonstrating My Style (1996)
  • Look My Way (1998)
  • Hold It Down (2000)
  • Legacy (2005)
  • Infiltrate the System (2007)
  • Empire (2010)
  • Hardcore Lives (2014)
  • For the Cause (2018)

EPs

  • Ball of Destruction (1989)
  • Droppin' Many Suckers (1992)
  • N.Y.H.C. EP (2004)
  • Rebellion (2012)
Compilations
  • The Best of Madball (2003)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Heavy Metal (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 210. ISBN 0-85112-656-1.
  2. ^ "Madball biography". Roadrunnerrecords.com. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  3. ^ "Madball signs European deal with Nuclear Blast Records". Blabbermouth. February 25, 2010. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved February 25, 2010.
  4. ^ "Madball Recruit New Drummer". ThePRP.com. June 25, 2010. Retrieved June 25, 2010.
  5. ^ "PRESS RELEASE: MADBALL RELEASES DRUMMER JAY WEINBERG". Myspace. September 21, 2010. Archived from the original on February 7, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  6. ^ "Ex-Madball Drummer Jay Weinberg Says He Quit The Band" (Press release). Blabbermouth.net. October 18, 2010. Archived from the original on October 22, 2010. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  7. ^ "Madball Begins Recording New Album". Blabbermouth.net. March 10, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "Madball and guitarist 'Mitts' part ways". Lambgoat.com. October 18, 2017. Retrieved October 18, 2017.
  9. ^ "MADBALL To Release 'For The Cause' Album In June". Blabbermouth.net. April 11, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
  10. ^ "Madball bassist Jorge "Hoya" Guerra will step away from the band after European tours".
  11. ^ Blackie, Andrew. "MADBALL: INFILTRATE THE SYSTEM". PopMatters. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  12. ^ Hill, Stephen. "Madball, live in London". Metal Hammer. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Enis, Eli. "10 ESSENTIAL NEW YORK HARDCORE ALBUMS". Revolver. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Madball | Biography, Albums, Streaming Links". AllMusic. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "Here are the 10 most influential bands of hardcore". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  16. ^ Levi, Josh (August 4, 2011). "Madball". River Front Times. Retrieved November 12, 2017.
  17. ^ BREIHAN, TOM. "The Month In Hardcore: May 2021". Stereogum. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "INTERVIEW WITH FREDDY CRICIEN OF MADBALL". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  19. ^ "MADBALL: 'Today's Music Is So Much Heavier And Darker Than It's Ever Been'". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  20. ^ SUAREZ, GARY. "MATT HENDERSON: THE METALSUCKS INTERVIEW". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  21. ^ "DISCHARGE - new album "End Of Days" out now!". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  22. ^ Southall, Max. "INTERVIEW: Freddy Cricien – Madball". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  23. ^ Macomber, Shawn. "The Power & the Glory: Madball Drummer Mike Justian Continues to Blaze a Brutal & Revolutionary Trail Through Extreme Music". Decibel. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
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