Overthrow (Vocals)

Years active: 1996-2001, 2023-present

How did you first get into music, and which band became your first real obsession? My family. My father always had music on and played the drums. I started early getting into The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Hendrix, etc. Eventually, in 3rd grade I found my style of music-glam rock. But listening to Poison and Motley Crue eventually led me to metal like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies (thrash albums). From there, I explored all different kinds of metal that led me to local and other acts.

How did you discover HC, what pulled you in, and which band served as your gateway? I first discovered HC by Overthrow’s original drummer, Dimitri. I was listening to adjacent HC like LOA and Biohazard, but Dimitri introduced us to everything from VOD to Oi Polloi early in High School. From there, mix tapes with SOIA, AF, Breakdown, District 9, NRSV, and so many others were made. I started going to shows, from LI to NYC and was hooked.

Biggest musical influence? Sick Of It All, District 9, Madball to name a few. A lot bands of this era as well.

Describe your sound in 3 words. Heavy, fast, melodic.

Top LIHC / NYHC bands of all time? Sick Of It All, Madball, VOD, Incendiary, Gorilla Biscuits, Judge, Crown Of Thornz, probably forgetting others!

Top 3 non-HC bands of all time? Metallica, Deftones, The Beatles, Blink 182

Current LIHC / NYHC bands worth checking out? If none, list from other places. Life Taken, Ten Years Out, Grael, Deadshot, Love Sick, others I’m definitely missing!

Photo by Steve Levy