Sworn Enemy is an American

metalcore Metalcore is a broadly defined fusion genre combining elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk, originating in the 1990s United States and becoming popular in the 2000s. Metalcore typically has aggressive verses and melodic choruses, combined ...

band from New York City, formed in 1997.

History

The band formed as "Downfall" and later on as "Mindset", a product of the extremely expansive and influential

New York hardcore New York hardcore (also known as NYHC) is both the hardcore punk music created in New York City and the subculture and lifestyle (sociology), lifestyle associated with that music. The scene established many aspects that are fixtures of hardcore ...

scene. At its original inception the band centered on founding members: vocalist Sal Lococo, lead guitarist Lorenzo Antonucci, second guitarist Mike Raffinello, bass player Jimmy Sagos, and drummer Zoli. The band's early output as Mindset was limited to a demo, an appearance on the ''New Found Hope II – The First Amendment'' compilation CD, and a three-song

7-inch In music, a single is a type of release of a song recording of fewer tracks than an album ( LP), typically one or two tracks. A single can be released for sale to the public in a variety of physical or digital formats. Singles may be standa ...

named ''State of Mind''. Soon after the ''State of Mind'' release, another band named Mindset appeared on the underground

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 ...

scene, having existed as Mindset before the

Queens Queens is the largest by area of the Boroughs of New York City, five boroughs of New York City, coextensive with Queens County, in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. Located near the western end of Long Island, it is bordered by the ...

Mindset. Therefore, Sal and crew changed their name to Sworn Enemy. The band continued to play shows and garner attention in the scene. In 2001 the band released ''Negative Outlook'' on

Jamey Jasta James Vincent Shanahan (born August 7, 1977), known professionally as Jamey Jasta, is an American vocalist, best known as the lead singer of metalcore band Hatebreed and sludge metal band Kingdom of Sorrow. Jasta also fronts metalcore band Ic ...

Stillborn Records Stillborn Records is an American-based independent record label, founded by Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed, and primarily operated by Jay Reason of the Distance. Stillborn Records has released a variety of bands, mainly focused in the genres of heavy ...

. The record was a mix of old school

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 new school breakdowns, and it quickly gained the band attention in the broader

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 ...

scene. Soon after came ''Integrity Defines Strength'', the title being a play on the I.D.S. crew that Sworn Enemy claimed loyalty to. It contained 3 new songs and a live set at

CBGB CBGB was a New York City music club opened in 1973 by Hilly Kristal in the East Village, Manhattan, East Village in Manhattan, New York City. The club was previously a biker bar and before that was a dive bar. The letters ''CBGB'' were for ''Cou ...

. Sworn Enemy signed a release deal with

Elektra Records Elektra Records (or Elektra Entertainment) is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, founded in 1950 by Jac Holzman and Paul Rickolt. It played an important role in the development of contemporary folk and rock music between the ...

in 2003. The result was ''

As Real as It Gets ''As Real as It Gets'' is the first full-length studio album released by the metalcore band, Sworn Enemy. It was released on March 25, 2003, by Elektra Records. The title track is used in the film, ''The Texas Chainsaw Massacre''. Track list All ...

''. The band changed their style as the CD featured a large

thrash metal Thrash metal (or simply thrash) is an Extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music characterized by its overall aggression and fast tempo.Kahn-Harris, Keith, ''Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge'', pp. 2–3, 9. Oxford: Berg, ...

influence, as well as abrasive, near-

black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with tr ...

. The new style and worldwide distribution led to tours with bands such as

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 ...

as well as a stint on

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 ...

that year. ''The Beginning of the End'' was released on Abacus Records, a division of

Century Media A century is a period of 100 years or 10 decades. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages. The word ''century'' comes from the Latin ''centum'', meaning ''one hundred''. ''Century'' is sometimes abbreviated as c. A ...

focusing on underground

and

inspired bands. The new record displayed more thrash influence, and was immediately followed with a national tour with Six Feet Under. They have also toured with Dying Fetus and Hatebreed. In 2007, they were on the Trendkill Tour alongside

Kataklysm Kataklysm is a Canadian death metal band. As of 2024, they have released fifteen studio albums, two EPs, and two DVDs. Kataklysm received their first Juno Award (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards, Grammy) for Best Album of the Yea ...

