Throwdown (band)

Throwdown
Throwdown performing at Ozzfest 2004
Background information
Origin	Orange County, California, U.S.
Genres	Hardcore punk beatdown hardcore metalcore groove metal
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Indecision Prime Directive Trustkill Koch Nuclear Blast eOne Pit Viper
Members	Dave Peters Matt Mentley Ben Dussault Mark Choiniere
Past members	Keith Barney Tommy Love Dom Macaluso Brandan Schieppati Javier Van Huss Marc Jackson Mark Mitchell
Website	throwdownoc.com

Throwdown is an American heavy metal band from Orange County, California. Formed in 1997, the band has endured numerous lineup changes to the point where no original members remain. Throwdown has toured as part of Ozzfest, Sounds of the Underground, Hellfest, and Warped Tour, as well as with bands such as In Flames, Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Korn and Cavalera Conspiracy. The songs "Forever" and "Burn" were staples on MTV2's Headbangers Ball and Revolver Magazine called them part of "The Future of Metal" after hearing the album Vendetta. Initially branded a hardcore punk band, albums like Venom and Tears and Deathless took a sharp turn towards metal, with critics likening the band's sound to that of Pantera and Sepultura. The band are straight edge.

History

Early years (1997–2002)

Throwdown was formed in 1997 by vocalist Keith Barney, of both Adamantium and Eighteen Visions, guitarists Tommy Love and Javier Van Huss, bassist Dom Macaluso, and drummer Marc Jackson. The band released a self-titled 7-inch single on Prime Directive Records. Van Huss left and was replaced by Brandan Schieppati. After signing a recording contract with Indecision Records, they released their first studio album Beyond Repair in 1998. Schieppati was replaced by former Eighteen Visions guitarist Dave Peters. In 1999, the new line-up released the Drive Me Dead EP.

In 2001, Throwdown released their second studio album, You Don't Have to Be Blood to Be Family. After Jackson's departure, Eighteen Visions' Ken Floyd stepped in as a fill-in member. Floyd appeared on their self-released 2002 EP Face the Mirror. The same year, Barney told the band he'd like to switch to guitar, so Peters took over on vocals. Barney often missed shows due to his commitments to 18 Visions; Matt Mentley began filling in.

Haymaker (2003–2004)

In 2003, Throwdown recorded and released Haymaker, featuring the Peters-penned straight-edge anthem "Forever," on Trustkill Records. The lineup was Peters on vocals, Macaluso on bass, Love & Barney on guitars, and session drummer Jarred Alexander. A tour with Hatebreed followed to support the album's release. Mentley officially replaced Barney in 2004. Peters, Mentley, Dussault, Macaluso, and Love spent the summer of 2004 on Ozzfest's second stage, followed by a fall tour supporting Lamb Of God, Fear Factory, and Children Of Bodom.

Vendetta (2005–2006)

Throwdown spent the early part of the year recording Vendetta, made at Planet Z Studios with producer Zeuss. Mark Choiniere joined the band shortly before the album was recorded, although he does not appear on it. Throwdown hit the inaugural Sounds of the Underground tour that summer.

In the fall, they headlined a US tour sponsored by To Die for Clothing with Sinai Beach as support. Following this tour, Macaluso, the band's only remaining original member, exited Throwdown. Mentley switched to bass, with Mark Choiniere covering all guitar duties in the live setting. Throwdown has remained a four-piece ever since.

Venom & Tears (2007–2008)

Dave Peters performing at the Warped Tour 2007

Throwdown recorded Venom & Tears with producer Mudrock in Los Angeles.

They spent the summer headlining the Ernie Ball stage on the Vans Warped Tour. After the tour, they filmed a video for "Holy Roller" with director Andy Reale. In the fall, they supported Machine Head on a US tour. Mentley left the band afterward. His replacement, Mark Mitchell, made his live debut in South America in December 2007.

In March 2008, Throwdown announced they had fulfilled their contractual obligations to Trustkill Records. In December 2008, the band signed to Koch Records and began working on their sixth album. In the same announcement, it was stated that Jarrod Alexander, who worked with the band on Haymaker, would return for the new album.

Deathless (2009–2013)

In February 2009, the band played at the second annual MusInk festival in Orange County, supporting Danzig and The Used.

In the Spring, Throwdown began recording with Mudrock (who previously recorded Venom & Tears) in Los Angeles. The new album featured Peters, Choiniere, Mitchell, and returning session drummer Alexander. The album was mixed by Zeuss, who had produced and mixed Vendetta.

