Toe To Toe
Encyclopedia
Toe to Toe are an Australian hardcore
band from Sydney
, New South Wales
. The band was most prominent in the Australian hardcore scene
during the 1990s, touring and recording less frequently by the 2000s. They have been described as "one of the best hardcore outfits ever to grace the planet" by Punknews.org
.
band Bad Brains
, Portland hardcore band Poison Idea
and later, New York hardcore
bands such as Agnostic Front
and Sick of it All
. They have tried to distance themselves from the metal
and pop
aspects of punk. The band's name itself, including much of their lyrical content and album artwork reference boxing
terms to match the aggressive musical style.
founder, Scott Mac, who remains the band's only original member. Described by Missing Link Records
as the "mainstays of the Sydney hardcore scene", the band has seen numerous line-up changes, released several recordings and have possibly been one of the only Australian hardcore acts to have received mainstream acknowledgment in the country, playing festivals such as Livid
, Homebake
and the Vans Warped Tour
s. They have also done national tours of Japan
, Europe
and America
and have played with internationally renowned hardcore acts such as Agnostic Front, the Dropkick Murphys
, and Madball
. Political artist and activist, Azlan McLennan
, described the band as superior to their US influences, citing Scott Mac's stance against racism
.
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...
band from Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. The band was most prominent in the Australian hardcore scene
Australian hardcore
Australian hardcore punk bands tend to have local fan bases, although a number have toured Australia and internationally. Recorded material by these bands is often hard to find, as many focus on the live shows...
during the 1990s, touring and recording less frequently by the 2000s. They have been described as "one of the best hardcore outfits ever to grace the planet" by Punknews.org
Punknews.org
Punknews.org is a website founded by Aubin Paul which launched in 1999. The website publishes music news and album reviews relating to punk rock, hardcore punk, ska, indie rock and heavy metal...
.
Influence and style
Toe to Toe's stated aim is "to reintroduce the sounds and ethics of 80's hardcore punk", having been influenced by the emergence of the Washington, D.C. hardcoreWashington, D.C. hardcore
Washington, D.C. has had one of the first and most influential hardcore punk scenes in the United States since the early 1980s.Among the earliest DC punk bands were the Bad Brains, Slickee Boys, Teen Idles, Minor Threat, S.O.A., Chalk Circle, Velvet Monkeys, Void, The Faith, DC Youth Brigade,...
band Bad Brains
Bad Brains
Bad Brains is an American hardcore punk band formed in Washington, D.C., in 1977. They are widely regarded as among the pioneers of hardcore punk, though the band's members objected to this term to describe their music. They are also an adept reggae band, while later recordings featured elements of...
, Portland hardcore band Poison Idea
Poison Idea
Poison Idea was an American hardcore punk band formed in Portland, Oregon in 1980. The band originally dissolved in 1993, but has been playing intermittently since 1998.-Formation, 1980's and 90's:...
and later, New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
bands such as Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
and Sick of it All
Sick of It All
Sick of It All is an American hardcore punk band from Queens, New York. Formed in 1986, the band consisted of brothers Lou Koller on vocals and Pete Koller on lead guitar, Rich Cipriano on bass, and Armand Majidi on drums. There have been only two member changes since their inception, with Max...
. They have tried to distance themselves from the metal
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
and pop
Pop punk
Pop punk is a fusion music genre that combines elements of punk rock with pop music, to varying degrees. Allmusic describes the genre as a strand of alternative rock, which typically merges pop melodies with speedy punk tempos, chord changes and loud guitars...
aspects of punk. The band's name itself, including much of their lyrical content and album artwork reference boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
terms to match the aggressive musical style.
