No Warning (band) explained

No Warning
Image Upright:1.2
Origin:Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genre:Hardcore punk
Years Active:1998–2005, 2013–present
Label:Bridge 9, Deathwish, Machine Shop, Last Gang
Associated Acts:Surplus Sons, Millennial Reign, Young Governor, Yacht Club, Marvelous Darlings, Terror, Fucked Up, Time Crisis,
Current Members:Ben Cook
Jordan Posner
Matt Delong
Jesse Labovitz
Ryan Gavel
Past Members:Zach Amster
Nate Helm
Jon Gerson
Christian Wilde
Arden Vallis
DJ Jacobs
Alan "Yeti" Riches
Kon "Bear" Putkin

No Warning is a Canadian hardcore punk band from Toronto.

History

Early career and first two albums (1998–2003)

The band was founded in 1998 under the name As We Once Were by singer Ben Cook, guitarist Matt Delong, bass player Christian Wylde and drummer Alan "Yeti" Riches. Jordan Posner joined soon after on second guitar and Riches was replaced by Kon Putkin on drums. As As We Once Were, they released two demos, both in 1998, and contributed an exclusive song to Redstar Records' 1999 Various Artists compilation The Sound and the Fury.[1]

The band subsequently renamed itself No Warning. Their first release under that name was a three-song demo tape. They released their 7" on New York label Martyr Records in 2001. Prior to this album, Ben Cook contributed lead vocals to Cold Plays' original 2000 album. Later that year, Boston-based Bridge 9 Records re-released the 7" on CD with different artwork and the demo tape as bonus tracks. The band continued to play shows across the east coast of the United States and Canada with hardcore punk bands such as Hatebreed, Madball, Cro-Mags, Sick of It All, Terror and Bane. They also appeared at annual hardcore festivals such as Hellfest (New Jersey) and Posi Numbers Fest (Pennsylvania). In the fall of 2002, No Warning released what some fans consider to be the band's best work and a monumental album of that era of hardcore, Ill Blood.

One more album, breakup and subsequent activities (2004–2012)

Through more touring, the band came in contact with Sum 41 manager/producer Greig Nori, and signed with his management/production company.[2] While working with Nori, the band developed a more radio friendly edge to their sound and signed to Machine Shop Records, a label founded by Linkin Park, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records. Suffer, Survive was released in late 2004.

The band continued to tour with more high-profile bands such as Linkin Park, Sum 41, Papa Roach, The Used, Fear Factory, as well as older punk band SNFU, and up and coming bands such as Funeral for a Friend and Saosin. The Band was a part Linkin Park's 2004 Projekt Revolution Tour on which bands from Korn to Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah and Less Than Jake played. The band also played at the Summer Sonic Festival in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan.

After a lot of time spent on tour and different directions the band wanted to take, No Warning broke up in late 2005. Members went on to form bands such as Surplus Sons, Marvelous Darlings, and Millennial Reign, among other projects. Ben Cook now plays in Fucked Up. Jordan Posner plays in Terror.

Reunion (2013–present)

On June 5, 2013, Ben Cook told Exclaim! that No Warning has reformed and will release a seven-inch on his own label Bad Actors Inc. The seven-inch will include new song called "Resurrection of the Wolf" on the A-side and a cover of Violent Minds' "Bloodsucker" on the B-side.[3] [4] He also told Exclaim! that there are no plans on playing live. Direct quote from the man himself: "I have no interest playing live. I don't want dudes yelling in my face or jumping on me." In 2014 Ben Cook explained in another interview "Yeah, when I said that I was lying, straight up. Every time I ever do a No Warning interview, I like to throw in a few lies here and there. That's what the internet is for, right?".[5] Considering, the band has played some shows in 2014 and 2015 in the US and Europe, it seems that the band still enjoys being on stage.

The first No Warning show in Europe was at Ieper Hardcore Fest in Belgium on August 8, 2014. They came over again in October 2015 to play 2 Shows in United Kingdom (London & Manchester) and 1 mainland show in The Netherlands (Dordrecht).Their first North American reunion show was a sold out show on April 10, 2015, at Gamechanger World in Howell, New Jersey.

In 2015, Cook released a solo album, Ripe 4 Luv, under the stage name Young Guv.[6] The album was a longlisted nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.

August 2015 saw another reunion show at Gatineau, Canada's Heart Fest where they headlined the Saturday of the three-day hardcore festival, a performance which was received very well.[7] [8] Following that performance, the band debuted the single "Friends in High Places," which would be released as a 7" flexi-disc via Lockin' Out Records and subsequently played their first hometown show since reuniting on April 2 at The Velvet Underground in Toronto.[9] [10] Antwon, Build and Destroy and Demolition also performed.

On August 24, 2017, the band announced a new album, Torture Culture, would be released on October 13 via Bad Actors, Inc. and Last Gang. They debuted the first song from the release, "In the City," on the same day.[11] Exclaim! ranked the album at number 6 on their Top 10 Metal and Hardcore Albums of 2017 list.[12]

Band members

Current
Past

Timeline

Discography

Studio Albums!Album!Year!Label!Formats
Ill Blood2002Bridge 9Digital, Vinyl, Cassette
Suffer, Survive2004Machine ShopDigital, Vinyl, Cassette
Torture Culture2017Bad Actors In.Last GangDigital, Vinyl, Cassette
EPs!Album!Year!Label!Formats
Demo2000Self-releasedCassette
No Warning2001Martyr RecordsBridge 9Digital, Vinyl, Cassette
Singles!Song!Year!Label!Formats
"Resurrection of the Wolf"/"Bloodsucker"2013Bad Actors Inc.Digital, Vinyl
"Friends in High Places"2015Lockin' Out RecordsDigital, Flexi

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Julien . Alexandre . Alexander Julien . November 3, 2011 . Redstar Records Interview . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214204756/http://www.abridgedpause.com/redstarrecords . December 14, 2013 . September 12, 2020 . Abridged Pause Blog . en-US.
  2. Book: Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Billboard. May 23, 2011. August 31, 2002. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 76–. 0006-2510.
  3. Web site: Hughes . Josiah . Toronto Hardcore Legends No Warning Return with New 7-Inch . Exclaim.ca . June 5, 2013 . November 15, 2015.
  4. Web site: No Warning reunite for new 7-inch . Punknews.org . June 6, 2013 . November 15, 2015.
  5. Web site: Khubiar . James . With Very Little Warning, No Warning Are Back | NOISEY . Noisey.vice.com . December 30, 2014 . November 15, 2015.
  6. http://www.spin.com/2015/03/young-guv-ripe-4-luv-album-new/ "Stream the Unlikely Power-Pop Album of the Year, Young Guv's 'Ripe 4 Luv'"
  7. News: Heart Fest Confirms No Warning, Adds Expire, All Out War, Harm's Way. Exclaim.ca. August 24, 2017. en.
  8. News: No Warning Centre Communautaire Portugais les Amis Unis, Gatineau QC, September 5. Exclaim.ca. August 24, 2017. en.
  9. News: No Warning 'Friends in High Places'. Exclaim.ca. August 24, 2017. en.
  10. News: No Warning Finally Announce Toronto Show. Exclaim.ca. August 24, 2017. en.
  11. News: No Warning Plot 'Torture Culture' LP, Drop 'In the City' Single. Exclaim.ca. August 24, 2017. en.
  12. News: Exclaim!'s Top 10 Metal and Hardcore Albums. Exclaim.ca. January 5, 2018. en.