Artist: SICK OF IT ALL
Album: DEATH TO TYRANTS (CD)

Release date: 2006
Media type: CD

An illustrious name on the Hardcore circuit. SICK OF IT ALL adopted a straight edge stance from the off. Founded in 1985 by the Koller brothers of vocalist Lou and guitarist Pete, bassist Rich Cipriano and erstwhile STRAIGHT AHEAD drummer Arman Majidi. The band's debut demo's circulation amongst Hardcore fans and was capitalised on in 1987 by an eponymous 7" single issued on the Revelation label. As a hot live ticket SICK OF IT ALL's reputation burgeoned with gigs the length and breadth of the East Coast. Their next appearance on vinyl would come by a donation of tracks to the 'New York City Hardcore: The Way It Is' compilation album for Revelation. The group signed with the Relativity label the following year, releasing its first full-length album, 'Blood, Sweat & No Tears' in 1989.

'Blood, Sweat & No Tears' was promoted by SICK OF IT ALL's inaugural national tour, acting both as headliners and as support to BAD BRAINS. However, Majidi opted for a temporary leave to concentrate on REST IN PIECES, the Hardcore outfit in which he'd moonlighted as vocalist for several years. REST IN PIECES members would include future HELMET guitarist Rob "Das" Echevarria and former STRAIGHT AHEAD, AGNOSTIC FRONT and YOUTH OF TODAY bass player Craig Setari.

Supplanting Majidi for the duration of this tour would be Max Capshaw, who in later days made his mark with MURPHY'S LAW. Majidi would rejoin later that same year and in time for a full national tour with D.R.I.

In 1990, preceding the release of the 'We Stand Alone' 7" EP, and a lengthy tour with SEPULTURA, both Cipriano and Majidi made their exit. Their duties would be fulfilled by bassist Eddie Coen and drummer E.K.

New York Hardcore was entering troubled times in 1992 with many of the genres regular venues, such as the infamous CBGB's, bowing out of the scene. Undaunted SICK OF IT ALL, regrouping with Cipriano and Majidi, responded with the classic 'Just Look Around', undoubtedly the band's strongest effort to date. Indeed, so powerful was the impact of 'Just Look Around' that many have cited the album as acting as a catalyst in almost single-handedly resuscitating the entire Hardcore scene.

The same year, SICK OF IT ALL would pack the house at New York's Ritz venue. Later live work witnessed the band spreading their aim into Europe, the UK and Japan. Valuable festival appearances included showings at the 'Roskilde', 'Dynamo' and 'ReinkuItrue' events. Upon returning to America in 1993 the group pulled in Craig Setari of Majidi's side act REST IN PIECES to perform the bass role. Cohen joined the ex-CRO-MAGS John Joseph led BOTH WORLDS the same year.

As SICK OF IT ALL's appeal was spreading globally a tragedy in a Massachusetts prep school struck at the heart of the band. A student named Wayne Lo gunned down several classmates. Unfortunately the national media frenzy focused on the fact that Lo was wearing a SICK OF IT ALL T shirt at the time of the incident. Amidst the hysteria a voice of reason was lent the band by the 'New York Times' newspaper which leapt to the group's defence with a strongly argued article. 'Rolling Stone' magazine also aided their cause with a weighty editorial. As for SICK OF IT ALL, the lyrics to 'Goatless' from the subsequent 1994 'Scratch The Surface' album summed it all up. That same year European festival appearances included a show at the AEROSMITH and RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE headlined Roskilde festival in Denmark.

European touring throughout July of 1995 saw support from H2O. Koller forged an alliance in 1996 involving NAPALM DEATH's Shane Embury titled BLOOD FROM THE SOUL and a resulting album 'To Spite The Gland That Breeds'.

SICK OF IT ALL mainstay Rich Cipriano would depart after a ten year tenure to found the Nu-Metal act REACH in alliance with erstwhile ARMED FORCE and DAMN CHEETAH drummer Dante Renzi.

Lou Koller guested on ENSIGN's 2000 album 'Cast The First Stone', ENSIGN supporting SICK OF IT ALL on their European shows that year.

SICK OF IT ALL toured Britain in December 2000 with support from 28 DAYS and CRACKOUT. SICK OF IT ALL scheduled a new live album, 'Live In A Dive', for August 2002 release through Fat Wreck Records to coincide with appearances at the prestigious UK Reading and Leeds festivals.

European 'Eastpak Resistance' shows in November, commencing on the 5th in Geneva, Switzerland, saw the band hooking up with a diverse raft of bands on a single package billing including WALLS OF JERICHO, 7 SECONDS, SLAPSHOT, THE BONES, UNEARTH and RAMALLAH.

In late 2005 SICK OF IT ALL campaigners Pete Koller and Craig Setari unveiled IRONBOUND alongside a strong cast of seasoned scene veterans in Jimmy Williams from NAUSEA and MAXIMUM PENALTY, Sean O'Brien and Rich McGloughlin of KILLING TIME plus Thomaso Skorupski of CHRONIC FEAR. This new band signed to Thorp Records to cut a debut album 'With A Brick' for January 2006 issue. SICK OF IT ALL then signed to Abacus Recordings in October, working with producer Dean Baltulonis on a fresh album 'Death To Tyrants'. The group toured North America throughout March 2006 with DROPKICK MURPHYS, HORRORPOPS and THE TOSSERS. That May the group hooked up with STRETCH ARM STRONG and FIRST BLOOD for a further round of US touring. The band put in a significant appearance at the GUNS N' ROSES headlined 'Download' festival in Castle Donington, UK on June 11th.

TRACKLIST:

1. Take The Night Off
2. Machete
3. Preamble
4. Uprising Nation
5. Always War
6. Die Alone
7. Evil Schemer
8. Leader
9. Make A Mark
10. Forked Tongue
11. The Reason
12. Faithless
13. Fred Army
14. Thin Skin
15. Maria White Trash
16. Don't Join The Crowd

LINE-UP:

Lou Koller (vocals)
Pete Koller (guitar)
Craig Setari (bass)
Armin Majidi (drums)