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This article has multiple issues. Please help improve the article or discuss these issues on the talk page.
|
| Coalesce | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Inception (1994) Breach (1994) |
| Origin | Kansas City, Missouri |
| Genre(s) | Hardcore punk Metalcore |
| Years active | 1994–1999 2005–present |
| Label(s) | Relapse Records Second Nature Recordings |
| Members | |
| Sean Ingram Jes Steineger Nathan Ellis Nathan Richardson |
|
| Former members | |
| James Dewees | |
Coalesce is a 4-piece hardcore punk/metalcore band from Kansas City, Missouri.
Contents |
History
Formation and early years (1994-1996)
The band formed in January 1994, consisting of Jes Steineger (guitar), Stacy Hilt (bass) and Jim Redd (drums). During this time they were using the name Breach, and around Easter of 1994, Sean Ingram joined the band to fill the vocal position, and the four members opted to use the name Coalesce, to avoid confusion with a Sweden-based band.
With the name issues amended, Coalesce entered West End Studios to record a demo. This work was pressed to a 7" EP that sold out rapidly.
The UK division of Earache Records was impressed by the unique and innovative sound featured on Coalesce's demo so they invited the band to record an EP for Earache's 7" series imprint, New Chapter. The EP, simply entitled 002, was recorded in one day and released in 1995. "002" marked the beginning of Coalesce's relationship with Red House Studios and producer Ed Rose, who would go on to produce all of Coalesce's following material.
To promote 002, Coalesce embarked on their first US tour, which lasted 6 weeks, in the summer of 1995. They supported the bands Bloodlet and 108. This tour served as the catalyst of Coalesce's first break-up, as the clashing of personalities had amplified between vocalist Sean Ingram and drummer Jim Redd while on the road. Once Coalesce returned home from the road, Jim convinced the other bandmates to oust Ingram from the band. Sean showed up at band practice to find future Coalesce drummer James DeWees' undergoing his vocal replacement audition. Sean engaged in a confrontation with drummer Jim, resulting in Coalesce disbanding altogether in early 1996.
In mid 1996, guitarist Jes Steineger contacted Sean and the two decided to reform the band. Stacy Hilt was included in the reunion, resuming his bass duties, and the drum position was delegated to James DeWees, the same person who had attempted to secure the available vocalist position before Coalesce had broken up (original drummer Jim Redd decided not to pick up the drum sticks again because he was attending school in Baltimore). This incarnation of the band dusted off some older material and revised it so they could release it on the records A Safe Place 7" on Edison Recordings and the Earache-distributed split EP with grind veterans Napalm Death, entitled In Tongues We Speak. This split was perceived as 'groundbreaking' within the hardcore punk/metalcore community due to the odd pairing of bands, which was beneficial in the sense that the fans of the respective bands would get exposed to two styles of heavy metal that they had never been privy to before. These releases also showcased a marked shift in Sean Ingram's vocal style from a full-voiced shout (typically punctuated by spoken verses) to a much deeper, guttural "bark." This, paired with the group's increasingly complex arrangements, became Coalesce's signature sound.
Give Them Rope and Functioning on Impatience (1997-1998)
In 1997, Coalesce wrote and recorded their first full length, entitled Give Them Rope (released on Edison Recordings), as well as songs for several compilations and split 7" records with The Get Up Kids, Today is the Day, and Converge on the other side of the vinyl.
After weeks of playing the new songs on tour, Coalesce entered Red House Studios in the spring of 1998 to record the album Functioning on Impatience in a mere 3 days. Quickly following this, Coalesce recorded songs for a split 7" with Boy Sets Fire. Both the full-length and the split record were released that summer. It was during this period that bassist Stacy Hilt made his departure and was summarily replaced by Nathan Ellis, who was by trade a guitar player, but opted to switch instruments in order to join one of his favorite bands.
