| Outbreak | |
| Origin: | Maine, U.S. |
| Genre: | Hardcore punk |
| Years Active: | 2002–2011 |
| Label: | Bridge 9 Think Fast! Records Trustkill Records |
| Associated Acts: | Cruel Hand, No Trigger, Only Crime |
| Current Members: | Ryan o'Connor (vocals) Erik Perkins (drums) Brian Kemsley (guitar) Billy Bean (guitar) |
| Past Members: | Thom Garwood Chuck Bruce Ira Goldfrank Austin Lemieux Joe Lacey Chris Linkovich Nate Manning Seger Dailey Chris Legg Mikey Merante Tim O'Connor |
Outbreak is an American hardcore punk band from Maine. The group was founded in 2002 and has released two full-length albums, Failure on Bridge 9 and Outbreak on Think Fast! Records. The band has released several other EP's, splits, and singles, notably appearing on the Saw VI: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack in 2009, along with Hatebreed, Type O Negative, Suicide Silence, Every Time I Die, and others.
Outbreak formed in western Maine in 2002[1] where vocalist Ryan O'Connor, drummer Ira Goldfrank, and guitarist Chuck Bruce attended high school together. They would later recruit Austin Lemieux on bass guitar[2] although the lineup would change several times over the years to follow.[3] Practice sessions were originally held in an abandoned warehouse in Kingfield, Maine.[4] The group started out playing locally, and quickly generated a buzz within the hardcore punk scene,[5] which ultimately led to their signing to Bridge 9 Records.[6] The band released Failure in 2006, their first full-length, which generally received positive press.[7] The band supported the effort with global touring including stops in Australia, Japan, Europe, and South America.[8] After a major lineup change in 2008 which saw most of the active lineup continuing to perform with their side project, Cruel Hand[9] Outbreak would release their second full-length album on O'Connor's own, Think Fast! Records,[10] with a distribution deal through Universal Music Group/Trustkill.[11] The album was released on November 10, 2009, and generally received positive press,[12] including write ups from Alternative Press and Outburn. Alternative Press called the album "tighter, smarter, and livelier"[13] while Outburn called it "thought provoking and exciting".[14] Outbreak would debut a song from the album via the Saw VI: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack in October 2009.[15]
Outbreak has supported acts such as Cro-Mags, Misery Signals, Comeback Kid, Bane, Sick of It All, and Agnostic Front.[16] They have played national and international festivals including Bamboozle and Groezrock.[17] O'Connor cites hardcore punk pioneers such as Black Flag and Bad Brains as influences[18] as well as contemporary punk bands such as Rise Against.[19]
Though no official statements have been made the band has remained inactive for the majority of 2011 and since that time.[20]