Comrades (band) explained

Comrades
Origin:	Richmond, Virginia, U.S.
Years Active:	–2022
Label:	Blood & Ink, Facedown
Past Members:	Joe McElroy Laura Reitzel John Gaskil Ben Trussell

Comrades was an American rock band from Richmond, Virginia. The band started making music in 2008 and released a studio album, Safekeeper, in 2014 via Blood and Ink Records.^{[1] [2]}

Their members are Joe McElroy (guitarist), and Laura Anne Reitzel (vocalist, bassist). Unclean vocalist and drummer Ben Trussell announced in June 2017 that he has decided to amicably part ways with the band and work on a solo musical project called BJORN.^[3] Former Life in Your Way and Conveyer drummer John Gaskill took over the mantle of drummer. In 2023, the band announced their disbanding in a formal statement.

Music history

The band commenced as a musical entity in February 2008, with their first release, Safekeeper, a studio album, that was released on May 6, 2014, from Blood and Ink Records.^{[4] [5] [6]}

The band played Facedown Fest 2016 for Facedown Records.^[7] Their second album, Lone/Gray, was released via Facedown Records on October 7, 2016.^[8] Comrades headlined night two of Threat Fest in 2017.^[9]

Vocalist Laura Reitzel shared on the band's social media in January 2023 that the band had broken up the previous year.

Members

Current members

• Laura Anne Reitzel – clean vocals, bass guitar (2008–2022)
• Joe McElroy – lead guitar (2008–2022)
• John Gaskill – drums, unclean vocals (2018–2022)

Former members

• Ben Trussell – drums, unclean vocals (2008–2017)

Discography

Studio albums

• Lift Up Your Head (February 8, 2010)
• The Refugee (June 1, 2011, Blood and Ink Records)^[10]
• Safekeeper (May 6, 2014, Blood and Ink Records)
• Lone/Grey (October 7, 2016, Facedown Records)
• For We Are Not Yet, We Are Only Becoming (June 7, 2019, Facedown Records)

Compilations

• Collection: 2010–2011 (2011, Blood and Ink Records)^[11]

External links

• • Blood and Ink Records release

Notes and References

1. Web site: Comrades . About . . July 20, 2015.
2. David . Stagg . Comrades – Safekeeper . . July 20, 2015.
3. Web site: Comrades. Facebook. June 30, 2017. FB Post.
4. Web site: Ty . DeLong . Review : Comrades – Safekeeper . Indie Vision Music . July 20, 2015 . May 6, 2014.
5. Web site: Janis . Neon . Comrades: Safekeeper . In Your Speakers Media . July 20, 2015 . May 28, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150721140203/http://inyourspeakers.com/content/review/298-comrades-safekeeper-05282014 . July 21, 2015 . dead .
6. Web site: Francesco . Banci . Comrades 'Safekeeper' . Salad Days Magazine . July 20, 2015 . May 17, 2014.
7. Web site: My Epic. Facebook. My Epic. May 14, 2016. May 16, 2016.
8. Web site: Post-hardcore revivalists Comrades sign to Facedown, announce new album. Alternative Press. August 8, 2016. August 8, 2016.
9. Web site: Obenschain. Philip. 2019-08-23. Smyrna's Threat Fest Offers a Sampling of the Region's Best Indie, Punk, Post-Hardcore, & More Aug 25 & 26 @ Carpe Artista. 2023-01-03. No Country For New Nashville.
10. Web site: Comrades. https://web.archive.org/web/20150615001944/http://comrades.bandcamp.com/. dead. June 15, 2015. June 15, 2015. March 28, 2018.
11. Web site: Comrades Comrades Collection 2010–2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20160824110231/http://exclaim.ca/music/article/comrades-comrades_collection_2010-2011. dead. August 24, 2016. August 24, 2016. March 28, 2018.