Coalesce once again entered Red House to record the album There is Nothing New Under the Sun, a one-off release on Hydra Head that comprised Led Zeppelin covers, which was released in late 1998. Coalesce attempted a US tour in support of this record, and did manage to play the east coast dates with Neurosis, Nile and The Dillinger Escape Plan, but the tour ended abruptly as unresolvable problems with their touring van brought tensions to a head and rendered Coalesce unable to complete the tour. They discarded the van, returned home in a U-Haul and subsequently disbanded once more.
012:Revolution in Just Listening, hiatus and return to touring (1999-2004)
The members recorded their final album, 012:Revolution in Just Listening, in separate sessions from each other. It should be noted that during Revolution's recording process, certain band members of Coalesce were working with other bands: bassist Nathan Ellis started The Casket Lottery with former Coalesce bassist Stacy Hilt, and drummer James DeWees joined The Get Up Kids as their keyboard player and also started his "solo" project Reggie and the Full Effect.
A lineup impervious to breaking up was something that would always elude Coalesce. The usual cause for a Coalesce breakup was either standard inhouse feuding between band members, lack of money, or intermittent bouts of leaving and rejoining Coalesce due to religious reasons. Coalesce reformed in 2002 sans Jes Steineger, replacing him with The Esoteric guitarist, Cory White, for a national tour and short recordings.
Recent developments and new album (2005-present)
Coalesce was slated to play in Hellfest in 2005 with original guitarist Jes Steineger and new drumming addition Nathan Richardson, but a legal maelstrom against the festival's organizers prevented the festival from taking place. Since they had already made the travel arrangements, Coalesce booked and played 2 shows at small venues instead. One was in Philadelphia and the other in the Wilkes-Barre area.
The band played what they advertised as their 'final show' in Lawrence, Kansas in September 2005. During the Philadelphia and Lawrence reunion shows lead singer Sean Ingram announced that the band was going to begin writing new music but under a new moniker. However this idea was abandoned.
On January 3, 2007 lead singer Sean Ingram announced on his personal blog website that Coalesce had recorded 2 new songs on December 28 and 29 at Black Lodge Studios. The songs would be on an upcoming final 7" to be self released by the band along with a DVD and book sometime in 2007.
On February 9, 2007 Coalesce announced, via MySpace, that they intend to do some touring in August 2007. Possible areas include Europe, Japan and the United States (East Coast).
On March 21, 2007 Ingram announced on the Coalesce website that the release will be titled Salt and Passage. The tracks will be titled "Son of Son of Man" and "I Am This". It was also said that re-recording of the vocal tracks for There is Nothing New Under the Sun were completed for the re-release through Hydra Head.
On May 26, 2007 on the official website announcements were made in regards to the upcoming 7" and DVD. Instead of releasing them together they will be released separately. The 7" to be released in a hand screened gatefold cover with limited different colors on September 11, 2007. The DVD will be a collection of as many complete shows that they could get and it is entitled No Business in this Business. The DVD is scheduled to be released in late August to early September.
According to an interview at http://www.lawrence.com/turnpike/archive/2007-09-06/, Coalesce have recorded dozens of riffs and patterns for their next release.
In July 2008, Coalesce began recording their latest full-length. A release date has not yet been announced.
