Boiler Room (band)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Boiler Room is an American
nu metal Nu metal (sometimes stylized as nü-metal, with a metal umlaut) is a subgenre of that combines elements of heavy metal music with elements of other music genres such as hip hop music, hip hop, funk, industrial music, industrial, and grunge. Nu ...
band from New York City. The band formed in 1996, releasing two studio albums and one single before disbanding in 2001. In 2021, lead vocalist Chris Lino announced he would be reforming the band with a new lineup. Shortly after it was announced that several songs from the band's two official releases would be re-recorded along with new music. Recording commenced in 2023.


Career


Early years and ''Boiler Room'' (1993–1997)

The beginnings of the band can be traced back to the early 1990s. Vocalist Chris Lino, guitarist Joey Barracato, bassist James Meselsohn and drummer Mike Meselsohn played together in the thrash metal band ''Bible Black'', producing demos in 1993 and 1994 before independently releasing an EP entitled ''Wreckage'' in 1995. Unable to secure a record deal, the band ultimately dissolved before the members reconvened in 1996 as ''Boiler Room''. The newly christened band toured through their local club scene for several years, building up their material and performance skills. The same year, they independently released their debut album, the self-titled ''Boiler Room'' (often mistakenly referred to as ''Low Society)'', with at least seven of the album’s 11 tracks being re-worked songs from their ''Bible Black'' days in ''Do or Die, Independence, Undying, Wrecking Man, Hard Reality, Black Sky'' and ''Judgement Day.'' The album, produced by future ''
Guns N' Roses Guns N' Roses is an American hard rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1985 as a merger of local bands L.A. Guns and Hollywood Rose. When they signed to Geffen Records in 1986, the band's "classic" line-up consisted of vocalist Axl R ...
'' guitarist Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, featured a sound more influenced by
hardcore Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to: Arts and media Film * ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film * ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott * ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...
and
groove metal Groove metal, sometimes also called neo-thrash or post-thrash, is a subgenre of heavy metal music that began in the early 1990s. The genre is primarily derived from thrash metal, but played in slower tempos, and making use of rhythmic guitar pa ...
when compared to their later work. Drummer Mike Meselsohn would later collaborate with Thal again on the latter's 1997 album ''Hermit'', contributing drums to three tracks. Sometime after the release of ''Boiler Room'', Joey Barracato was replaced by Rob Caggiano.


Record label changes and ''Can't Breathe'' (1999–2001)

1999 saw the band opening for nationally-recognized acts, including
Type O Negative Type O Negative was an American gothic/doom metal band formed in Brooklyn, New York City in 1989 by Peter Steele (bass, lead vocals), Kenny Hickey (guitar, co-lead vocals), Josh Silver (keyboards, backing vocals), and Sal Abruscato (drums ...
,
King's X King's X is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Springfield, Missouri, in 1979. They were first called the Edge and later became Sneak Preview before settling on its current name in 1985. The band's current lineup has remained intact fo ...
,
Clutch A clutch is a mechanical device that allows an output shaft to be disconnected from a rotating input shaft. The clutch's input shaft is typically attached to a motor, while the clutch's output shaft is connected to the mechanism that does th ...
and
Static-X Static-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California, formed in 1994. The line-up has fluctuated over the years, but was long-held constant with band founder, frontman, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Wayne Static until his d ...
, helping them catch the attention of local radio station WXRK. With their music in heavy rotation on the station, they eventually landed them the opening slot of a KROCK-sponsored show, headlined by
Orgy An orgy is a sex party where guests freely engage in open and unrestrained sexual activity or group sex. Swingers' parties do not always conform to this designation, because at many swinger parties the sexual partners may all know each other o ...
. The next year, Boiler Room signed to
Roadrunner Records Roadrunner Records is a Dutch–American record label focused on Heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock music. Founded in the Netherlands in 1980, it is now a division of Warner Music Group and is based in New York City. Formerly seen as ...
and immediately set to work recording their album ''Can't Breathe'' with producer John Travis at the helm and additional instrumental interludes provided by famed producer
Eddie Wohl Eddie Wohl is an American composer, music producer, and mixing engineer. As an artist, he was signed to Epic, Elektra and Mercury/Island, and had a production deal with Roadrunner Records. Growing up on the East Coast, Wohl was in his first ban ...
. During the production process, famed producer Bob Marlette was given the opportunity to provide a test mix for the song ''Do It Again'', but it was ultimately rejected. In a bizarre twist of events, Marlette’s mix of the song accidentally found its way onto the same computer folders where he was saving his mixes for another Roadrunner-signed band named ''Downer'', causing a brief period of confusion amongst executives at Roadrunner Records. Upon completion of the album, the song ''Do It Again'' found its way onto an
MTV MTV (an initialism of Music Television) is an American cable television television channel, channel and the flagship property of the MTV Entertainment Group sub-division of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global. Launched on ...
compilation disc titled '' Return of the Rock'', released on June 13, 2000. After the album's release date was pushed back several times, the band asked to be let go from their contract with Roadrunner. The label agreed to release the band and gave permissions for them to shop the finished record to other labels. Eventually, the band found a new home at
Tommy Boy Records Tommy Boy Records is an American independent record label and multimedia brand founded in 1981 by Tom Silverman. The label is credited with helping and launching the music careers of Queen Latifah, Amber, Afrika Bambaataa, Stetsasonic, Digita ...
. With new artwork created, ''Can't Breathe'' finally hit stores on November 3, 2000, with the opening track ''Do It Again'' being sent to radio stations and released as a single, with the unreleased song ''4 x 4'' accompanying it as a b-side. Critically, the album was met with little enthusiasm, with Dean Carlson from
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
describing the band's sound as "clichéd musicianship" in a negative review that scored 1.5 stars out of 5. However, the tracks ''Do It Again'', ''Patience'' and ''Hopeless'' were chosen as AMG track picks. The band subsequently promoted the album with both a national and European tour, including a string of dates in the UK with
Lostprophets Lostprophets (stylised as lostprophets or LOSTPROPHETS) were a Welsh rock band from Pontypridd, formed in 1997 by singer Ian Watkins and guitarist Lee Gaze. The group was founded after their former band Fleshbind broke up. They later recruit ...
before finishing with a few club dates in Germany in early March. Upon returning the US on March 12, 2001, Boiler Room played a few extra club dates on the east coast before announcing ''Superficial'' as the upcoming second single from the album, along with plans to film a video. However, news from the band immediately ceased before announcing on 14 June, 2001 that Tommy Boy Records had dropped them from their roster.


