Chokehold (band)

Chokehold was formed in 1990 in Hamilton.[http://www.therainbowhub.com/chokehold-a389-recordings-and-social-complacency-in-hardcore/ "Chokehold, A389 Recordings, and Social Complacency in Hardcore"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108060306/http://www.therainbowhub.com/chokehold-a389-recordings-and-social-complacency-in-hardcore/ |date=January 8, 2018 }}. The Rainbow Hub, by Emory Lorde July 26, 2015. Their first release More Than Ever was in 1991. This was followed in 1992 by a split EP with Crisis of Faith and the Life Goes On EP.{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=December 6, 2010 |title=Crisis of Faith Official Biography |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/crisisoffaith |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408031935/http://www.abridgedpause.com/crisisoffaith |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2020 |website=Abridged Pause Blog |language=en-US}} Their rise in popularity paralleled that of other vegan straight edge bands such as Earth Crisis, and hardline bands like Vegan Reich and Raid.

In 1993 Chokehold released the Prison of Hope LP through American label Conquer the World Records and sounded their own record label Structure Records to release music by Florida band Bloodlet.{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=September 8, 2011 |title=Structure Records Interview |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/structurerecords |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408023803/http://www.abridgedpause.com/structurerecords |archive-date=April 8, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2020 |website=Abridged Pause Blog |language=en-US}} They released their next EP, 1994's Instilled, on Philadelphia's Bloodlink Records. This EP featured some of their most political material to date, notably the anti-religious song "Anchor", the anti-homophobia song "Mindset", and their manifesto on Human/Earth/Animal Liberation "Burning Bridges".

They followed this in 1995 with their second LP, Content With Dying. This album contained "Not a Solution", a vehemently pro-choice hardcore song.

They signed in 1996 to Germany's Mad Mob Records and recorded four new songs, which were to be released as a split CD with Feeding the Fire. But, after a European tour in 1996, the band decided to break up. They played their last show in March at the New Bedford Festival in Massachusetts.[http://livehighfive.com/2013/01/04/interview-with-chris-logan-from-chokehold/ "Interview with Chris Logan from CHOKEHOLD"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170422022437/http://livehighfive.com/2013/01/04/interview-with-chris-logan-from-chokehold/ |date=April 22, 2017 }}. Live High Five, GG Allis. January 4, 2013 These four songs were released as a self-titled EP on Jawk Records the following year.{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=November 3, 2011 |title=Redstar Records Interview |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/redstarrecords |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214204756/http://www.abridgedpause.com/redstarrecords |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=September 12, 2020 |website=Abridged Pause Blog |language=en-US}} Rhythm of Sickness Records posthumously released a split 12" vinyl with Left For Dead; Redstar Records later released one of their unreleased covers on the compilation The Sound and the Fury.{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=January 14, 2010 |title=Winter Records & Rhythm of Sickness Records Interview |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/winterrecords-rhythmofsicknessrecords |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120042933/http://www.abridgedpause.com/winterrecords-rhythmofsicknessrecords |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2020 |website=Abridged Pause Blog |language=en-US}} Members went on to play in such bands as Brutal Knights, Left for Dead, Haymaker, Our War, SeventyEightDays and Funerary.{{Cite news |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=August 5, 2009 |title=Left for Dead |language=en-US |newspaper=Abridged Pause Recordings |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/left-for-dead |url-status=live |access-date=September 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150221144448/http://www.abridgedpause.com/left-for-dead |archive-date=February 21, 2015}}{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=October 5, 2010 |title=SeventyEightDays Official Biography |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/seventyeightdays |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810164015/http://www.abridgedpause.com/seventyeightdays |archive-date=August 10, 2015 |access-date=September 6, 2020 |website=Abridged Pause Blog |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Julien |first=Alexandre |author-link=Alexander Julien |date=November 20, 2013 |title=Funerary Official Biography |url=http://www.abridgedpause.com/funerary |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120041409/http://www.abridgedpause.com/funerary |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |access-date=September 6, 2020 |website=Abridged Pause Blog |language=en-US}}

In 2015, remixed versions of the band's albums Prison of Hope and Content with Dying were re-released.[http://exclaim.ca/music/article/chokehold_talk_their_newfound_second_life_stream_a389_reissues "Chokehold Talk Their Newfound Second Life, Stream A389 Reissues"]. Exclaim!, By Bradley Zorgdrager. July 17, 2015 The band reunited and began touring in support of the new releases. Comments{{vague|date=December 2019}} by a band member and a subsequent violent confrontation at their first performance in Toronto led to allegations{{vague|date=December 2019}} of racism and transphobia, which were denied by the band members and their label.[http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/chokehold-responds-to-calls-to-remove-them-from-mesa-hardcore-festival-lineup-7524802 "Chokehold Responds to Calls to Remove Them From Mesa Hardcore Festival Lineup"]. Phoenix New Times, July 29, 2015, By David Accomazzo[http://musicfeeds.com.au/features/stray-from-the-path/ "Stray From The Path Talk The Changing Politics Of The Hardcore Scene"]. Music Feeds, David James Young on August 12, 2015

; Current members

• Chris Logan – vocals
• Josh Fletcher – guitar (later), bass
• Matt Beckman – drums

; Former members

• Jeff Beckman – guitar
• Jon Sharron – bass
• Sandy Robertson – guitar, bass

; Studio albums

• Prison of Hope (1993, Conquer the World)
• Content with Dying (1995, Bloodlink/The Great American Steak Religion)
• With This Thread I Hold On (2019, Good Fight){{Cite web|url=https://www.noecho.net/features/chokehold-with-this-thread-I-hold-on|title=Chokehold to Drop 'With This Thread I Hold On' Album, Stream Its Opening Cut (PREMIERE) | Features|website=Noecho.net|accessdate=September 28, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/chokehold-with-this-thread-i-hold-on/|title=Chokehold – With This Thread I Hold On|website= New Noise Magazine|date=April 30, 2019|accessdate=September 28, 2020}}

; EPs, singles and demos

• The Whole World Is an Addiction (1991, self-released)
• Life Goes On (1992, Arm's Reach)
• More Than Ever (1991, self-released)
• Instilled (1994, Bloodlink)
• Tooth and Nail (1997, Jawk)
• We're Not Gonna Take It (2015, A389)

; Compilation albums

• Prison Of Hope (1994, Conquer The World)
• Chokehold (2015, A389)
• Sell It For What It's Worth Box Set (2016, A389)
• Discography (2016, Cosmic Note)

; Splits

• Chokehold / Crisis of Faith (1992, Grinding Edge)
• Chokehold / Left for Dead (1996, Rhythm of Sickness)

; Compilation appearances

• Reproach (1998, Ugly Pop) – Nothing Negative Approach cover
• The Sound and the Fury (1999, Redstar) – Kickback Breakdown cover

• Animal rights and punk subculture

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Category:Musical groups established in 1990

Category:Musical groups from Hamilton, Ontario

Category:Canadian hardcore punk groups

Category:Straight edge groups

Category:Animal rights movement

Category:1990 establishments in Ontario

Category:Conquer the World Records artists

Category:Cosmic Note artists