Band members
Current members
- Sean Ingram – vocals
- Jes Steineger – guitar
- Nathan Ellis – bass
- Nathan "Jr." Richardson – drums
Former members
- Jim Redd – drums (currently a member of Tarentel and The Holy See and formerly a member of Sonna)
- James Dewees – drums (member of Reggie and the Full Effect, and touring keyboardist for My Chemical Romance)
- Stacy Hilt – bass (member of The Casket Lottery)
- Cory White – touring guitarist (member of The Esoteric)
Discography
| Year | Title | Label | Other Information | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 001 (Self-titled) | Soylent Green Records / Chapter Records | ||
| 1997 | 002 EP | Earache | ||
| 1997 | A Safe Place (7") | Edison Recordings | ||
| 1997 | In Tongues We Speak (split with Napalm Death) | Earache USA | ||
| 1997 | Split with Today is the Day | Hydra Head Records | Both bands recorded Black Sabbath covers for this record | |
| 1997 | Split with The Get Up Kids | Second Nature Recordings | Each band covered one of the other's songs in their own style | |
| 1997 | Among the Dead We Pray for Light (split 7" with Converge) | Edison Recordings/Life Records | ||
| 1998 | Give Them Rope | Edison Recordings | Coalesce's first full-length album | |
| 1998 | Functioning on Impatience | Second Nature Recordings | ||
| 1998 | 002: A Safe Place EP | Second Nature Recordings | Coalesce re-recorded the 3 tracks from the original Earache release and included A Safe Place 7" | |
| 1998 | Split EP with Boy Sets Fire | Hydra Head Records | Coalesce and BSF cover each other's songs on this record, CD includes an original from each band | |
| 1999 | There is Nothing New Under the Sun | Hydra Head Records | A record of Led Zeppelin covers | |
| 1999 | 0:12 Revolution in Just Listening | Relapse Records | ||
| 2000 | Last Call for the Living | No Idea Records/Second Nature Recordings | An oddly shaped vinyl-only release of early demos. | |
| 2004 | Give Them Rope, She Said | Relapse Records | Remixed and remastered version of 'Give Them Rope', with new artwork | |
| 2007 | Salt and Passage | self released via Crash and Bang with help from Second Nature Recordings | 7" includes 2 new songs in a hand screened gatefold. Will also be released on iTunes in October. | |
| 2007 | There is Nothing New Under the Sun (Re-Release) | Hydra Head Records | Re-release of the record of Led Zeppelin covers. Vocal parts were re-recorded, also includes the Coalesce tracks from the splits with The Get Up Kids, Today is the Day, and Boy Sets Fire. | |
| 2007 | No Business in this Business (DVD) | self released via Crash and Bang | Containing 15 full shows on 4 discs. Will only be available through website and shows. |
Side projects and trivia
- James DeWees was the keyboard player for The Get Up Kids and touring keyboard player for New Found Glory for a short time. He also performs in his solo project, Reggie and the Full Effect. He performed as the touring keyboardist for My Chemical Romance.
- Stacy Hilt and Nate Ellis compose music in the band The Casket Lottery, Stacy playing bass and Nate playing guitar.
- Sean Ingram stood in for departed Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist Dimitri Minakakis and played Krazyfest with the band on July 28th, 2001.
- Coalesce have recorded material for Earache Records, Edison Recordings, Hydra Head Records, Relapse Records and Second Nature Recordings.
- Vocalist Sean Ingram's day job is the manager of a screenprint house Blue Collar Press and guitarist Jes Steineger is a graduate student at the University of Chicago. Preceding this he was a lecturer in Humanities and Western Civilization at the University of Kansas.
- During the summer of 2006, Jes began work on a new project called ~.
- Sean Ingram has sung guest vocals on albums for The Out Circuit, Blessing The Hogs, The Used, the Ocean, The Casket Lottery, Miasis, and Reggie and the Full Effect. On Reggie albums, Sean is credited as Hungary Bear. On Casket Lottery albums, Sean is credited as Sean-o-tronic.
- Sean founded Blue Collar Distro, which sells merchandise for bands such as The Get Up Kids, The New Amsterdams, and Motion City Soundtrack.
- Sean (along with "the Anniversary" bassist James David) appeared on an episode of The People's Court on behalf of Blue Collar Distro, who was suing the manager of a band for not paying on merchandise that he received, Blue Collar lost the case and has since decided to end it there. The band's manager was former Relapse Records radio promotion employee "Mean" Dean Edington (also a long time friend of Sean and Coalesce. At one point Dean claims they used to practice in his basement, but this is untrue), the band being sued is in fact The Esoteric.