They spent September and October touring Europe with Chimaira and Unearth, with Living Sacrifice drummer Lance Garvin behind the kit.

On November 10, 2009, Throwdown released Deathless in North America via Koch (now called MNRK Music Group).

In November and December, they headlined the Deathless Tour across America, with support from Bury Your Dead and For Today, again with the lineup of Peters, Choiniere, Mitchell, and Garvin.

In December, the band announced they would join Five Finger Death Punch on a lengthy U.S. tour set for January and February 2010. However, without a permanent replacement for Dussault, Choiniere opted to leave Throwdown. Throwdown dropped out of the tour and was replaced on the bill by the band God Forbid.

Deathless was released in Europe on January 25, 2010, via Nuclear Blast Records.

In October 2011, Throwdown headlined a short West Coast trek dubbed "Brawloween". The lineup was Peters and Mitchell with Demon Hunter drummer Tim "Yogi" Watts and then-Bleeding Through guitarist Dave Nassie filling in. Support for the shows included Carnifex and First Blood.

Intolerance & Take Cover (2014–Present)

Throwdown released a new album, Intolerance, on January 21, 2014, via eOne Music. It was produced by Peters with Davey Worsop and mixed/mastered by Zeuss. Peters performed everything on the album, save for drums (handled by longtime session player Alexander) and guitar solos, which were tracked by Nassie.

The band made only two live appearances over the next two years: Canada's Amnesia Rockfest in 2014 and Belgium's Groezrock festival in 2015. Both shows featured Peters, Mentley returning on bass, Alexander, and Nassie.

A surprise EP collecting a series of cover songs from over the years, Take Cover, arrived in 2020 via the band's newly formed label, Pit Viper Records. Throwdown's Trustkill-era catalog moved to Pit Viper Records, as well.

Pit Viper released a remastered 20th-anniversary edition of Haymaker in 2023.

Throwdown performed at Furnace Fest in 2023, their first show in the United States since 2011, with both Dussault and Choiniere officially rejoining Peters and Mentley in the group. Throwdown is set for Big Texas Metal Fest and New England Metal and Hardcore Fest in 2024.

Members

Current

• Dave Peters – lead vocals (2002–present); guitar (1999–2002)
• Matt Mentley – bass (2005–2007, 2014–present); guitar (2004–2005); touring guitar (2001–2004)
• Ben Dussault – drums, percussion (2004–2008, 2023-present)
• Mark Choiniere – guitar (2005–2011, 2023-present)

Touring musicians

• Nick Jett – drums (2003)
• Lance Garvin – drums (2009–2011)
• Timothy "Yogi" Watts – drums (2011)
• Dave Nassie – guitar (2011–2015)
• Jarrod Alexander – drums, percussion (2014–2015)

Former

• Tommy Love – guitar (1997–2004)
• Dom Macaluso – bass (1997–2005)
• Keith Barney – lead vocals (1997–2002); guitar (2002–2004)
• Javier Van Huss – guitar (1997-1998)
• Marc Jackson – drums, percussion (1998–2002); guitar (2004)
• Brandan Schieppati – guitar (1998–1999)
• Ken Floyd – drums (2002)
• Mark Mitchell – bass (2007–2014)

• Throwdown performing at the Electric Ballroom in 2009
• 
  Dave Peters
• 
  Mark Mitchell
• 
  Mark Choiniere

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

• Beyond Repair (1999)
• You Don't Have to Be Blood to Be Family (2001)
• Haymaker (2003)
• Vendetta (2005)
• Venom & Tears (2007)
• Deathless (2009)
• Intolerance (2014)

Extended plays

• Throwdown (1998)
• Drive Me Dead (2000)
• Throwdown / Good Clean Fun (2001)
• Face the Mirror (2002)
• Take Cover (2020) (cover album)

Videos

• Together. Forever. United. (2004)

Music videos

• "Forever" (2004), directed by Chris Sims
• "Burn" (2005), directed by Chris Sims
• "Holy Roller" (2007), directed by Andy Reale
• "The Scythe" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
• "This Continuum" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
• "Tombs" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening
• "The Blinding Light" (2010), directed by Cale Glendening

External links

• Official website
• Throwdown at AllMusic
• Throwdown - Beyond Repair (Indecision Records, 1999)