Play fast and play loud—that’s the motto of the American hardcore punk band from Philadelphia, Paint It Black. The band formed in 2002 and has since released four albums. The most recent one came out in 2023, 15 years after their previous album. However, the musicians don’t consider this period a break in their creative work because music, for them, is life itself. Read on to learn more about the band on philadelphia-trend.
Band Members
Since 2002, the lineup of Paint It Black has changed a bit. The original members were:
- vocalist Dan Yemin;
- bassist Andy Nelson;
- guitarists Dave Hause and Matt Miller;
- drummer David Wagenschutz.
Later, Hause, Miller, and Wagenschutz left the band. From 2004-2005, Colin McGinniss played guitar. Since 2005, Josh Agran has been the band’s permanent guitarist, and Jared Shavelson has been on drums since 2006.
One of the creative driving forces behind Paint It Black is vocalist and lyricist Dan Yemin. Before forming the band, he played guitar for Lifetime (New Jersey) and Kid Dynamite. Drummer David Wagenschutz also played in these bands, which is where he met Dan. In addition, he played in Good Riddance and None More Black. After leaving Paint It Black, Wagenschutz moved on to the new band Higher Giant. His replacement, Jared Shavelson, had previously played in The Hope Conspiracy and None More Black.
As you can see, all the musicians have significant and diverse experience. By combining their skills, they are able to create a high-quality, new sound. The core members of the band are well-rehearsed, understand each other perfectly, and share the same musical standards. For them, creating music together is about joy, not a job or the pursuit of profit or fame.
Music and Albums
Paint It Black’s music is often described as melodic hardcore. Their songs always have a fast tempo, a catchy melody, and emotional, shouted lyrics. Their music leaves listeners wanting more, which is probably the secret to the band’s success among hardcore punk fans.
The musicians have released four full-length albums:
- CVA (2003);
- Paradise (2005);
- New Lexicon (2008);
- Famine (2023).
The first three were released with Jade Tree Records, and the most recent one with Revelation Records.
The fifteen years between the third and fourth albums weren’t a silent period for the musicians. In 2009, they released nine new songs. These were two EPs released by different labels. Amnesia came out on June 16, 2009, with Bridge Nine Records, and Surrender came out in August 2009 with Fat Wreck Chords. In addition, the EP Invisible was released in 2013.
The Album Famine and Their Philosophy on Music
The band signed with Revelation Records in 2023, and that same year, the long-awaited new album Famine was released. The band’s music has changed slightly since its inception, yet it has retained its individuality and recognizable sound.
From the very beginning, Paint It Black has never set any creative templates for themselves. Each track is packed with guitars, drums, and an incredibly fast tempo. Dan Yemin’s vocals are also memorable, and the satirical lyrics are engaging.
The musicians are used to working on new material for a long time. In an interview after the new album’s release, they mentioned they didn’t see themselves as inactive. Their creative process was long, but it was all to meet their own standards of perfection. The musicians wanted to be 100% confident in the quality of their songs.
Therefore, there was no real hiatus in their work, and they didn’t use the 15 years between albums as a marketing tool. The band members have grown up, gotten married, and had children. Additionally, they were separated by cities, as three members moved to California.
For Paint It Black, creativity comes first, not profit. That’s why they could afford to take a break and create and play songs only when all members of the band were able. The guys also enjoyed working with producer Jack Shirley, who recorded eight tracks on Famine in just two and a half days. The musicians spent much more time preparing for the recording, striving to reach their own ideal by playing the songs over and over again.
The unique lyrical patterns also take time. Dan Yemin admits that he can’t predict when the next songs or albums will be released. Sometimes he writes quickly, and other times it takes months to polish the lyrics and make them sound powerful and impactful. For the musician, harmoniously combining words and rhythm is an incredibly important task, and he tries to maintain his own high standards in this regard.
So, fans of the Philadelphia hardcore punk band Paint It Black can rest easy. The musicians have assured everyone that for them, there are no breaks or pauses, but you will have to wait for the next album. Quality music takes time and space and is worth enjoying the existing tracks while waiting for new ones.
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