MUNICIPAL WASTE
Born in the sewers of Richmond, Virginia during 2000, with the aim of spreading the shred, Municipal Waste played their first gig at a Richmond New Year's Eve Keg party in 2000/2001.
Blamed for inciting a small riot, Brendan Trache, Andy Harris, Tony Foresta and Ryan Waste went down a storm. As a result, the four swiftly started touring in small clubs; their blazing fast, raw Thrash drew from the tradition of DRI, Suicidal Tendencies, 'Animosity'-era Corrosion Of Conformity, Nuclear Assault and Attitude Adjustment.
Graduating to the road from the dirty bunker type garage behind Ryan's house (a place where he used to put on punk and metal shows), Municipal Waste toured incessantly throughout 2001/2 in the USA and Mexico. The band also released two split records - one 7" with Bad Acid Trip, the other being a 12" with Crucial Unit; they also had tracks on a number of compilations. A line-up change happened in '02 when Brendan Trache left, being replaced by Brandon Ferrell in time for the 'Tango And Thrash' split record, before Municipal Waste released 'Waste 'Em All' on 6 Weeks Records. Fast, furious and funny, each of Municipal Waste's super-short songs is a memorable anthem to post-apocalyptic mutants, beer, thrash music...or, indeed, all of the above.
The band's dedication to their art is deadly serious, yet they are not afraid to bring the fun back into hardcore. Bashing out songs with such titles as 'Thrashing's My Business And Business Is Good', 'Thrash? Don't Mind If I Do' and 'Drunk As Shit' (as well as a split EP whose songs were all based on Kurt Russell films), Municipal Waste have earned themselves the tag of the ultimate 'party thrash' band. Meanwhile, back on the timeline, following 'Waste 'Em All, both Andy and Brandon left the Waste, being replaced by drummer Dave Witte (formerly with Melt Banana) and bassist LandPhil on bass. Touring constantly and gaining a riotous reputation, By this time, Municipal Waste had firmly established themselves as the leaders of a fast-growing scene of bands resurrecting the spirit of the mid-'80s cossover scene.
In 2005 Municipal Waste signed to Earache records and recorded the 'Hazardous Mutation' album, featuring such two-minute wonders as the mighty 'Terror Shark' ,'The Thrashing Of The Christ', 'Bangover' and the undisputed Municipal Waste anthem 'Unleash The Bastards'. In 2005/2006 Municipal Waste shot a video for 'Unleash The Bastards', both in thegory and less goryversions. Municipal Waste had already succeeded in spreading their shred across the ocean, becoming favourites on the BBC Radio 1's 'Lock-Up and 'Rock Show' programmes, They're also firm favourites with audiences around the world, thanks to their relentless touring regime and insane live shows.
In 2006, Municipal Waste played with Sick Of It All, around Europe, and also blasted Australia from coast to coast. They also played the UK's prestigious Reading and Leeds Festivals on the Lock-Up stage, and set off on their biggest US tour yet, with GWAR. June 2007 saw Municipal Waste tour with Destruction in the USA, before heading into the studio with Hatebreed and Shadows Fall producer Zeuss, to record their next new thrash masterpiece ‘The Art Of Partying’. The band followed this up with a headline tour of Europe, a tour with The Haunted and spots at Wacken Festival in Germany and Reading and Leeds Festivals. They also went on the road with Suicidal Tendencies.
The Waste cut a new video for the track ‘Headbanger Face Rip’, which was filmed by cult legends Troma Entertainments. To round off a successful 2007, the band received great acclaim from the music press, with a top five album of the year placing in Sweden’s Close Up magazine and top twenty positions in Big Cheese and Kerrang! They also were on the front cover of Metal Maniacs magazine but also made several appearances in the NME proving that their brand of thrash helped gain the scene wider acceptance. They were dubbed the band that was ‘leading the charge of the new breed of thrash’ and the album’s praises were sung loud. 2008 will see the Waste again bringing their beer-swilling assault to the festivals, playing at Download and Hellfest alongside other European festivals through June, as well as touring the USA with At The Gates and Darkest Hour in July. Municipal Waste is currently recording their new video for ‘Sadistic Magician’.
In 2010, Municipal Waste signed to Nuclear Blast Records, and they will release their album "The Fatal Feast" in 2012. Guest musicians on this album are John Connelly (NUCLEAR ASSAULT), Steve Moore (ZOMBI), and singer Tim Barry (ex-AVAIL)
Equipped with a crushing sound that will implode both your soul and skull, the band barrels back onto the scene with the latest piece of toxic detritus, »Slime And Punishment«, which will be released on June 2017.