As Blood Runs Black As Blood Runs Black is an American metalcore/deathcore band hailing from Los Angeles, California. They have released three albums. Their first album, ''Allegiance'', was released on June 6, 2006. Their second album, ''Instinct'', was released on ...

, Too Pure to Die, and

Suicide Silence Suicide Silence is an American deathcore band from Riverside, California, Riverside, California. The band was established in 2002, and has released seven studio albums, three EPs, and nineteen music videos. They were awarded the ''Revolver (ma ...

. They were asked by longtime friends, Earth Crisis, to be a part of their reunion tour. On March 29, 2008, the music video for the first single debuted on MTV2's ''

Headbangers Ball ''Headbangers Ball'' is a music television program that consists of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV and its global affiliates. The show began on MTV on April 18, 1987, playing heavy metal music videos from both well-known and more obsc ...

''. The video for "A Place of Solace" from the ''Maniacal'' CD was directed and shot by David Brodsky and edited by Allison Woest. ''Total World Domination'' was released June 16 in US and June 22 in Europe via

Century Media Records Century Media Records is a German heavy metal record label with offices in Germany, the United States and the United Kingdom. In August 2015, Century Media was acquired by Sony Music for US$17 million. Background Century Media was founded by R ...

. The record was once again produced by

Tim Lambesis Timothy Peter Lambesis (born November 21, 1980) is an American musician, producer, and songwriter. He is best known as the founding member, lead vocalist, and the sole continuous member of the metalcore band As I Lay Dying. Lambesis was arre ...

from

As I Lay Dying ''As I Lay Dying'' is a 1930 Southern Gothic novel by American author William Faulkner. Faulkner's fifth novel, it is consistently ranked among the best novels of the 20th century.The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classical Guide to World Lit ...

. Lorenzo Antonucci (guitars, vocals) commented: "I'm very excited about this album and its writing process was better than ever. I've been a part of all the writing for every record and I feel this is our best foundation yet. We took it back to ''As Real as It Gets'' with a little of '' Beginning of the End'' and ''

Maniacal Mania, also known as manic syndrome, is a psychiatric behavioral syndrome defined as a state of abnormally elevated arousal, affect, and energy level. During a manic episode, an individual will experience rapidly changing emotions and moods, ...

'' in it. The sound is way faster and more pissed off than ever, harder than ever and a lot more ignorant. It was also fun working with Tim again. This also marks our first recording with Sid (bass) and JRad (drums), so we are all very excited about that. We couldn't be more proud of this effort and prepare to have your faces melted!" During the next few years the band saw some lineup changes. In May 2014 the band regrouped with new members and released "Living On Borrowed Time" on Rock Ridge records. They followed the album with several tours including tours in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Sworn Enemy is still touring in support of "Living on Borrowed Time".

Discography

Members

Current members * Sal Lococo – vocals (1997–present) * Jeff Cummings – lead guitar (2010–present) * Matt Garzilli – rhythm guitar (2011–present) * Mike Pucciarelli – bass (2012–present) * Taykwuan Jackson – drums (2014–present) Touring members * Wouter Sadonis - drums (2019, 2023) Former members * Zoli – drums (1997–1998) * Mike Raffinello – rhythm guitar (1997–2005) * Jimmy Sagos – bass (1997–2001) * Paul Wallmaker – drums (1998–2001) * Timmy Mycek – drums (2001–2002) * Mike Couls – bass (2001–2005) * Paul Antignani – drums (2002–2008; died 2018) *

Jordan Mancino Jordan Mancino (born May 22, 1983) is an American musician. He has played with several metal acts as the official or as a live member, including As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, and Wovenwar. Background Jordan Mancino started his musical ...

