Downset (usually stylized as downset.) is an American

rap metal Rap metal is a fusion genre that combines hip hop music, hip hop with heavy metal music, heavy metal. It usually consists of heavy metal guitar riffs, funk metal elements, Rapping, rapped vocals and sometimes turntablism, turntables. History O ...

band from

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, California. Originally called Social Justice, the band's music blends influences from rap,

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African-American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African-Americans in the ...

hardcore punk Hardcore punk (commonly abbreviated to hardcore or hXc) is a punk rock music genre#subtypes, subgenre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots ...

, and

metal A metal () is a material that, when polished or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electrical resistivity and conductivity, electricity and thermal conductivity, heat relatively well. These properties are all associated wit ...

with "socially aware lyrics."

Band history

Formation and early releases (1989–1993)

The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They began as a

band. They released their debut album, ''Unity Is Strength'', in 1989 and the EP ''I Refuse to Lose'' under this name with a different lineup in 1992. They were known as being one of the first hardcore bands to incorporate

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

and

influences into their music. In 1992, Social Justice changed their name to Downset, and released the ''Our Suffocation'' demo in 1993. The album, which explored various social issues such as the death of lead singer Rey Oropeza's father at the hands of the

LAPD The City of Los Angeles Police Department, commonly referred to as Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), is the primary law enforcement agency of Los Angeles, California, United States. With 8,832 officers and 3,000 civilian staff, it is the th ...

, was praised by critics. During this transition, they changed their sound by heavily incorporating

and

funk metal Funk metal (also known as thrash-funk or punk-funk) is a subgenre of funk rock and alternative metal that infuses heavy metal music (often thrash metal) with elements of funk and punk rock. Funk metal was part of the alternative metal movement, ...

Mercury Records, ''downset.'' and ''Do We Speak a Dead Language?'' (1994–1998)

In 1994, Downset signed a deal with

Mercury Records Mercury Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group. It had significant success as an independent operation in the 1940s and 1950s. Smash Records and Fontana Records were sub labels of Mercury. Mercury Records released ...

, a subsidiary of PolyGram, and released their self-titled effort in the same year. In 1994, downset began gaining popularity in Europe after touring there with

Biohazard A biological hazard, or biohazard, is a biological substance that poses a threat (or is a hazard) to the health of living organisms, primarily humans. This could include a sample of a microorganism, virus or toxin that can adversely affect huma ...

and Dog Eat Dog, followed by a tour with

Pantera Pantera () is an American Heavy metal music, heavy metal band formed in Arlington, Texas in 1981 by the Abbott brothers (guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul), and currently composed of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, an ...

and The Almighty later that year. In early 1995, Downset returned to Europe with Sullen for a massive headlining tour. In 1995, they also appeared at some major rock festivals throughout the continent including Roskilde and Dynamo. In 1996, the band released their most commercially successful album, ''Do We Speak a Dead Language?'', through Mercury.

Post-Mercury years, ''Check Your People'' and ''Universal'' (1998–2009)

After making their departure from Mercury Records, Downset were scooped up by

Epitaph Records Epitaph Records is an American independent record label owned by Bad Religion guitarist Brett Gurewitz. A large portion of the record label, known as Hellcat Records, is owned by Tim Armstrong, frontman of the punk rock band Rancid. Several ...

and released their third album, ''Check Your People'', in 2000. In 2004, Downset released their fourth album, ''Universal'', on an independent record label Hawino Records. In recognition of the band's album release on Epitaph Records, "Pure Trauma", taken from the album ''Check Your People'', was included on the 2001 multi-artist compilation ''Punk-O-Rama Vol. 6''. The band disbanded in 2009.

Reunion and ''One Blood'' (2013–2014)

On July 21, 2014, Downset's first new album in ten years, ''One Blood'', was released worldwide.

Signing to Nuclear Blast and ''Maintain'' (2022)

After a period of prolonged inactivity, Downset announced in February 2022 that they had signed to Nuclear Blast Records, and announced plans for a new studio album as well as reissues of their demo singles "Anger/Ritual" and "About Ta Blast". On April 29, the band announced their new album, '' Maintain'', would be released on June 10, 2022, and released the album's first single, "The Place to Be". The album sold 200 copies in its first week of sales.

