Picture Vietnam, the country: war-torn, savage and bloody in the eyes of the world.
A picture of instability, restlessness and battle, embroiled in decades of long disputed violence. A kill-or-be-killed environment where only the strong survive!
Now step into the world of VIETNOM, the band: A hardcore outfit from the mean streets of New York City, and coming up with the likes of such DMS giants as AGNOSTIC FRONT, MADBALL, SKARHEAD, MERAUDER, SON OF SKAM, DISTRICT 9 & RAGMEN. These DMS fellas are coming with a no-holds-barred, €œSTRICKLY THE REAL€? hip-hop metal flavor that€™s straight-up in your face and there€™s nothing that you can do about it! VIETNOM is out to take the respect they so rightfully deserve in the hardcore scene!
VIETNOM isn€™t named so much for the Asian country as it is for one of the band€™s two front men, NOM-ONE, ex-graffiti bomber from Corona, Queens, who left his mark on the streets in more ways than one. With a knack for always being in rare form and a voice capable of pulverizing concrete, his stage presence alone can set an audience€™s adrenalin levels soaring.
The other man on point Scorsese, the under boss of the crew, who€™s actions speak louder then words, is undoubtedly gifted with a tight flow and a talent for wordplay, Scorsese combines the influences of hip-hop, hardcore and knowledge of the streets to deliver that DMS wild-style lifestyle to his lyrics. No one will dispute the fact that this slinging duo from Queens, New York uses their talents solely for DRUGS, MONEY, SEX!
AK-RAY-47 was already a local hero as guitar shredder for Florida€™s own €œTENSION€?, perhaps South Florida€™s most potent hardcore band until their demise in the early 90€™s. Ray also gained notoriety in €œPRESSURE€?, a politically-charged melodic punk band featuring ex-members of Bad Brains, Underdog and Vegan Reich. So in 1999 when Ray asked NOM and Scorsese to start a band, VIETNOM was born.
The trio quickly recruited.
Aaron Dixon, bringing the hardcore funk on bass, and Alex Del Bueno ex €œDISTRICT NINE€? wrecking the skins like they owe him money!
VIETNOM also recruited Bronx Bomber on the wheels of steel DJ. COS, who Demonstrated Mad Skillz on Skarhead, Danny Diablo€™s €œStreet CD€? and is currently working on the €œDMS All-Stars€? project.
In 2000, VIETNOM inked up a deal with Uprising Records and released the €œStrictly the Real€? EP, it was soon followed by their first full-length LP €œDeath is the Outcome€? in 2002, which features guest appearances by MADBALL€™s Freddy Cricien and SKARHEAD€™s Lord Ezec and Boston Mike. With their crunchy old-school New York hardcore riffs and hip-hop inspired delivery, VIETNOM has quickly earned a reputation both musically and literally as a crew not to be fucked with. Songs as €œStrictly the Real€? and €œOutcast€? chronicle the hardcore lifestyle they know so well.
VIETNOM has already toured the east coast with bands such as HATEBREED, AGNOSTIC FRONT, SWORN ENEMY, SUBZERO, GOD FORBID, HIMSA AND CONVERGE just to name a few. VIETNOM has been to Europe, highlighted by a great performance in front of thousands at the Dour Festival in Belgium. VIETNOM leads a gangster-thug barbarian assault on the worldwide consciousness, with already plans to tour in support of it across the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.
VIETNOM returned to its roots this past winter to record their new demo at Atomic Recording in Brooklyn, New York. Be on the lookout for these guys to tear shit up in 2004. No better crew could be assembled to bring you the harshest realities of life on the streets.