Rayny Forster
Encyclopedia
The Posers
Forster was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada where he fronted the thrash-punk outfit The Posers, a band who "single rejuvenated the punk rockPunk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
scene – making it relevant to a whole new generation – as well as inspiring the city’s young thrash
Thrash
Thrash may refer to:*Thrashing , where increasing resources are used to do a decreasing amount of work*Thrash , mascot of the Atlanta Thrashers-Music:*Thrash metal, a subgenre of heavy metal music...
scene and giving birth to Windsor’s hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
scene." A string of vinyl and cd releases were issued on DIY labels from Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the US before the band caught the attention of Cargo Music, who signed them for their 2000 full-length, "Anti-Christian Animosity". Despite mild criticism over signing to the label who spawned Blink 182, reviews of the album were generally well-received.
In a review of the album, Heckler Magazine was quoted as saying "When front man Rayny Forster lets out a primal scream of rage, you literally feel it in the pit of your stomach. I still get chills when I hear it." The group disbanded in 2004.
Hulluus
In 2005, Forster and John Bellon relocated to Kenosha, Wisconsin to join the crust punk band, Hulluus. The project ultimately lasted only six months however during that time they toured the midwest consistently, and released a split CD with The Murder Squad T.O. on Wounded Paw Records.Moshpit Tragedy Records
In 2006, while living in Montreal Quebec, Forster launched Moshpit Tragedy RecordsMoshpit Tragedy Records
Moshpit Tragedy Records is an independent record label from Canada which releases punk, metal and some of their subgenres . In 2007, they became the first record label to abandon physical releases in favour of a fully "sliding-scale" or "pay-what-you-want" download model.- Origin :Moshpit Tragedy...
, which after one year abandoned releasing cds in favour of a new sliding-scale download format. After becoming the first record label to allow visitors to their website to set their own price, and even download entire albums for free, Metal Hammer printed an article in which Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
bassist Rob Nicholson
Rob Nicholson (musician)
Rob "Blasko" Nicholson is a Heavy metal bassist who was born on November 24, 1969. His influences include the metal bands Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and Corrosion of Conformity...
stated "This model could very well be the future of all indie labels." With virtually no budget, in only one year since their split from traditional physical formats more than 11,430 complete albums have been downloaded.
Film
Forster appears on the Amebix "Risen" DVD, which was released in 2009. The film features a comprehensive history of the band, never before seen concert footage, and interviews with others involved or influenced by the band such as Jello BiafraJello Biafra
Jello Biafra is an American musician, spoken word artist and leading figure of the Green Party of the United States. Biafra first gained attention as the lead singer and songwriter for San Francisco punk rock band Dead Kennedys...
, Neurosis
Neurosis (band)
Neurosis is a post-metal band, based in Oakland, California. They formed in 1985 as a hardcore punk band, and their sound progressed towards a doom metal style that also included influences from dark ambient and industrial music as well as incorporating elements of folk music...
, Disorder
Disorder (band)
Disorder are a hardcore punk band that formed in the Bristol area of the United Kingdom in 1980, and has existed with varying line-ups to this day. Faithful to anarcho-punk ethics, Disorder are a band who aligned with politically-charged punk bands like Crass and Conflict.-History:Disorder formed...
, Flux of Pink Indians
Flux Of Pink Indians
Flux of Pink Indians were an English anarcho-punk/post punk band, that originated from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.-Biography:...
and more.
In 2007, it was announced that Forster would take part in the upcoming record industry documentary Behind The Suit and Tie. The film, which has been delayed repeatedly, will take a look inside the current problems with the record industry as well as its future and also features interviews with Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
, Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records
Roadrunner Records is an American record label that concentrates primarily on heavy metal bands. It is currently a subsidiary of Warner Music Group.-History:...
, Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
, Earache Records
Earache Records
Earache Records is a heavy metal-oriented record label based in Nottingham, UK and New York, USA. It helped to pioneer extreme metal by releasing many of the earliest grindcore and death metal records in the period 1988-1994.-History:...
, Century Media Records
Century Media Records
Century Media Records is an Independent record label with offices in the United States, Germany, Australia, France, Italy, Sweden, Finland, and the United Kingdom.- Background :...
, Ferret Records and Megaforce Records
Megaforce Records
Megaforce Records is an American independent record label which was founded in 1982 by Jon and Marsha Zazula to publish the first works of Metallica. It has offices in New York and Philadelphia. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony Music Entertainment/RED Distribution...
, among others.
Hidden Structures
In April 2011, a grindcoreGrindcore
Grindcore is an extreme genre of music that started in the early- to mid-1980s. It draws inspiration from some of the most abrasive music genres – including death metal, industrial music, noise and the more extreme varieties of hardcore punk....
/metal
Metal
A metal , is an element, compound, or alloy that is a good conductor of both electricity and heat. Metals are usually malleable and shiny, that is they reflect most of incident light...
collaboration between Forster and his longtime friend and band mate John Bellon was announced under the banner Hidden Structures. The duo are currently preparing to record their first album, in which all music has been written by Bellon, with vocals and other aspects managed by Forster.