Legacy

Though Downset never experienced any mainstream success, and though its members came from an urban hardcore tradition rather than from metal, the band is still regarded as a noteworthy influence on the then-nascent

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 ...

and rap metal subgenres. In addition to headlining the second stage at

Ozzfest Ozzfest was an annual music festival tour of the United States and sometimes Europe and later Japan, featuring performances by many heavy metal music, heavy metal and hard rock musical groups. It was founded by Sharon Osbourne and her husband O ...

in 1997, downset. toured with prominent bands such as

Linkin Park Linkin Park is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Agoura Hills, California, in 1996. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist/rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Mike Shinoda, lead guitarist Brad Delson, DJ/turntablist Joe Hahn, bass ...

Slayer Slayer is an American thrash metal band from Huntington Park, California, formed in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King, drummer Dave Lombardo and bassist/vocalist Tom Araya. Slayer's fast and aggressive musical style made them ...

Metallica Metallica is an American heavy metal band. It was formed in Los Angeles in 1981 by vocalist and guitarist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, and has been based in San Francisco for most of its career. The band's fast tempos, instrume ...

Red Hot Chili Peppers The Red Hot Chili Peppers are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles in 1982, consisting of Anthony Kiedis (vocals), Flea (musician), Flea (bass), John Frusciante (guitar), and Chad Smith (drums). Their music incorporates elements of a ...

Korn Korn (stylized as KoЯn) is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, originally formed in 1993 by James Shaffer, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald Arvizu, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu and David Silveria, who were members of the band ...

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...

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and

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 ...

Band members

Current *Neil Roemer – vocals (2023–present) *Rogelio Lozano – guitar (1989–1994, 1999–2002, 2013, 2019–present) *Phillip Gonzales – bass guitar (2019–present) * Bobby Blood – drums (2019–present) Former members *Rey Oropeza – vocals (1989–2023) *Brian "Ares" Schwager – guitar (1989–2016) *Christopher "Krasp" Lee – drums (1989–1999, 2001–2005, 2013) *Chris Hamilton – drums (1999–2001, 2014–2019) *James Morris – bass guitar (1989–2003, 2014–2019) * Rico Villasenor – bass guitar (2003–2005) Former touring musicians *Neil Roemer – vocals (2013) *Johnathan Manhart – bass (2013) *Dave Corsile – guitar (2000–2001, Check Your People Japan / US Tour) (died 2023)

Discography

Albums

Social Justice *''Unity Is Strength'' (1989) downset.

EPs

Social Justice *''I Refuse to Lose'' (1992) downset. *''Our Suffocation (demo)'' (1994) *''Downset EP'' (1995) *''Generation of Hope'' (with Shootyz Groove) (1995) *''Live at Foundation's Forum '' (1995) *''No More Freedom in a Cage'' (1996) *''Eyes Shut Tight EP' (Live at CBGB's)'' (1997) *''Code Blue Coma'' (2000) *''Rarities'' (2000)

Singles

*" About Ta Blast" (1993) *"

Anger Anger, also known as wrath ( ; ) or rage (emotion), rage, is an intense emotional state involving a strong, uncomfortable and non-cooperative response to a perceived provocation, hurt, or threat. A person experiencing anger will often experie ...

" (1994) *"Downset" (1995) *"Empower" (1996) *"Pocket Full of Fatcaps" (1996) *"Eyes Shut Tight" (1996) *"Split with Mindbug 7" (1999) *"Jumping Off" (2004) *"One Blood" (2014) *"The Place to Be" (2022)

References

External links

*
Downset interview

''Check Your People'' review at AllMusic''Universal'' review at AllMusic
{{Authority control Musical groups established in 1989 Musical groups disestablished in 2009 American rap metal musical groups American funk metal musical groups Hardcore punk groups from California Epitaph Records artists Musical groups from Los Angeles American alternative metal musical groups 1989 establishments in California End Hits Records artists