CHOKEHOLD profile picture

CHOKEHOLD

You going to stay in line? Content with dying?

About Me

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+++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.


My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 4/17/2006
Band Website: Official: none. An unofficial one: here.
Band Members: Chris, Matt, Matt S., Jeff, Jon, Josh
Influences: Stumped on this one.
Sounds Like: Revolt seizing the controls of a new school hardcore steamroller. Gone haywire. Downtown. Kind of.

*** CLICK TITLE PIC TO BUY A COPY ***

*** IF UNLINKED THEN CHECK TRADING SITES ***

TOOTH AND NAIL 7", JAWK RECORDS, 1996

CONTENT WITH DYING CD, BLOODLINK RECORDS, 1995

INSTILLED 7", BLOODLINK RECORDS, 1993

COMPILATION CD, CONQUER THE WORLD RECORDS, 1992

WHAT STILL HOLDS TRUE COMP. 7", 1991 ?

Record Label: jawk, bloodlink, conquer the world
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

CHOKEHOLD entry on wikipedia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chokehold_(band)
Posted by CHOKEHOLD on Fri, 01 Dec 2006 06:32:00 PST

Lyrics CHOKEHOLD - CONTENT WITH DYING LP - 1995

CONTENT WITH DYING LP ~ Great American Steak Religion ~ 1995   1) Underneath Deceitful is all youve been tear away at the false uncaring skins a corporation with bloody hands is...
Posted by CHOKEHOLD on Fri, 19 May 2006 10:57:00 PST

Lyrics CHOKEHOLD - INSTILLED 7" - 1994

INSTILLED 7 ~ Bloodlink Records ~1994   1) BURNING BRIDGES I reach out my hands try to educate you on your crimes - im not a fucking preacher but you have to know your destruction ...
Posted by CHOKEHOLD on Fri, 19 May 2006 10:55:00 PST

lyrics CHOKEHOLD - S/T 7" - 1996

S/T 7 ~ Jawk Records ~ 1996     1) TOOTH AND NAIL   The mindless trash just seems to grow Unquestioning acceptance and its getting old Theres no place here f...
Posted by CHOKEHOLD on Fri, 19 May 2006 10:50:00 PST

Lyrics CHOKEHOLD - PRISON OF HOPE LP - 1993

PRISON OF HOPE LP ~ Conquer The World Records ~ 1993   1) TURN THE PAGE Why cant I hold pride in my scene? - Put down for the choices I have made - Wont change my ideas just to pl...
Posted by CHOKEHOLD on Fri, 19 May 2006 10:45:00 PST