History
Toe to Toe formed in 1992 by vocalist and Resist RecordsResist Records
Resist Records is an independent record label and retail store based in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. The store was opened by Toe To Toe vocalist, Scott McFadyen in 1996 before expanding to a record label in 1998...
founder, Scott Mac, who remains the band's only original member. Described by Missing Link Records
Missing Link Records
Missing Link Records is a record store in Melbourne, Australia. The shop first opened in 1971, but was then called Archie and Jughead's, named after the comic. The shop's co-founders, David Pepperell and Keith Glass, established the shop as a much-needed rock record shop...
as the "mainstays of the Sydney hardcore scene", the band has seen numerous line-up changes, released several recordings and have possibly been one of the only Australian hardcore acts to have received mainstream acknowledgment in the country, playing festivals such as Livid
Livid
Livid was an Australian alternative rock music festival held annually from 1989 to 2003. Masterminded by Peter Walsh and Natalie Jeremijenko, the original idea of showcasing both the arts and music in the one event was standardised as late as October/early November from 1991 until 2003...
, Homebake
Homebake
Homebake is an annual Australian rock festival, featuring an all-Australian lineup . The festival was first held on 4 January 1996 at Belongil Fields in Byron Bay, on the far north coast of New South Wales...
and the Vans Warped Tour
Warped Tour
The Warped Tour is a touring music and extreme sports festival. The tour is held in venues such as parking lots or fields upon which the stages and other structures are erected. The BMX/skateboarding shoe manufacturer Vans, among others, has sponsored the tour every year since 1995, and it is...
s. They have also done national tours of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and have played with internationally renowned hardcore acts such as Agnostic Front, the Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys
Dropkick Murphys are an Irish-American punk rock band formed in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1996. The band was initially signed to independent punk record label Hellcat Records, releasing five albums for the label, and making a name for themselves locally through constant playing and yearly St....
, and Madball
Madball
Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...
. Political artist and activist, Azlan McLennan
Azlan McLennan
Azlan McLennan is a visual artist and socialist activist based in Melbourne, Australia. He is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts...
, described the band as superior to their US influences, citing Scott Mac's stance against racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
.
Members
As of 2010, the band's line-up consists of:- Vocals: Scott Mac
- Guitars: Adam Check
- Guitars: Matt Campbell
- Drums: Ant Deitz
- Bass: Matty Albert
Discography
| Release date | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Slap of Reality | Punch Drunk Productions | EP |
| 1993 | Unanimous Points Decision | Punch Drunk Productions | EP |
| 1993 | Circlestorm | Custom Recordings | Compilation |
| 1993 | Election Night 93: Straight Off the Desk | Heinous Fuck Records | Live |
| 1995 | Force | Kangaroo | EP |
| 1995 | Fuck Seattle This is Sydney | Kangaroo | Compilation |
| 1995 | Threats and Facts | Spent Records | LP |
| 1996 | No Gods | Spent Records | EP |
| 1996 | Split with Mindsnare Mindsnare Mindsnare are an Australian hardcore band from Melbourne, Victoria. Formed in 1993 under the name Mad Circle, their music is a blend of traditional "old school" hardcore punk and crossover metal, and as such has seen them play alongside metal bands like Kreator and Ringworm, as well as more... |
Spent Records | Split |
| 1996 | The Best Defence Is Attack | Custom Recordings | Discography |
| 1997 | TAO | Custom Recordings | LP |
| 1999 | Consolidated | Custom Recordings | LP |
| 1999 | Slave | No Deal Records | Single |
| 2001 | Fighting Pride | Snaphot Records | Live |
| 2003 | Old Scores, New Glories | Sold Our Souls Records | EP |
| 2008 | Split with Tenth Dan | Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records Trial & Error Records is an independent record label based in Melbourne, Victoria. It is one of Australia's largest hardcore labels. The label is owned and run by Mindsnare bassist, Nigel Melder.-Current Artists:*4dead*Against* Antagonist A.D... |
Split |
| 2010 | Arturo Gatti | Resist Records Resist Records Resist Records is an independent record label and retail store based in Newtown, New South Wales, Australia. The store was opened by Toe To Toe vocalist, Scott McFadyen in 1996 before expanding to a record label in 1998... |
LP |