DEFIANCE - thrash metal band formed in 1985 by Brad Bowers (guitar), Mike Kaufmann (bass) and Matt Vander Ende (drums) belonged to the San Francisco thrash fraternity of the late 80's, along with bands like TESTAMENT, EXODUS, and FORBIDDEN.
Today Metal Mind Productions presents re-release of Void Terra Firma in a new digipak edition limited to 2,000 copies. It was their second full-length album but the first one to feature vocalist Steev Esquivel.
Released in 1990 it was advertised as being recorded "Live And In Your Face!". The album features cover of IRON MAIDEN's track 'Killers'. New edition includes 7 bonus tracks. Digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on golden disc.
The release date is scheduled for September 29th in Europe and October 28th in the US (via MVD).
Void Terra Firma tracklist: 'Void Terra Firma', 'Deception Of Faith', 'Questions', 'Skitz-Illusions', 'Slayground', 'Killers', 'Steamroller', 'Checkmate', 'Buried Or Burned', 'Last Resort (Welcome To Poverty)'. Bonus tracks: 'Violent Remedy (Void)' (demo), 'Skitz-Illusions' (demo), 'Checkmate' (demo), 'Deception Of Faith' (demo), 'Checkmate', Drum solo - 'Lockjaw', 'The Fault'.
August 29, 2008:
Steev Back in the Studio, Recording Vocals for Defiance Album
With a new record contract about to be announced, Steev returned to the studio to begin recording vocals again for the new Defiance album.
Steev is working with Snake (Skinlab/Re:Ignition) at Snake's recording studio "Greendot Studios" located in the East Bay.
While Steev is putting down tracks to the six finished tracks, Jim is working with Mike and Mark to prepare to re-enter Trident Studios to laydown the tracks for the remaining 4 or 5 songs written.
While there are a lot of scheduling challenges, the band hopes to have the album released by the end of the year.
Stay tuned...there are some big announcements coming soon.
Thursday June 19, 2008:
New remastered edition of Defiance's debut album
Metal Mind Productions present the re-release of "Product Of Society" the debut album by Defiance. This thrash metal band formed in 1985 by Brad Bowers (guitar), Mike Kaufmann (bass) and Matt Vander Ende (drums) belonged to the San Francisco thrash fraternity of the late 80's, along with bands like Testament, Exodus or Forbidden. "Product Of Society" was produced by Annihilator's guitarist Jeff Waters and managed to attract attention in the thrash community despite the frequent label as a Testament knock-off. It was the only album by Defiance to feature Ken Elkington on vocals and had cover art by Ed Repka.
This classic LP taken from Roadrunner Records' archives will be available in a new digipak edition with 5 demo and 3 live tracks as a bonus. Limited to 2000 copies, digitally remastered using 24-Bit process on golden disc. "Product Of Society" will be available on 21st July 2008 in Europe and 2nd September 2008 in USA (via MVD).
Defiance
"Product Of Society" (remastered + bonus tracks)
Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MASS CD 1031 DG
Barcode: 5907785029965
Format: CD Digipak (limited edition of 2000 numerated copies)
Genre: thrash metal
Release date: 21.07.2008 Europe / 02.09.2008 USA
Tracklist:
Bonus tracks:
Saturday March 22, 2008:
Defiance
Martina Axen of DRAIN STH,Nadja Peulen of Coal Chamber
Iron Steel contributing musicians:Morgan Rose (SEVENDUST) (Drums)
Jim LaMarca (CHIMAIRA) (Bass),Rachel Bolan (SKID ROW) (Bass) ,David Ellefson (Ex-MEGADETH) (Bass)
Love Said No featuring past and presents members of (Soulfly),(Stereomud),(Primer 55) and (Stuck mo jo)
Dirge, featuring (Ex-Soil) Guitarist Shaun Glass
The Miserables featuring members of (Skinlab), (Ex-40 Grit)
Serosia, featuring Zack Bates Bassist of (Element Eighty)
Black Market Hero members of (40 below summer) and (Flaw)
SeVeR
Litany For The Departed
War Machine
Horse called war
Shadow cry
OutWorld
System Overload
Kill Syndicate
Scalera
Holosin
Bleed
Awake in the Nightmare
Against all odds
Tracklists:
Sunday January 20, 2008:
Reunited Oakland, California thrashers DEFIANCE, best known for their
seminal late '80s/early '90s Roadrunner releases "Void Terra Firma"
and "Beyond Recognition", have posted a new song, entitled "The
Voice",To hear the full track click the banner below.
