Training for Utopia, also stylized as TFU, was an American

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 active from 1996 to October 2000.

History

The band first signed with

Tooth & Nail Records Tooth & Nail Records is a Christian rock record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington where it is situated today. It is home to many well-known musical acts, including Undero ...

and was later moved to

Solid State Records Solid State Records is a Christian metalcore record label, an imprint of Tooth & Nail Records. Unlike Tooth & Nail, Solid State signs hardcore punk and heavy metal bands. Like Tooth & Nail, Solid State is primarily a Christian label. However, ...

, the Tooth & Nail imprint that promotes heavy

Christian music Christian music is music that has been written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life and faith. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence, and lament, and its forms vary widely aro ...

. Training for Utopia subsequently became popular in the

Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...

scene during its active years, although the band actively tried to remove themselves from that label during their later years. Their brief existence included a tour with Zao and at the time the upcoming band

Spitfire The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allies of World War II, Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. Many variants of the Spitfire were built, from the Mk 1 ...

, as well as

Warlord A warlord is a person who exercises military, economic, and political control over a region in a country without a strong national government; largely because of coercive control over the armed forces. Warlords have existed throughout much of h ...

. It was during this time that the band hired Carlos Colón (later to join

The Deadlines The Deadlines were an American rock band that formed in 1998 and disbanded in 2002. Their musical style started as horror punk and later evolved toward glam rock. They were signed to Tooth & Nail Records. History The Deadlines were founded ...

) for their 1998 tour providing synthesizers and live guitar to their live show. Immediately following the tour Carlos left the band to pursue other aspirations. After a temporary hiatus the band returned with their second full length ''Throwing a Wrench into the American Music Machine'', which has been noted as a shift away from the band's early

sound, utilizing heavier use of electronics and sampling. After a small tour of the material the band disbanded. At the demise of Training for Utopia, members Ryan (formerly of

Focal Point Focal point may refer to: * Focus (optics) * Focus (geometry) * Conjugate points, also called focal points * Focal point (game theory) In game theory, a focal point (or Schelling point) is a solution that people tend to choose by default in the ...

) and Don Clark announced that they were starting a new project called The American Spectator in October 2000. Don and Ryan Clark started " Asterik Studio" in Seattle, a graphic design shop where they completed many projects, including album artwork for former label-mates. In 2000, they founded the Christian metal band

Demon Hunter Demon Hunter is an American Christian metal band from Seattle, Washington, started in 2000 by brothers Don Clark and Ryan Clark. Although the brothers created the band together, only Ryan remains, since Don left the band to take care of his ...

Members

Final line-up * Ryan Clark – vocals, guitar (1996–2000) (currently with

) * Don Clark – guitar (1996–2000) (played with

) * Steve Saxby – bass guitar (1996–2000) (currently with Out of Place) * Morley Boyer – drums (1996–2000) (played on

An Angle An Angle was an American indie rock band from Sacramento, California. At the center of this group was singer-songwriter Kris Anaya. The band signed to Drive-Thru Records in September 2004. In March 2007, the band went on a tour of the US, leadi ...

) Former * Rob Dennler – vocals (1996) (played with

The Roots of Orchis The Roots of Orchis was an American progressive rock band from San Francisco, California, on the Slowdance Records label. The band was active from 1997 to 2010. Summary Formed by in 1997 by Kris Bennett, Dan Lydersen and Justin Pinkerton. La ...

) Touring * Carlos Colon – synthesizers (1998) (later joined

) Don Clark has stated that Training for Utopia originally began with musician Rob Dennler as its lead vocalist, though Dennler was replaced by Ryan Clark before the band recorded its first demo.

Discography

References

External links

*
Interview with Don Clark, circa 2000

''SHZine'' interview with Ryan Clark (February 2000)
{{Authority control Metalcore musical groups from California Heavy metal musical groups from California Musical groups established in 1996 Musical groups disestablished in 2000 Tooth & Nail Records artists Solid State Records artists