Breakup and post-Boiler Room (2001–2021)

After five years and two record labels, the band decided to call it quits and move onto separate projects. In August 2001, guitarist Rob Caggiano was announced as the new lead guitarist for
Anthrax Anthrax is an infection caused by the bacterium '' Bacillus anthracis'' or ''Bacillus cereus'' biovar ''anthracis''. Infection typically occurs by contact with the skin, inhalation, or intestinal absorption. Symptom onset occurs between one ...
, where he would play until his departure in 2005. He returned to the lineup in 2007, only to depart again in 2013 in order to join
Volbeat Volbeat are a Danish Rock music, rock band formed in Copenhagen in 2001. They play a fusion of rock and roll and Heavy metal music, heavy metal. Their current line-up consists of vocalist and rhythm guitarist Michael Poulsen, drummer Jon Lars ...
. In early 2003 it was reported that vocalist Chris Lino was singing in a new band called ''Out of Body'' and shopping around a five-track demo. The lineup for ''Out of Body'' notably featured future
Adrenaline Mob Adrenaline Mob is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal supergroup (music), supergroup formed in early 2011 by singer Russell Allen, guitarist Mike Orlando and drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's current lineup consists of Allen, Orlando, and ...
and Noturnall guitarist Mike Orlando. No reports of the band have been announced since 2003. In 2008, drummer Mike Meselsohn helped form the band ''Black Water Rising'' and has appeared on all their releases.


New music and re-recording ''Can't Breathe'' (2021–present)

In 2021, a YouTube user claiming to be Chris Lino announced his intentions to re-record and re-release the ''Can't Breathe'' album, along with five new songs, with the help of
Adrenaline Mob Adrenaline Mob is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal supergroup (music), supergroup formed in early 2011 by singer Russell Allen, guitarist Mike Orlando and drummer Mike Portnoy. The band's current lineup consists of Allen, Orlando, and ...
guitarist Mike Orlando, who previously worked with Lino in ''Out of Body''. Orlando is slated to handle guitar and production duties. Lino also hinted at potentially re-recording material from the ''self-titled'' album. In early-2023, Lino announced via the same YouTube account that drum tracks had been recorded at Sonic Stomp Studios with former Bumblefoot, and brother of Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal, Jeff Thal performing drum duties and Mike Orlando handling production. Later in 2023, Lino provided an additional update to announce that guitars and vocals were in the process of being recorded. He is the only original member involved in the recordings.


Lineup


Current members

* Chris Lino – vocals (1996–2001, 2023-present) * Mike Orlando – guitars (2023-present) * Jeff Thal – drums (2023-present)


Past members

* James Meselsohn – bass (1996–2001) * Mike Meselsohn – drums (1996–2001) * Joey Barracato – guitars (1996–1998) * Rob Caggiano – guitars (1998–2001)


Discography

*''Boiler Room'' (1996), DIY Records *''Can't Breathe'' (2000),
Roadrunner The roadrunners (genus ''Geococcyx''), also known as chaparral birds or chaparral cocks, are two species of fast-running ground cuckoos with long tails and crests. They are found in the southwestern and south-central United States, Mexico and C ...
/
Tommy Boy ''Tommy Boy'' is a 1995 American buddy comedy film directed by Peter Segal, written by Bonnie and Terry Turner, produced by Lorne Michaels, and starring soon-to-be former ''Saturday Night Live'' castmates and close friends Chris Farley and D ...
*"Do It Again" (single) (2001), Roadrunner / Tommy Boy


References


External links

Official website
(archived) {{DEFAULTSORT:Boiler Room Musical groups established in 1995 American nu metal musical groups Musical groups disestablished in 2001 Roadrunner Records artists Tommy Boy Records artists