The voice is confirmed as one the featured songs on the
SOUNDTRACK FROM HELL associated with BEHIND THE SUIT AND TIE.
The brand new music heavy metal documentary that features
major players from both ,indie and major labels including Missi
Callazzo Mega-Force-Records,Paul Conroy Ferret Music ,Alan Becker
Sony Red,Al Dawson Earache Records, Radio DJ Eddie Trunk,Pat Egan
Relapse Records, Ray Harkins ,Century Media Records, JC The End
Records, Mark Nawara Crash Music, Gary Susalis Music Choice,
Demolition Records, Heavy Artillery and Moshpit Tragedy ,bassist Rob
Nicholson (Better known as "Blasko"Cryptic
Slaughter,Drown,Prong,Danzig,Rob Zombie and current Ozzy
Osbourne,Ex-Megadeth bassist current F5 David Ellefson,bassist Bobby
Lee Burns Primer 55,current Soulfly and many others.
For
more info about this new film click the banner beow
The track is a rough mix from the group's
sessions at Trident Studios in Concord, California with producer Juan
Urteaga (EXODUS, SKINLAB, VILE) and is expected to appear on
DEFIANCE's forthcoming fourth album, due later in the year via an
as-yet-undetermined label.
Commened the band in a
statement: "We're extremely happy with the way the album is coming
out and plan to have it finished by April. We can honestly say this
will be our best album to date. After the tragic loss of our best
friend and guitar player Doug Harrington, it has been very difficult
and challenging to move on without him, yet at the same time we know
he would be very proud of what we've accomplished."
Along
with the new album, DEFIANCE is also working on putting together a
DVD, tentatively titled "Decade(s) of Defiance", that will cronicle
the band's entire career from 1985 to the present.
Part of
the so-called "second wave" of Bay Area thrash (which also included
the likes of FORBIDDEN, VIO-LENCE, DEATH ANGEL, and TESTAMENT),
DEFIANCE officially disbanded in 1993 after the departure of vocalist
Steev Esquivel (who would go on to form SKINLAB, and later
RE:IGNITION), while the remaining members, with the addition of
vocalist Dave Godfrey White (HEATHEN), formed INNER THRESHOLD, which
would also eventually disband.
In 2005, rumors of a
reformed DEFIANCE sent waves of interest through the burgeoning
thrash metal community until it was finally confirmed that the band
had in fact reunited and were at work on their first new material in
over a decade.
Metal Mind Productions recently released
"Insomnia", a three-CD digipack containing remastered versions of the
following DEFIANCE albums: 1989's "Product of Society", 1990's "Void
Terra Firma", and 1992's "Beyond Recognition". This special
collector's edition includes classic material from Roadrunner
Records' archives, digitally remastered using 24-bit technology and
released on golden discs. The three-CD digipack edition is limited to
a hand-numbered 2,000 copies and contains a 28-page booklet with
lyrics to all songs, full story of the band, and over 20 bonus tracks
taken from the band's archives.
Friday January 18, 2008:
First New Defiance Song in 15 Years Posted Online, Looking for a Recording Contract
Defiance has just posted a song on their MySpace page from their new long anticipated fourth
album and first in over 15 years. They are currently speaking with
different labels about releasing the album and will hopefully make a
decision in the coming weeks.