– drums (2008–2009) * Lorenzo Antonucci – lead guitar (1997–2010), rhythm guitar (2005–2008) * Jamin Hunt – bass (2005–2008), rhythm guitar (2008–2012), lead guitar (2010) * Sid Awesome – bass (2008–2011) * Jerad "JRad" Buckwalter – drums (2009–2012) * Anthony Paganini – bass (2011–2012) * Danny Lamagna – drums (2012–2014) ;Timeline ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:17 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:100 top:0 right:20 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:01/01/1997 till:07/01/2021 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:1 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:1997 ScaleMinor = increment:2 start:1998 Colors = id:Vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:Lead value:teal legend:Lead_guitar id:Rhythm value:brightgreen legend:Rhythm_guitar id:Bass value:blue legend:Bass id:Drums value:orange legend:Drums id:Lines1 value:black legend:Studio_albums id:Lines2 value:gray(0.75) legend:EPs LineData = at:05/01/2000 color:Lines2 layer:back at:07/27/2001 color:Lines2 layer:back at:04/01/2002 color:Lines2 layer:back at:03/25/2003 color:black layer:back at:01/24/2006 color:black layer:back at:06/16/2008 color:black layer:back at:06/16/2009 color:black layer:back at:05/13/2014 color:black layer:back at:04/05/2019 color:black layer:back BarData = bar:Lococo text:"Sal Lococo" bar:Antonucci text:"Lorenzo Antonucci" bar:Cummings text:"Jeff Cummings" bar:Raffinello text:"Mike Raffinello" bar:Garzilli text:"Matt Garzilli" bar:Palmer text:"Mike Palmer" bar:Sagos text:"Jimmy Sagos" bar:Couls text:"Mike Couls" bar:Hunt text:"Jamin Hunt" bar:Awesome text:"Sid Awesome" bar:Pucciarelli text:"Mike Pucciarelli" bar:Zoli text:"Zoli" bar:Wallmaker text:"Paul Wallmaker" bar:Mycek text:"Timmy Mycek" bar:Antignai text:"Paul Antignani" bar:Mancino text:"Jordan Mancino" bar:Buckwalter text:"Jerad Buckwalter" bar:Lamagna text:"Danny Lamagna" bar:Jackson text:"Taykwuan Jackson" PlotData= width:11 textcolor:black align:left anchor:from shift:(10,-4) bar:Lococo from:01/01/1997 till:end color:Vocals bar:Antonucci from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2010 color:Lead bar:Antonucci from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:Rhythm width:3 bar:Cummings from:01/01/2011 till:end color:Lead bar:Raffinello from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/2005 color:Rhythm bar:Hunt from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2012 color:Rhythm bar:Hunt from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2011 color:Lead width:3 bar:Garzilli from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Rhythm bar:Palmer from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:Bass bar:Sagos from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2001 color:Bass bar:Couls from:01/01/2001 till:01/01/2005 color:Bass bar:Hunt from:01/01/2005 till:01/01/2008 color:Bass bar:Awesome from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2012 color:Bass bar:Pucciarelli from:01/01/2012 till:end color:Bass bar:Zoli from:01/01/1997 till:01/01/1998 color:Drums bar:Wallmaker from:01/01/1998 till:01/01/2001 color:Drums bar:Mycek from:01/01/2001 till:06/01/2002 color:Drums bar:Antignai from:06/01/2002 till:01/01/2008 color:Drums bar:Mancino from:01/01/2008 till:01/01/2009 color:Drums bar:Buckwalter from:01/01/2009 till:01/01/2012 color:Drums bar:Lamagna from:01/01/2012 till:01/01/2014 color:Drums bar:Jackson from:01/01/2014 till:end color:Drums

References

External links

Sworn Enemy
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* {{Authority control Metalcore musical groups from New York (state) Hardcore punk groups from New York (state) Crossover thrash groups Century Media Records artists Abacus Recordings artists Beatdown hardcore musical groups