+++I'm putting this tribute site / homage de Chokehold together piece by piece as of mid May 2006. Check back regularly, there's more in the pipeline+++
Rest assured, this isn't a bio. It's a highly subjective sermon, a rant. This tribute site is about the band CHOKEHOLD. Being the sharp part that spearheaded the mid-90s new school hardcore explosion that they were (in more ways than one), it seems like the five-piece from Hamilton, Canada, knew what they wanted to say. And from their inception in 1992 to their last show in New Bedford, Mass. in March 1996, they knew how to say it: to the point. What better way to drive it home than with raw, pulsating new school hardcore chugga galore? I want to pay tribute to a band that has changed my life for the better in more ways that one, and all the while hasn't left my turntable. Sappy and true. Chokehold's backbone, the lyrics, are the main reason for this little project. By all means give them a go. They're all posted in the blog section.
Ok, Here goes nuthin! I am not affiliated with CHOKEHOLD. This unofficial site is dedicated to a band for which style, machismo, and superficiality took a back seat. And raw energy, lyrical urgency, and sincerity took center stage. This site is also for anyone who ever went apeshit to their music, traveled umpteen hours to get to their shows, felt empowered by what they had to say and turned it into action... I think you get the point. Most importantly, I have this hope (call me, say, optimistic) that both people familiar and new to this band will have (another) look at the lyrics I posted, while the band causes layout fetishists to puke and audio engineers to weep.
In an often superficial scene (yes, unfortunately it's not a movement), some bands offer substance. CHOKEHOLD'S mostly slow to mid-paced music is stripped-down, no-frills, yet ridiculously effective with me. You play Afraid of life, or Tooth and Nail and forchrissakes my hair will still straighten out. It just has this raw pulse to it, and the way I see it, put the band on the crest of the new school wave (as if that really matters). This makes it that much more surprising that the music often turns into a backdrop for the lyrics. Many o' bands' lyrical trick bags are empty without veg[etari]anism and straightedge. Yet with this band, topical and lyrical diversity WAS the trick bag. From the Burning Bridges ep onward, singer/barker Chris Logan had this talent to condense complex political, social, and personal issues on to one well versed song sheet.
The recordings often sounded like the sessions ended up in mud slinging matches, plagued with swampy bass and guitars (just tune into the Content With 'no its not your stereo' Dying CD), or trebles that stop just sort of inducing a tinnitus (have a pinch of the Tooth And Nail 7inch). Quoting the liner notes on their last 7inch, then at least prove you don't have to spend $1000 recording to get your point across.
Im guessing the fact that they didn't get attacked by the people and bands they were vocally criticizing pays tribute to A) most people knowing there was a lot of truth to what they were screaming about, or B) the targets werent able to find out where Canada is. Whether you like them or not, chances are they can provoke a reaction.
CHOKEHOLD also meant sweating hot basement shows with chorus line pile-ups and people dripping from the walls. Hardcore can harbor music and so much more: Theres plenty of space for ideas, communication, politics, action, and fun.
Let's use that space. Not only at myspace. End of rant. Enjoy.