Morning Again

Morning Again is a metalcore band from Florida. They were known for their metalcore sound as well as for their straight edge, vegan and anti-government ideas. The band was a "sister band" to Culture, often switching members after one had left the other. Several members went on to play in other bands such as As Friends Rust and Dead Blue Sky. The band was originally from Cooper City, Florida, but moved to Fort Lauderdale in 1998.

Morning Again
Also known asThe Cleanest War (2000 reunion)
Hand of Hope (2002 reunion)
OriginCooper City, Florida, United States
GenresMetalcore
Years active1995–1999, 2000, 2002, 2011–2012, 2014–2015, 2018–present
LabelsConquer The World, Eulogy, Good Life, Immigrant Sun, Intention, Moo Cow, Revelation
Associated actsAs Friends Rust, Dead Blue Sky, Culture
MembersKevin Byers
John Wylie
Steve Looker
Jerry Villarroel
Matt Thomas
Damien Moyal
Joseph Simmons
Mike Wahls
Eric Ervin
Louie Long

History

John Wylie who had left Culture earlier that year wanted a band with more intense and personal views. In December 1995, Morning Again was formed with Damien Moyal and Louie Long who had both been in Culture in the two prior years, on vocals and drums. Mike Wahls came in on second guitar, and Eric Ervin on bass.[1] The band recorded an EP's worth of material which was sent to Conquer the World Records as it had released Born of You and the members were familiar with it. The label agreed to put it out, and the band made some promo tapes to help promote the upcoming release. Soon after the mini-album came out, Intention Records, who had also worked with Culture on their split with Roosevelt, asked John to release a 7" of new material.[2] After landing a deal with the then-new label Good Life Recordings (as the first American band on the label) in Belgium (H8000 area), a compilation of all the released material was compiled for the European market.

Tensions between Moyal and Wylie once again surfaced, as they had in Culture. During one of the last shows with Moyal, Morning Again played with Ohio band Outcast. Byers and Wylie were getting along well and he was asked to replace Moyal. Within a week Byers had moved to Cooper City and was the new vocalist. During this time Ervin was also replaced by Peter Bartsocas (who was in Bird of Ill Omen, a band that had toured with MA early that year, and was on Wylie's record label).[3] Immediately they started working on new songs, which would be released on a split with Shoulder on Moo Cow Records.[4] Wahls and Bartsocas left almost immediately after, and Jerry Villarroel became the first stable bassist. They released another 7", as a four piece, on Immigrant Sun Records, My Statement of Life in a Dying World. Joe Simmons would come in as second guitarist and would help to write most songs on the sophomore Good Life release, Martyr. Matt Thomas came in to replace Long and the band gained attention of Revelation Records who quickly signed them. As Tradition Dies Slowly was released on Revelation in 1998.[5]

They released their final record for Good Life, a split with 25 Ta Life, and went back to Europe to tour. The group ultimately decided on breaking up by the end of the tour in the fall of 1998, partially as a result of Wylie's growing interest in pursuing Eulogy Recordings.[6] Their final release was To Die a Bitter Death on Immigrant Sun. In 2000, Wylie's own label released a compilation of both Immigrant Sun Records 7"s as The Fallen... The Few That Remain.

Reunions

The band has since done multiple reunion shows. The first was in 2000, where they played under the name "The Cleanest War", which featured Damien Moyal back on vocals as well as the original line-up. The second was under the name "Hand of Hope" in 2002, where they had merchandise made specially for the show in Orlando, Florida. In 2003, a compilation of Hand of Hope and Martyr, Hand of the Martyr, was released by Eulogy Recordings.[5] The line up for that show was Moyal on vocals, Wylie on guitar, Ervin on bass and Wes Keely on drums. On April 22, 2011 they performed at the Groezrock festival in Belgium, with Kevin Byers on vocals. For this show they also had unique merchandise made. In 2014 they played at the Belgian hardcore festival Ieperfest in the H8000 area. Moyal was also on vocals during this show. In 2015 they toured Japan and played some shows in the States, including This is Hardcore in Philadelphia, PA.

In July 2018, it was announced that the group rejoined once again and were recording new material (to be issued as an extended play through Revelation[7][8]). The Survival Instinct EP was released on November 9, 2018. [9]


Members
Current members
  • John Wylie - guitar (1995–1999, 2000, 2002, 2011, 2014–2015, 2018–present)
  • Kevin Byers - vocals (1996–1999, 2011, 2015, 2018–present)
  • Gerado Villarroel - bass (1996–1999, 2011, 2014–2015, 2018–present)
  • Stephen Looker - guitar (2011, 2014–2015, 2018–present)
  • Josh Williams - drums (2011, 2014–2015, 2018–present)
Previous members
  • Damien Moyal - vocals (1995–1996, 2000, 2002, 2014)
  • Wes Keely - drums (2002)
  • Eric Ervin - bass (1995–1996, 2000, 2002)
  • Mike Wahls - guitar (1995–1996, 2000)
  • Louie Long - drums (1995–1997, 2000)
  • Matt Thomas - drums (1997–1999)
  • Joseph Simmons - guitar (1997–1999)
  • Peter Bartsocas - bass (1996)

Discography
Studio albums
Extended plays
  • Morning Again demo tape (1996, self-released)
  • The Cleanest War 12"/CD (1996, Conquer the World)
  • Morning Again 7" (1996, Intention)
  • Morning Again/Shoulder split 7" (1996, Moo Cow)
  • My Statement of Life in a Dying World 7" (1997, Immigrant Sun)
  • Martyr (1997, Good Life)
  • Morning Sun/25 Ta Life split 7"/CD (1998, Good Life)
  • To Die a Bitter Death 7" (1999, Immigrant Sun)
  • Survival Instinct CD (2018, Relevation)
Compilation albums
  • Hand of Hope CD/LP (1997, Good Life)
  • The Fallen...The Few That Remain CD (2000, Eulogy)
  • Hand of the Martyr CD (2002, Alveran/Eulogy)
  • I LP (2015, Demons Run Amok Entertainment)
  • II LP (2015, Demons Run Amok Entertainment)
Compilation appearances
  • "Martyr" - Appeared on You, Who Are Innocent, What Have You Done Worthy of Death? (1997)
  • "Stones" - Appeared on West Coast Hardcore vs. East Coast Hardcore (1998)
  • "To Die a Bitter Death" - Appeared on Sweet Deal! (2000)
  • "Turning Over" - Appeared on Transcend (Sampler album)|Transcend (2002)
  • "Turning Over" - Appeared on The Anti-Pop Sampler (2003)

References
  1. Julien, Alexandre (January 9, 2008). "Culture". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on January 16, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  2. Julien, Alexandre (June 28, 2014). "Intention Records Interview". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  3. Julien, Alexandre (January 8, 2008). "Bird of Ill Omen & Dead Mens' Theory Official Biography". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  4. Julien, Alexandre (March 12, 2010). "Shoulder Official Biography". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  5. Morning Again biography at Allmusic
  6. Andrel, Timothy (2012-10-03). "Interview: Kevin Byers of Morning Again". ghettoblastermagazine.com. Ghetto Blaster Magazine. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  7. Sacher, Andrew (2018-07-02). "Morning Again back on Revelation, releasing first new music since 2000". www.brooklynvegan.com. Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  8. Ramirez, Carlos (2018-07-02). "Morning Again to Return with New EP on Revelation Records". noecho.net. No Echo. Retrieved 2018-08-06.
  9. Morning Again,"Survival Instinct | Morning Again", Bandcamp, October 16, 2009. Retrieved 2019-04-12.
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