Antagonist A.D. are a

metalcore Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use ...

band from

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about I ...

, New Zealand, formed in 2005.

History

Formation and ''S/T Demo'' (2005)

Antagonist A.D was formed in 2005 by vocalist Sam Crocker and bassist Joshua Moffitt as just Antagonist. They were inspired by fast American heavy metal hardcore bands such as

Martyr A.D. Martyr A.D. is an American metalcore band formed in late 1999 from former members of the band Disembodied. Joel Johnson (guitar), Tara Johnson (bass) and Justin Kane (drums) joined with newcomers Charlie Johnson (guitar) and Mike Fisketti (vo ...

and Until the End as well as European bands Arkangel and Maroon. They took the name from Maroon's debut album. The original line-up also comprised drummer Brendon Wishnowsky and Sean Connolly. The band recorded a four-song demo with Ulcerate's Jamie Saint Merat. Some releases following the main pressing featured a fifth song, "Some Glory".

''These Cities, Our Graves'' (2005–2008)

At the end of 2005, Connolly and Wihsnowsky left, and guitarists Kris Bosman and Ross Mcdougall and drummer Israel Mcdean joined. The band's debut full-length record '' These Cities, Our Graves'' was recorded in early 2006 by

Avalanche City Avalanche City is the stage name of indie folk musician Dave Baxter from Auckland, New Zealand. He is best known for his 2011 New Zealand No. 1 single " Love, Love, Love" and his 2015 single Inside Out, which also charted at No. 1. In 2011, Dave ...

frontman David Baxter, then guitarist in metalcore band One Must Fall, and released on 1157 Records. The band's lyrics focused on

animals Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Kingdom (biology), biological kingdom Animalia. With few exceptions, animals Heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, are Motilit ...

and respecting women. Around this time the band toured Australia for the first time, with the help of Washed Up Records owner Tommy Dollars, playing in Victoria and South Australia with local bands Stronghold, Her Nightmare, and The Red Shore, as well as dates in Queensland supporting US hardcore band

Most Precious Blood The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was institut ...

. Shortly later, the band was signed by Melbourne-based

Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of Australia's largest hardcore labels. The label is owned and run by Mindsnare bassist, Nigel Melder. As of 2019 Trial and Error are no longer releas ...

. An Australian version of ''These Cities, Our Graves'' was released through

in 2008, featuring two new tracks, "Distance" and "Stranger". The band then went on a national tour of Australia with

Parkway Drive Parkway Drive is an Australian metalcore band from Byron Bay, New South Wales, formed in 2003. As of 2018, Parkway Drive have released six studio albums, one EP, two DVDs, a split album and one book, titled ''Ten Years of Parkway Drive''. The b ...

Have Heart Have Heart was an American straight edge hardcore punk band formed in New Bedford, Massachusetts in 2002. The band recorded a demo that was released in 2003. In 2004, they released the ''What Counts'' EP (Think Fast! Records), with their debut ...

and

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in support of the release. After the tour the band continued playing throughout New Zealand and Australia for the next year.

''We Are the Dead'' (2008–2010)

Antagonist A.D. released their second studio album in Australia and New Zealand in October 2008, recorded at various studios around

and Hamilton, and mixed and mastered by Zack Ohren. To facilitate international tours, ''We Are the Dead'' was released under the name Antagonist A.D., adding the suffix to avoid confusion with the American band Antagonist. The band played New Zealand's biggest music festival, the

Big Day Out The Big Day Out (BDO) was an annual music festival that was held in five Australian cities: Sydney, Melbourne, Gold Coast, Adelaide, and Perth, as well as Auckland, New Zealand. The festival was held during summer, typically in January of ea ...