"We're extremely happy with the way the album is coming out and plan to
have it finished by April. We can honestly say this will be our best
album to date. After the tragic loss of our best friend and guitar
player Doug Harrington, it has been very difficult and challenging to
move on without him, yet at the same time we know he would be very
proud of what we've accomplished"
The song is titled "The Voice" and is a rough mix from the sessions recorded at Trident Studios in Concord, CA.
December 18, 2007:
Defiance 1994 Demo Now Available for Personal Listening
After being unavailable for many years, we are happy to announce that the final Defiance demo recorded in early 1994, is now available for download from our website!
You can check it out here: Defiance94Demo.html
We hope you all enjoy this blast from our *way* past!
Thanks to Paul Palmer for putting together the webpage and the new content for the website!
October 30, 2007:
Update from Steev on the New Defiance Album
Well, I finally got my ass in the studio and completed one song for the upcoming release. Once again back at Trident studios working with producer Juan Urteaga, this shit sounds fuckin sick!!! No shit, I mean, after almost 15 years of not being a band the guys wrote an amazing record. And a true DEFIANCE record at that.
The guitars and bass are fuckin brutal, the absolute best tones the band has ever had. The drums are amazing — Mark Hernandez really stepped things up, tons of slammin double bass; the kid was on fire and it shows. Vocally, it's got to be one of the most challenging recordings I have ever done. It's been awhile since I had to sing to music tuned as high as DEFIANCE (E 440). Definitely a challenge as I'm pushing myself to return to more of a singing style verses my SKINLAB voice, which is much lower and more aggressive than what is called for in DEFIANCE.
I'm really stoked to be apart of the album and doing my best to make the old-school DEFIANCE fans happy as well as making our brother Dougie proud.
July 9, 2007:
Metal Mind Productions proudly presents "Insomnia" - a 3CD digipack containing remastered versions of the following Defiance albums: "Product of Society" , "Void Terra Firma" & "Beyond Recognition". Defiance, a thrash metal band formed in 1985 by Brad Bowers (guitar), Mike Kaufmann (bass) and Matt Vander Ende (drums), belonged to the San Francisco thrash fraternity of the late 80's, along with bands like Testament, Exodus or Forbidden. It recorded three studio albums, which have been unavailable for almost 10 years!!! Defiance regrouped in 2005 with four of the original members and, in March 2006, they signed a new record deal. They are currently drawing towards completing a full length CD and DVD.
"Insomnia" will be released on the 6th August in Europe / 3rd September in the USA. This special collector's edition includes classic material from Roadrunner Records archives digitally remastered using 24-Bit process and released on golden discs. 3 CD digipack edition is limited to numerated 2000 copies and contains 28 page booklet with lyrics to all songs, full story of the band, and over 20 bonus tracks taken from the band's archives.
Defiance - Insomnia
Label: Metal Mind Records
Cat. No.: MMP 3 CD BOX 003
Barcode: 5907785029941
Format: 3 CD Digipack + 28 page booklet (limited edition of 2000 numerated copies)
Genre: thrash metal
Release date: 06.08.2007 Europe / 03.09.2007 US
Product Of Society
Bonus tracks:
Void Terra Firma
Bonus tracks:
Beyond Recognition
Bonus tracks:
March 7, 2007:
Last weekend, Defiance bass player Mike Kaufmann began recording bass tracks for the band's 4th album and first effort in over 13 years. The recording session comes more than 3 months after the loss of long time guitar player Doug Harrington.
"I knew it was my turn to start tracking and I think I needed time to reflect and think about the tragic loss of a dear friend, brother, and major contributor to Defiance music. It took me a while before I could even start practicing the songs again but once I started, it wasn't long before I felt I was ready to get it done. Doug and I had several conversations about how he wanted me to play over certain guitar parts that he wrote and I kept that in mind throughout the entire session"
"It was almost surreal talking to him about the album and how he wanted it to sound and knowing that he wouldn't be around to hear the finished product. During the last 2 or 3 weeks of his life, we spent a lot of time talking about what he wanted and didn't want the album to sound like. One of his main concerns was that we stick to our roots and make sure this is a 'thrash metal' album."
