Cleansweep

From the ashes of the former Southern Dutch Straight Edge hope INVIDIA arose CLEANSWEEP in 1998, named after the movie Outbreak and initiated by Michaela and Ferry from Sittard (NL) who at that time also ran Threesome Records and promoted the annual Geleen Festival. For drumming purposes Karsten (aka KCR) of Only A Phase fanzine from Aachen (GER) was found, also known for putting up the annual Westside Unity Festival. As the vocalist Aachen’s famous tattoo artist Andreas could be won, formerly singer of PROPHECY OF RAGE , the band that had polarized the German Hardcore scene in the mid-nineties.
At a time when all bands either played Metal Core or 1988-styled „Old School“ Hardcore, CLEANSWEEP focused on classical New School Hardcore, starting from influences like JUDGE or INSIDE OUT up to bands like A CHORUS OF DISAPPROVAL , UNDERTOW , OUTSPOKEN , CHOKEHOLD or even UNBROKEN . They were a battleship without a fleet behind them.
Sticking to the Straight Edge and to traditional Hardcore values, many were irritated by CLEANSWEEP. From the first show on the Hardcore crowd couldn’t quite handle the band. After a rather bad demo in 1999 the band released a seven-song MCD as a cooperation of Horror Business Records, Rockstar Records and Pete Mustache Records. Four of these songs can be heard on this website. (For a complete list of all shows ever played by CLEANSWEEP click here !)
In 2001 Til joined CLEANSWEEP on second guitar, formerly playing in local HC outfits like SURROUNDED BY BLINDNESS. In late 2001 Karsten decided to leave the band because FOR THE DAY , what once was meant to be side project, took too much of his time and energy. With Jörn, who had formerly been pretty successful with his band EYEBALL , a drummer could be found who now lived in Aachen and even allowed CLEANSWEEP to continue as a Straight Edge band.
In 2002 the band did not feel comfortable with their original concept anymore, and also the lack of success led to a certain frustration. LUCA BRASI was born, named after the tragic character from The Godfather. When Michaela left the band for personal reasons soon after recording for their first MCD, the decision to change the name was justified posthumously, with only two original CLEANSWEEP members remaining. In 2005 after three MCDs LUCA BRASI changed their name to THIS YEARS ENEMY . When the band split up after a brilliant demo during the very same year the legacy of CLEANSWEEP finally came to an end.
Ferry is now playing in BLOODTRIAL , Til played in THE SIX BULLET PLAN and currently is in the SUGARBOMBS , Karsten is still in FOR THE DAY and joined forces with Andreas again, when they started the URBAN REJECTS in 2004. But these stories is other myspaces’ to tell...