. In 2009, the band went on a headline tour through The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Japan. They returned in mid-2009 to tour Australia with

Earth Crisis Earth Crisis is an American hardcore punk band from Syracuse, New York, active from 1989 until 2001, reuniting in 2007. Since 1993 the band's longest serving members are vocalist Karl Buechner, lead guitarist Scott Crouse, bassist Ian Edward ...

and Day of Contempt. Shortly after the tour, towards the end of 2009, the band fired guitarist Ross McDougall, who is now in Saving Grace. In August 2010 they played their first shows in Europe with Australia's 50 Lions and Canadian band Gravemaker, returning to New Zealand in mid-September to tour with

on their ''Deep Blue'' album release tour alongside The Devil Wears Prada and The Ghost Inside.

''Old Bones Make New Blooms'' (2010)

''Old Bones Make New Blooms'' was recorded in 2010 at Red Dog Studios by Nate Sowter. Following a series of delays from record label Trial & Error the five song 7" was released in February 2011. Between the recording and release of the 7", Matthew Livingstone joined the band as a guitarist. Founding member and bassist Joshua Moffitt left the band in July 2010 to move to Japan to work as a scientist.

''Nothing from No One'' and ''Haunt Me as I Roam'' (2012–2015)

In 2012 Antagonist A.D. joined the Mediaskare label and ''Nothing from No One'' was the first release. The album was recorded in 2012 by Nate Sowter. Drums were tracked at the Porch Studio in Hamilton and guitars and vocals tracked at Red Dog Studios in Mount Maunganui. The album was mixed and mastered by Zach Ohren and released on Mediaskare Records. The album was released July 2012 and was followed in August by an album release tour of New Zealand and Australia. In 2013 the band started a world tour including New Zealand, the United States, Australia, and Europe. The band were accompanied by labelmates Murder Death Kill on the US leg. The Australian leg was in support of The Ghost Inside and alongside

Emmure Emmure () is an American metalcore band formed in 2003. Originally based in New Fairfield, Connecticut, before moving to Queens, New York, the group has released eight albums, with their first public release being a 2006 EP entitled '' The Comp ...

and Hand of Mercy. The European leg was a collaboration of tours with friends

and Deez Nuts. After a year of touring, the band started working on a new full-length album, which resulted in the release of ''Haunt Me as I Roam'' in 2015.

''Through Fire All Things Are Renewed'' (2020-2022)

The album ''Through Fire All Things Are Renewed'' was recorded by Kurt Ballou at GodCity in Salem MA and was released as a three part 7" vinyl EP series via Greyscale Records from 2020 to 2022, and finally as a 12" vinyl LP and CD on 3 June 2022. It includes the singles ''No Justice, A.P.M.D., Gates of Hell, The System as Racist and Oppressive'', ''Through Fire, and Angels at Your Feet, Devils in Your Head. '' The release was followed by an album release tour of New Zealand and Australia in July 2022.

Lyrical themes

Antagonist A.D. are known for their outspoken views on socio-political issues such as racism and sexism. Animal rights issues feature heavily in the band's lyrics, and all members are vegans and vegetarians. The band are vocal supporters of

Sea Shepherd The sea, connected as the world ocean or simply the ocean, is the body of salty water that covers approximately 71% of the Earth's surface. The word sea is also used to denote second-order sections of the sea, such as the Mediterranean Sea, ...

Members

;Current members *Sam Crocker – vocals (2005–present) *Matt Livingstone – guitar (2010–present) *Luke Manson – guitar (2012–2018); bass (2018–present) *Jai Morrow – drums (2018–present) *Kevin Cameron - guitar (2018-present) ;Former members *Sean O'Kane Connelly – guitar (2005) *Brendon Wishnowsky – drums (2005) *Ross McDougall – guitar (2005–2010) *Kris "Boozey" Bosman – guitar (2005–2013) *Milon William – bass (2012–2013) *Joshua Moffitt – bass (2005–2010, 2014–2018) *Israel McDean – drums (2005–2018)

Discography

References

External links

Antagonist A.D. official website
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 2005 New Zealand heavy metal musical groups Metalcore musical groups Musical groups from Auckland