When we last heard from Downset, we heard from two Downsets. The ’90s hardcore/rap-metal band, who’d broken up in 2009, reformed with a version that featured former members and toured in Europe. However, the band’s original singer and guitarist, Rey Oropeza and Brian Ares Schwager, respectively, had been working on a new album with longtime bassist James Morris and drummer Chris Hamilton. Upon finding that out, the other version of the band decided to defer to the first one, and on July 21st, that album they were working on will finally be released.
One Blood, the band’s first album in 10 years, was recorded in California and Baltimore, and was produced by Schwager, who comments “One Blood is Downset in its truest form, coming straight from our hearts to touch the hearts of others.” The album will be self-released, which makes sense for the Los Angeles-based four-piece. On the band’s Facebook page, vocalist Rey Oropeza commented, saying:
After 10 years DOWNSET is going to release our long awaited album titled “ONE BLOOD” I have always been driven by the conviction that Hip-Hop and Hardcore can really change peoples lives for the better. My enduring dedication to the DOWNSET project is the personal and political manifestation of this belief. I haven’t grown cold. I ‘m more optimistic than ever before. At this point in our history as Hip-Hop and Hardcore activists I am really hoping that the lyrics in the ‘ONE BLOOD” title track will encourage all of us to re-evaluate our intentions as a movement. Through DOWNSET and our music I want to remind us all that each one of us and every moment of our lives matter. Our decision to represent with Hip-Hop and Hardcore laces us with the critical responsibility of caring about ourselves and the world around us. You may feel different and I am sure lots of people do, but today I’m asking you to join us in this global movement to say ONE BLOOD!
One Blood will be the band’s fifth album overall. The band’s first two albums were on Mercury Records, with their self-titled album featuring the relatively popular song “Anger,” written about the Los Angeles riots. In 2000, the band signed with Epitaph Records, who put out their album Check Your People. Their most recent album before the one they just announced was 2004’s Universal. The band will be playing a handful of shows in July and August, which you can view below:
07/24 Albany, NY – Bogies – Doors
07/25 Worcester, MA – Palladium
07/26 New York, NY – Blackthorne 51
07/27 Philadelphia, PA – Electric Factory (‘This Is Hardcore Festival‘)
08/15 Phoenix, AZ – Joe’s Grotto
08/16 Los Angeles, CA – The Whiskey A Go-Go
08/17 Las Vegas, NV – LVCS
[youtube]http://youtu.be/H6IQxhkVIEw[/youtube]
