Comrades (band)
{{Short description|American rock band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Comrades
| image = Comrades at The Canal Club in Richmond in 2017.jpg
| caption = Comrades performing in 2017
| image_size =
| landscape =
| alt =
| alias =
| origin = Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Post-hardcore|Christian punk|post-rock}}
| years_active = {{start date|2008}}–2022
| label = Blood & Ink, Facedown
| associated_acts =
| website = {{URL|wearecomrades.com/}}
| current_members =
| past_members =* Joe McElroy
- Laura Reitzel
- John Gaskil
- Ben Trussell
}}
Comrades was an American rock band from Richmond, Virginia. The band started making music in 2008 and released a studio album, Safekeeper, in 2014 via Blood and Ink Records.{{cite web |author=Comrades |title=About |url=https://www.facebook.com/WeAreComrades/info?tab=page_info |publisher=Facebook |access-date=July 20, 2015}}{{cite journal |first=David |last=Stagg |title=Comrades – Safekeeper |url=http://hmmagazine.com/blog/album-reviews/comrades-safekeeper/ |journal=HM Magazine |access-date=July 20, 2015}}
Their members are Joe McElroy (guitarist), and Laura Anne Reitzel (vocalist, bassist). Unclean vocalist and drummer Ben Trussell announced in June 2017 that he has decided to amicably part ways with the band and work on a solo musical project called BJORN.{{cite web|url=http://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155518465931757&substory_index=0&id=371967431756|title=Comrades|website=Facebook|access-date=June 30, 2017|ref=FB Post}} Former Life in Your Way and Conveyer drummer John Gaskill took over the mantle of drummer and Unclean vocalist. In 2023, the band announced their disbanding in a formal statement.
Music history
The band commenced as a musical entity in February 2008, with their first release, Safekeeper, a studio album, that was released on May 6, 2014, from Blood and Ink Records.{{cite web |first=Ty |last=DeLong |title=Review : Comrades – Safekeeper |url=http://www.indievisionmusic.com/2014/05/06/comrades-safekeeper/ |publisher=Indie Vision Music |access-date=July 20, 2015 |date=May 6, 2014}}{{cite web |first=Janis |last=Neon |title=Comrades: Safekeeper |url=http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/298-comrades-safekeeper-05282014 |publisher=In Your Speakers Media |access-date=July 20, 2015 |date=May 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721140203/http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/298-comrades-safekeeper-05282014 |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |first=Francesco |last=Banci |title=Comrades 'Safekeeper' |url=http://www.saladdaysmag.com/comrades-safekeeper/ |publisher=Salad Days Magazine |access-date=July 20, 2015 |date=May 17, 2014}}
The band played Facedown Fest 2016 for Facedown Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/myepic/photos/a.118994987314.113769.92595252314/10153395292602315/?type=3&theater|title=My Epic|publisher=Facebook|author=My Epic|date=May 14, 2016|access-date=May 16, 2016}} Their second album, Lone/Gray, was released via Facedown Records on October 7, 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/post_hardcore_revivalists_comrades_sign_to_facedown_announce_new_albumhear|publisher=Alternative Press|title=Post-hardcore revivalists Comrades sign to Facedown, announce new album|date=August 8, 2016|access-date=August 8, 2016}} Comrades headlined night two of Threat Fest in 2017.{{Cite web|last=Obenschain|first=Philip|date=2019-08-23|title=Smyrna's Threat Fest Offers a Sampling of the Region's Best Indie, Punk, Post-Hardcore, & More Aug 25 & 26 @ Carpe Artista|url=https://nocountryfornewnashville.com/2017/08/25/smyrnas-threat-fest-offers-a-sampling-of-the-regions-best-indie-punk-post-hardcore-more-aug-25-26-carpe-artista/|access-date=2023-01-03|website=No Country For New Nashville}}
Vocalist Laura Reitzel shared on the band's social media in January 2023 that the band had broken up the previous year.
Members
= Current members =
- Laura Anne Reitzel – clean vocals, bass guitar (2008–2022)
- Joe McElroy – lead guitar (2008–2022)
- John Gaskill – drums, unclean vocals (2018–2022)
= Former members =
- Ben Trussell – drums, unclean vocals (2008–2017)
Discography
Studio albums
- Lift Up Your Head (February 8, 2010){{Citation|title=Lift Up Your Head by Comrades|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/comrades_f3/lift_up_your_head/|access-date=May 6, 2019}}
- The Refugee (June 1, 2011, Blood and Ink Records){{Cite web|url=http://comrades.bandcamp.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615001944/http://comrades.bandcamp.com/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 15, 2015|title=Comrades|date=June 15, 2015|access-date=March 28, 2018}}
- Safekeeper (May 6, 2014, Blood and Ink Records)
- Lone/Grey (October 7, 2016, Facedown Records)
- For We Are Not Yet, We Are Only Becoming (June 7, 2019, Facedown Records)
Compilations
- Collection: 2010–2011 (2011, Blood and Ink Records){{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/comrades-comrades_collection_2010-2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160824110231/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/comrades-comrades_collection_2010-2011|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 24, 2016|title=Comrades Comrades Collection 2010–2011|date=August 24, 2016|access-date=March 28, 2018}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|wearecomrades.com/}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150722114744/http://www.bloodandinkrecords.com/site/artists/active/comrades/ Blood and Ink Records release]
Category:Musical groups from Virginia
Category:2008 establishments in Virginia