Integrity (band)

Integrity
Integrity @ Antiknock, Shinjuku, Tokyo 2017
Background information
Origin	United States
Genres	Metalcore, hardcore punk
Years active	1988 (1988)–present
Labels	Relapse Records, A389 records, Deathwish, Holy Terror, Victory, Magic Bullet Records, Organized Crime Records
Website	holyterror.com
Members	Dwid Hellion Domenic Romeo

Integrity is a hardcore punk band, originally from Cleveland, Ohio but based in Belgium since 2003. It was formed in 1988 by lead vocalist Dwid Hellion.

The band has plays punk, hardcore, and metal-related music, and has released nearly fifty recordings since 1988 as well as playing at hundreds of shows including numerous global festival appearances. Their sound is a mix of noise, punk, blues, hardcore and heavy metal. with influences including industrial, noise and experimental music. Lyrical themes include religion, the supernatural, art, philosophy, horror, as well as mental illness and the occult.

Musical style and legacy

According to its bio on Relapse Records website, Integrity was formed in Cleveland in 1988 and is considered to be one of the first bands to mix metal and hardcore in a way that would later become popular, influencing hundreds if not thousands of bands playing today. The record company who released at least one of their albums declares they possess "an intense sound that melds together high-velocity hardcore punk, heavy metal, blues, thrash, and angular, noisy guitar riffs."

Albert Mudrian, editor-in-chief of the metal magazine Decibel, claims that "They're one of the watershed artists" for heavy music genres, explaining that "they're definitely important to all forms of extreme music. A band like Hatebreed wouldn't sound like they did without Integrity opening up that door for them."

Artist Derek Hess asserts "They were ahead of the curve. Integrity started incorporating art and illustrations, and I think that was a real right-on thing that broke away from the pack. When you say the name Dwid throughout the industry, they know who you're talking about. He's infamous."

Hellion has been criticized for "an artist's penchant for brooding, a frat boy's taste for fun, and a used-car salesman's tongue, the mercurial Dwid is a charismatic shit-talker who's one of the most divisive figures in all of hardcore." He operated a 'zine where he would "crack on people" to "create controversy" and this limited the prospects of the band. Tours crumbled, shows were cancelled and a revolving-door membership has amounted to over 60 people.

Hellion has also had numerous side projects, including his electronic project, Psywarfare and horror-themed, Vermapyre. He has also worked with the band Enforced.

In July 2017, Hellion was featured on the cover of Decibel magazine, no. 153. He is quoted as saying "I do not listen to much new music. When I need a new album to listen to, I make one." Previously, in 2013, Integrity's Systems Overload (1995, Victory Records) was featured in the Decibel "Hall of Fame". In feature, the album is referred to as "the landmark work in a grand and heretical oeuvre".

Members

Current members

• Dwid Hellion – vocals, keyboards (1988–present)
• Domenic Romeo – guitar, bass, organ (2014–present)

Touring members

• Alex "The Beast" Henderson – drums (2011–present)
• Francis "Darkest Prince" Kano – bass (2017–present)
• Justin "Sexminn" Ethem – guitar (2018–present)

Former members

• Aaron Melnick – guitar, vocals (1988–1998)
• Tom Front – bass (1988–1989)
• Tonny Pines – drums (1988–1991)
• Leon "Micha" Melnick – bass (1989–1998)
• Frank Cavanaugh – guitar (1991)
• Bill Mckinney – guitar (1991)
• Chris Smith (II) – guitar (1991–1994)
• David Nicholi Araca – drums (1991–1994)
• Frank "3 Gun" Novineck – guitar (1994–1998)
• Chris Dora – drums (1996–1998)
• Dave "Gravy" Felton – guitar (1998–2000)
• Steve Felton – drums (1998–2000)
• Craig Martini – bass (1998–2000)
• Vee Price – guitar, bass, vocals (2000–2002)
• John Comprix – guitar (2003)
• Blaze Tishko – guitar, vocals (2003)
• Steve Rauckhorst – bass (2003–2009)
• Matt Brewer – guitar (2005–2006)
• Mike Jochum – guitar (2003–2009)
• Nate Jochum – drums (2005–2009)
• Rob Orr – guitar, bass, drums (2006–2014)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Those Who Fear Tomorrow (1991, Overkill)
• Systems Overload (1995, Victory)
• Humanity is the Devil (1996, Victory)
• Seasons in the Size of Days (1997, Victory)
• Integrity 2000 (1999, Victory)
• Closure (2001, Victory)
• To Die For (2003, Deathwish)
• The Blackest Curse (2010, Deathwish)
• Suicide Black Snake (2013, A389/Magic Bullet)
• Howling, For the Nightmare Shall Consume (2017, Relapse Records)

EPs and singles

• Off the Bat Demo (1987)
• Harder They Fall Demo (1989)
• In Contrast of Sin (1990, Victory)
• Grace of the Unholy (1990, Progression)
• Kingdom of Heaven (1992, Overkill)
• Integrity (1992)
• "Hooked, Lung, Stolen Breath Cunt" (1995)
• Septic Death Karaoke (1995, Blood Book)
• Project: Regenesis (2000, East Coast Empire)
• Walpürgisnacht (2008, A389)
• We Are the End (2010, Magic Bullet)
• Grace of the Unholy (2010, A389)
• Evacuate (2012, A389)
• Kingdom of Heaven (2012, A389)
• Detonate Worlds Plague (2012, Holy Terror)
• Beyond the Realm of the Witch (2014, A389)
• Deathly Fighter (A Tribute to R.U.G.) (2016, Decibel Magazine)
• All Death Is Mine (2019, Adult Swim Singles Club)

Splits

• Integrity / Mayday - Les 120 Journees De Sodome (1992, Endgame)
• Integrity / Psywarfare (1996, Victory)
• Integrity / Kids of Widney High (1996, Blood Book)
• Hatebreed / Integrity (1997, Stillborn)
• Integrity / Lockweld (1998, Victory)
• Integ2000 / Fear Tomorrow (1999, East Coast Empire)
• Integrity / AVM (2009, Holy Terror)
• Integrity / Creepout - Love Is... The Only Weapon (2009, Jukeboxxx)
• Integrity / Rot In Hell - Black Heksen Rise (2011, TDON)
• Integrity / Gehenna (2012, Holy Terror)
• Integrity / VVegas (2014, A389 Records)
• Integrity / Power Trip (2015, Magic Bullet)
• Integrity / Krieg (2018, Relapse Records)
• Integrity / Psywarfare (2019, Self Released)

Live/video albums

• Palm Sunday (2005, Aurora Borealis)
• Always Is Always Forever (2005, Van Hellion)
• Live at This Is Hardcore Fest MMXVI (2017, Self Released)

Music videos

• "Dawn of a New Apocalypse" (1992)
• "In Contrast of Sin" (1992)
• "Micha: Those Who Fear Tomorrow" (1992)
• "Eighteen" (1993)
• "Incarnate 365" (1995)
• "Judgement Day" (1995)
• "Systems Overload" (1995)
• "To Die For" (2003)
• "Black Heksen Rise" (2012)
• "I Am the Spell" (2017)
• "Hymn for the Children of the Black Flame" (2017)
• "7 Reece Mews" (2017)
• "Burning Beneath The Devil's Cross" (2017)
• "Scorched Earth" (2018)
• "Sons Of Satan" (2018)
• "Document One" (2018)

External links

• Integrity on Bandcamp

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