The Austerity Program

The project initially started during the mid-early 1990s after guitarist Justin Foley and bassist Thad Calabrese met in college in New York City. The duo then formed a band called Polonium, which was named after what they believed was the heaviest metal on the periodic table.{{cite web|title=The Austerity Program ((( The Austerity Program Biography )))|url=http://www.austerityprogram.com/biography/index.htm|publisher=The Austerity Program|author=Foley, Justin|accessdate=February 16, 2015}} In 1997, the band renamed themselves as The Austerity Program. After sending out multiple, creatively packaged demos, the band was picked up by Hydra Head Records in 2002, and they released their debut extended play, Terra Nova, in 2003.

In 2007, the duo released their first full-length studio album titled Black Madonna, which, according to the Hydra Head bandcamp page, has nothing to do with the singer Madonna.{{cite web|title=Hydra Head Bandcamp((( Black Madonna )))|url=http://hydrahead.bandcamp.com/album/black-madonna|publisher=Hydra Head Records|accessdate=February 16, 2015}} During spring of 2008, the duo toured with post-metal band Isis.{{cite web|title=Decibel magazine((( Tour Diary: The Austerity Program )))|url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/magazine/judas-priest-46-aug-2008/tour-diary-the-austerity-program/|publisher=Decibel Magazine|author= Foley, Justin|accessdate=February 16, 2015}} In 2010, the band released a follow-up EP, titled Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn. As a way to market the disc, the band decided to write a humorous press release for it, imitating an irate staff member of Hydra Head complaining about the short run time of the record.{{cite web|title=Noisecreep.com((( hydra Head Doesn't Hate The Austerity Program )))|url=http://noisecreep.com/hydra-head-doesnt-hate-the-austerity-program/|publisher=Noise Creep|author= Villanueva, Justina|date=23 March 2010 |accessdate=February 16, 2015}}

In 2012, after Hydra Head announced that they were financially unable to release more records, the band left the label{{cite web|title=Noisy.vice.com((( No, The Austerity Program Doesn't Want A Goddamn Drummer )))|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-austerity-program-interview/|publisher=Vice|author= Cook, Brian|date=29 May 2014 |access-date=February 16, 2015}} and created their very own label titled Controlled Burn Records.{{cite web|title=Controlled burn Records(((The Austerity Program Biography)))|url=http://controlledburnrecords.com/bands/austerity-program|publisher=Controlled Burn Records|author= Foley, Justin|accessdate=February 16, 2015}} In 2014, they released their second full-length record, titled Beyond Calculation. The record received warm reception among critics, and it was even listed in Rolling Stone's 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014.

In 2016, the duo re-recorded their early material under the Polonium moniker and issued Seriphim, and album which collects these new recordings, on April 4 of that year.{{cite web |last1=n/a (2016-04-04) |title=Exclusive Full Album Stream: Seriphim by Polonium (AKA The Austerity Program) |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/04/04/exclusive-track-premiere-seraphim-polonium-k-austerity-program/ |website=metalsucks.net |date=4 April 2016 |publisher=Metal Sucks |accessdate=2019-06-16}} The pair's third full-length as The Austerity Program, Bible Songs 1, was released on June 14, 2019 after a lengthy production process. The album, largely inspired by the darker aspects of Biblical stories, was followed by a short European tour.{{cite web |last1=n/a (2019-06-10) |title=Exclusive Full-Album Stream: The Austerity Program's Bible Songs 1 |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2019/06/10/exclusive-full-album-stream-the-austerity-programs-bible-songs-1/ |website=metalsucks.net |date=10 June 2019 |publisher=Metal Sucks |accessdate=2019-06-16}}{{cite web |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg (2019-06-11) |title=THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM Invokes The Wrath Of God On New EP Bible Songs 1 |url=https://metalinjection.net/av/new-music/the-austerity-program-invokes-the-wrath-of-god-on-new-ep-bible-songs-1 |website=metalinjection.net |date=11 June 2019 |publisher=Metal Injection |accessdate=2019-06-16}}

• Thad Calabrese – bass
• Justin Foley – guitar, vocals

• Black Madonna (2007, Hydra Head)
• Beyond Calculation (2014, Controlled Burn)
• Bible Songs 1 (2019, Controlled Burn)

• Terra Nova (2003, Hydra Head)
• Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn (2010, Hydra Head)

{{Reflist}}

{{The Austerity Program}}

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Category:American post-hardcore musical groups

Category:American alternative metal musical groups

Category:American noise rock music groups

Category:American rock music duos

Category:Musical groups established in 1997

Category:Musical groups from New York City

Category:American post-metal musical groups