"I think that we, as a band, feel that this will be our best recording ever and much of that has to do with Doug's contribution and hard work even though he knew the end was near."
It's a given that this album will be dedicated to Doug.
November 16, 2006:
Doug Harrington 1966 - 2006
Doug was however able to participate in several of the writing and recording sessions for the new DEFIANCE record, including one just 3 days before he passed. When we found out about Doug's condition, we had already been writing and rehearsing for the new album, and Doug continued to go to practices and participate in the songwriting and it was his wish that we finish the album without him. And although it will be extremely difficult, we will honor his request, and you can expect to see the record in stores this Spring.
Doug was an extremely talented musician, and an even more wonderful human being, and he will be sadly missed by all. Our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to all of Doug's family and friends.
Please check back for more information, comments and updates. Also, feel free to leave any comments at the guestbook at www.defiance1.com
October 20, 2006:
Just wanted to check back in to let you all know that the recording sessions last weekend at Trident Studios turned out great! The guitars are almost done! Jim layed down some heavy crunch tones and leads. Doug added his brand of Metal afterwards and the results sound killer!
The plan now is for two or three more recording sessions for Doug to finish his leads and harmonies and for Mike to record his bass tracks. After that it is time for Steev to lay down some wicked vocals.
We have just posted some new pics from last weekend's sessions Here. Check them out!
October 8, 2006:
As previously reported, along with our first full length album in over ten years, Defiance is also working on putting together a DVD that will cronicle our entire career from 1985 to the present. We are working with Dave Anderson from Rokhedz (www.rokhedz.net) to capture the Defiance album recording sessions as part of the DVD. Dave has put together some screenshots of this footage for the website.
We have just posted some of Dave's pictures from the September recording sessions at Trident Studios Here.
The DVD, along with the album, will be released by Corporate Punishment Records and is planned for a 2007 release.
We are heading back into the studio next weekend, so keep checking back for more news and updates!
September 25, 2006:
Defiance Recording Update
We wanted to give you an update on how the recording has been coming along. We spent all last weekend in Trident Studios recording the drum tracks for the first six songs. Mark absolutely crushed! The drums sound heavy as heck and with Juan's engineering work, sound unbelievable!
Next sessions will be to record all the guitar tracks (rhythm and lead) for these first six songs. Doug and Jim will be recording all their parts October 14th and 15th at Trident Studios.
We'll keep you all posted on how it progresses.
Video clips from the sessions will be available at some point at Corporate Punishment Records website Here.
Photos of the sessions will be added to the Defiance website Here.
September 8, 2006:
We have been hard at work writing new material and preparing to head into the studio. The date is now set for September 15th to enter Trident Studios in Concord, CA with producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Skinlab, Vile) to start laying down tracks for our first album in over 10 years!
We are all really excited about the new songs. Once the sessions are completed, we will post a song here, on this website.
Stay tuned for more updates!
May 20, 2006:
Defiance in New Decibel and Revolver Magazines:
Check out the June 2006 issues of Decibel and Revolver magazines, both mention Defiance. Decibel features a full page add for Mastery and Defiance, and Revolver gives us an honorable mention regarding us signing with Corporate Punishment Records in their latest news section on page 34.
This is the first of what we hope to be a ton of printed and web press for our upcoming album and DVD.
Stay Heavy and check back for updates, they should be happening more often as we get closer to recording!
March 9, 2006:
Bay Area thrashers DEFIANCE ink deal with Corporate Punishment Records:
Oakland thrashers DEFIANCE, Best known for their seminal late 80's/early 90's Roadrunner releases Void Terra Firma and Beyond Recognition, have inked a deal with LA based Corporate Punishment Records, who will release the groups as-yet-untitled fourth LP in late 2006.
