This or the Apocalypse explained

HAWK
Origin:	Lancaster, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Genre:	Metalcore
Years Active:	2005–present
Label:	Lifeforce, eOne, Good Fight Entertainment
Associated Acts:	Bells, Ice Nine Kills
Current Members:	Ricky Armellino Jack Esbenshade Adam Reed Bernard Stabley
Past Members:	Grant McFarland Sean Hennessey Robert Rivera Jr. Toby Pool Aaron Ovecka Matthew Marcellus Zack Jones Cody Cavanaugh Rodney Phillips Aaron Maloney Brent Caltagirone Jacob Belcher Kevin Bakey

HAWK (formerly This or The Apocalypse) is an American metalcore band from Lancaster, Pennsylvania that formed in 2005.

History

Monuments (2005–2009)

In 2008 the band signed to European metal label Lifeforce Records,^[1] and released the album Monuments later that year. The band went on several tours throughout 2008 and 2009 with acts such as Kingston Falls, For Today,^[2] August Burns Red, A Skylit Drive, Sky Eats Airplane, and Greeley Estates^[3] across North America and Canada to promote Monuments.

Haunt What's Left (2009–2011)

The band was featured on season 1 episode 4 of the MTV show Silent Library, which aired January 2010 with members Rick, Rodney, Jack, Sean and Grant.^[4] On June 22, 2010, This or the Apocalypse announced their second studio album Haunt Whats's Left which was released on Good Fight/Road Runner Records.^[5] The album was recorded by Josh Wilbur and produced by Chris Adler of Lamb of God at Spin Studios in New York.^[6] Following the release of the album bassist Sean and drummer Grant both left the band for other projects. Sean left to focus on his band Bells with former August Burns Red vocalist Jon Hershey. Grant embarked on a career in music production and mastering, and joined the band Century which also features This or the Apocalypse vocalist Ricky on bass. This or the Apocalypse toured throughout 2010 to support Haunt What's Left with bands such as Impending Doom, and MyChildren MyBride, and headlined a tour with Affiance, Last Chance to Reason and Deception of a Ghost.^[7]

Dead Years (2011–2018)

In June 2012, the band signed with eOne and released Dead Years^[8] on September 25, 2012. In 2013, the band released a new single titled "Damaged Good".

Name change to HAWK and upcoming album (2018-present)

In 2018 the band was renamed to HAWK and on March 22, 2019, released a new song titled "Mileage". Since then they have also self-released 2 more videos, "Counter-Ops" and "Alibi".

On December 4, 2020, HAWK released their first LP titled "Tolerance's Paradox" which included the previous 3 singles and 3 yet unreleased tracks.

Musical style and influences

This or the Apocalypse fall into the metalcore genre. Their music is characterized primarily by a heavy emphasis on melody and technical ability. The band's music features frequent use of technical or odd time signatures, complex polyrhythms, and some songs have been described as having a prog-rock structure.^[9]

Members

Current

• Ricky Armellino − lead vocals (2005–present)
• Jack Esbenshade − lead guitar (2005–present)
• Adam Reed − drums (2018-present)
• Bernie Stabley – bass, backing vocals (2018-present)

Former

• Robert Rivera Jr. – bass guitar (2005–2006)
• Toby Pool – drums (2005–2006)
• Jacob Belcher – rhythm guitar (2005–2007)
• Kevin Bakey – bass guitar (2006–2007)
• Sean Hennessey − bass guitar (2007–2010)
• Grant McFarland − drums (2006–2010)
• Brent Caltagirone – drums (2010–2011)
• Matthew Marcellus − bass, backing vocals (2010–2013)
• Aaron Ovecka − drums (2011–2013) (currently in Breather)
• Aaron Maloney − drums (2013–2014)
• Rodney Phillips − rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2007–2014)

Timeline

Discography

as This or the Apocalypse:

Studio albums

• Sentinels (Red Sea Records, 2006)
• Monuments (Lifeforce Records, 2008)^[10]
• Haunt What's Left (Good Fight Entertainment, 2010)^[11]
• Dead Years (eOne, 2012)^[12]

Extended plays

• Drunken Billionaire Burns Down Home (Self-released, 2006)

as HAWK:

Extended plays

• Tolerance's Paradox (Self-released, 2020)^[13]

External links

• This or the Apocalypse on Lifeforce Records
• This or the Apocalypse on Good Fight Records
• This or the Apocalypse official Facebook

Notes and References

1. Web site: THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE Signs With LIFEFORCE RECORDS . blabbermouth.net . March 21, 2008 . December 18, 2012 .
2. Web site: For Today, Kingston Falls, etc. tour . Lambgoat . April 7, 2008 . December 18, 2012 .
3. Web site: jason . August Burns Red Selling Out Venues On Their Fall Headline Tour . The Gauntlet . September 29, 2008 . December 18, 2012 .
4. Web site: MTV Viacom International Inc. . Silent Library|Season 1|Ep 4 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100117021605/http://www.mtv.com/videos/silent-library-season-1-ep-4/1629051/playlist.jhtml . dead . January 17, 2010 . MTV.com . January 10, 2010 . December 18, 2012 .
5. Web site: THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE: New Album Title, Release Date Announced . Blabbermouth.et . May 14, 2010 . December 18, 2012 .
6. Web site: Shannon Joy . Chris Adler steps behind the board for THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE . Metal Injection . February 24, 2010. December 18, 2012 .
7. Web site: Doug Van Pelt . Impending Doom and Mychildren Mybride touring with This or the Apocalypse . July 1, 2011 . HM Magazine .
8. Web site: THIS OR THE APOCALYPSE Signs With EONE MUSIC . blabbermouth.net . June 25, 2012 . December 18, 2012 .
9. Web site: Ryan Cleary . This or the Apocalypse Monuments . Sputnickmusic.com . October 5, 2008 . December 18, 2012 .
10. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=this or the apocalypse|chart=all}} ''Monuments'' – This or the Apocalypse ]. Billboard.com . May 27, 2009 . December 18, 2012 .
11. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=this or the apocalypse|chart=all}} ''Haunt What's Left'' – This or the Apocalypse ]. Billboard.com . 2010 . December 18, 2012 .
12. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=this or the apocalypse|chart=all}} ''Dead Years'' – This or the Apocalypse ]. Billboard.com . 2012 . December 18, 2012 .
13. Web site: Hawk – Tolerance's Paradox. Discogs.com . 2020 . January 17, 2021 .