Part of the so-called "second wave" of Bay Area Thrash (which also included the likes of Forbidden, Vio-lence, Death Angel, and Testament), DEFIANCE officially disbanded in 1994, after the departure of vocalist Steev Esquivel (who would go on to form Skinlab, and later Re:Ignition), while the remaining members, with the addition of vocalist Dave Godfrey White (Heathen), formed Inner Threshold, which would also eventually disband.
In 2005, rumors of a reformed Defiance sent waves of interest through the burgeoning Thrash Metal community, until it was finally confirmed that the band had in fact reunited and were at work on their first new material in over a decade.
"I'm really stoked to be playing with Defiance again." Says guitarist Jim Adams, "We have been working on some new songs and ideas that are really heavy and complex. We are not moving away from the Bay Area Thrash style that people will expect to hear from us, no detuning or anything like that. We are writing pure straight forward thrash Metal."
Bassist/Founder Mike Kauffman adds, "We've been working hard at writing new songs and we're all looking forward to working with Corporate Punishment. We hold ourselves to a very high standard when it comes to songwriting and I'm sure our fans will not be disappointed."
In addition to the classic lineup of Doug Harrington (Guitars), Jim Adams (Guitars), Mike Kaufmann (Bass) and vocalist Steev Esquivel, the LP will also feature (ex Vio-lence,Torque) drummer Mark Hernandez.
The band is set to enter Trident Studios in Concord, CA with producer Juan Urteaga (Exodus, Skinlab, Vile) this summer to begin work on the album. Upon completion of the LP, the band is looking forward to playing selected shows and festivals
In addition to the new LP, CPR will also release the bands first long-form DVD, Decade(s) of DEFIANCE, compiling hours of live performance, interview and archival footage chronicling their nearly 20 years of existence
.
For More Information:
James Wright - Kerosene Media James@kerosenemedia.com
Thom Hazaert - Corporate Punishment Thom@corporatepunishment.com
www.defiance1.com
www.myspace.com/defiancemetal
www.corporatepunishment.com
November 27, 2005:
Jim Speaks with Alternative-Zine.com:
Alon Miasnikov from the Israli based website Alternative-Zine.com talked with Jim about the Defiance reunion, what Jim was doing while away from the band, why Matt isn't part of the reunion, along with what Steev has been up to with his other projects.
You can read the full interview here: Alternative-zine.com - Interviews
November 23, 2005:
New Defiance Interview Posted Online:
The Heavy Metal Webzine Quintessence Interviews Jim Adams.
Andre Groeneveld from the Netherlands based website Quintessence talked with Jim about how the Defiance reunion came together and how the band is making progress on the new EP, along with many other topics.
You can read the full interview here: Quintessence: Extreme Online Music Zine
October 24, 2005:
Defiance on MySpace:
Defiance has created a home page on MySpace.com!
We realized that with new material on the way, we needed a better, faster way to share our music with people on the Web. As of today, Defiance now has a link at MySpace.com.
Check out our new page at: http://myspace.com/defiancemetal
October 21, 2005:
Pre-Production Demo Underway:
Defiance has just completed a pre-production demo!
We are very stoked about the new songs that we have written and put onto disk! Defiance is now hard at work to complete the four song EP that we have been envisioning for the last six months.
Stay tuned! New Defiance is on the way!!!
August 16, 2005:
Thoughts and Prayers for our Friend:
A very close and long time friend of ours, Steve Chinn suffered an aneurysm in his brain that ruptured on August 7, 2005. We are praying for his quick and full recovery.
Steve Chinn has played with many Bay Area bands including: Fang, S.O.S.A., Sorry! among many others. There has been a website set up to follow his recovery, www.niteowlsf.com/steve There is also information and some music from Steve's bands on this website. Those can be found here: SOSA and Sorry!
July 26, 2005:
A New Drummer Joins Defiance!
After a very long search, Defiance has found the perfect musician to join the group for the upcoming EP, and beyond. We are excited to announce that 'Flatline' from Vengince (www.vengince.com) has doubled his drumming duties and joined Defiance as our new drummer! Adding this final piece to the puzzle allows us to move forward with the EP which we have been working towards for the last six months. We hope to be able to solidify the arrangements over the next couple of months and head into the recording studio in the October/November time frame.
February 26, 2005:
Mike and Jim speak with Metal-Temple about new studio project:
Mike Kaufmann and Jim Adams were just interviewed by Greece's Metal-Temple webzine about the upcoming studio
project. They also spoke about their history with the band. Mike and Jim spoke with Grigoris from Metal-Temple.com
The full interview can be read HERE
January
21, 2005:
Defiance to begin work on studio project:
Happy New Year Everyone! We wanted to let you know what we have been doing and what we are planning on for
2005. Last year we were talking with each other about possibly doing a reunion show. Since then Matt has moved
to New York and landed a gig in a touring company that will be crossing North America over the next year performing
the Broadway musical 'Wicked'. Steev spent a couple of months touring with Exodus. After returning home, Steev
has been playing and recording with both RE:Ignition and Skinlab. It has become apparent to us that with these two
being so busy with other projects, the idea of a reunion show would be pretty hard to pull off. We have all talked
about it and decided the best thing we could do moving forward would be to move away from the idea of a reunion
show and work instead on writing some new material and head into the studio later this year. Starting now, we will
start putting together a few songs in the Defiance vein and hopefully head into the studio this summer while Matt is
in town, and lay down a few new songs. We are all pretty stoked about the idea of getting back together to work
on this project after all these years!
We have also re-launched our website www.defiance1.com with an all new look and feel to start our new project in
this new year. Many, Many thanks to Tony Williams of 444 Design for all his help and work to get the new website
designed and launched! We would also like to thank Max Duijsens of Wrecking Crew for his help getting the original site launched last August.
Stay tuned to this site for more news and updates regarding our progress on this new heavy metal music mission.
Cheers!
The Band.
December
9, 2004:
Jim's thoughts on the loss of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, no words can explain:
While I never had the privilege to meet D. Darrell, his music greatly influenced
my playing.
Rest in Peace Darrell...God Bless You!!!!
September 18, 2004:
Steev Esquivel will front EXODUS on their rescheduled South American tour, Defiance
reunion on hold:
It has been reported on Blabbermouth.net,
and the Exodus Website
that Steev will be the touring singer for Exodus on their South American tour,
replacing Steve "Zetro" Souza. The tour has been rescheduled for late
October. Because Steev will be very busy in rehearsals with Exodus for the next
few months and then on tour with the band, the Defiance reunion is going to
be put on hold until after the tour is completed. At that time we should have
a better idea of what is going to happen going forward. While Steev is gone
the rest of the Defiance band will continue to work on songs and continue to
maintain and add new content to the Official Defiance website www.defiance1.com
August 21, 2004:
Poland's version of CNN talks about Defiance:
Mikolaj Olszewski, who maintains the 'Unofficial'
Defiance Web site, informed us that the Polish version of CNN (OnNet.pl)
has made honorable mention of us, regarding the new web site and the possibility
of a reunion show! The article can be read HERE
Very cool! :-)
August 12, 2004:
Jim talks about the possibilty of a reunion:
Jim Adams recently spoke to Denmark's Antenna.nu webzine about the possibility
of a reunion. Jim spoke with PER LAURSEN from Antenna.nu
/ Supreme Brutality. The
full interview can be read HERE
August 10, 2004:
Steev
Speaks to Blabbermouth about possible reunion show:
Steev Esquivel has confirmed to BLABBERMOUTH.NET that talks are underway for
a reunion show by the San Francisco Bay Area thrash band DEFIANCE. The full
interview can be read at Blabbermouth.net
August 06, 2004:
Update from Defiance:
Defiance are still in discussions on whether or not a reunion show can and should
happen at this time. More updates will be posted once they are available. They
have launched a new website www.defiance1.com to
help those interested stay up to date on what is going on with the possible
reunion, along with sharing music, photos, and interviews with the band.