Forced Entry (band)
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1983 |
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington , United States |
| Products | Music albums, EPs, demos |
Forced Entry was a thrash metal group originating from Seattle, Washington, established in 1983 under the name Critical Condition. Throughout their career, they produced two full-length albums, one EP, and three demo recordings before disbanding in 1995, with a brief reunion occurring in 2002. Although they did not reach widespread commercial fame, Forced Entry is acknowledged as one of the foundational bands in the Seattle thrash metal movement, alongside contemporaries such as Metal Church, Panic, Bitter End, Coven, R.I.P., and Sanctuary. Guitarist Brad Hull later became a member of Sanctuary during their 2010 reunion and remained until 2015 after contributing to one album.
History
The band was originally formed in 1983 by vocalist and bassist Tony Benjamins, guitarist Brad Hull, and drummer Colin Mattson under the name Critical Condition. Their early performances consisted mainly of covers from bands like Kiss, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and AC/DC. In 1986, they changed their name to Forced Entry and issued two demos in 1987: All Fucked Up and Thrashing Helpless Down. The latter demo earned them the 1987 Northwest Music Award for "Best Metal Band".
Their 1988 demo titled Hate Fills Your Eyes led to their initial recording contract. After turning down offers from major labels including CBS and MCA, they signed with Combat Records, a subsidiary of Relativity. In January 1989, Forced Entry recorded their debut album Uncertain Future, which was released in June of the same year to positive critical reception, notably from Guitar World. To support this release, they embarked on significant tours opening for Coroner during their No More Color tour and Sacred Reich on The American Way tour.
Their sophomore album, As Above, So Below, was recorded late in 1990 at Normandy Sound in Rhode Island and released in June 1991. While it did not replicate the underground acclaim of their debut, it garnered favorable reviews and featured music videos for the tracks "Macrocosm, Microcosm" and "Never a Know, But the No," which received substantial rotation on MTV's Headbangers Ball. Following this release, Forced Entry was dropped by Relativity Records and did not undertake a supporting tour.
The band continued performing locally while searching for a new label but eventually released a four-track EP titled The Shore in 1995 before concluding their final Seattle performance that August. They reunited briefly for a single show at the Abrasive Rock Festival in 2002.
After disbandment, Brad Hull joined Seattle-based bands L.S. Diablo, Sac Lunch, and Thug prior to his involvement with Sanctuary starting in 2011; he contributed to their 2014 album The Year the Sun Died before departing in 2015. Hull founded L.S. Diablo in 2009 and played bass on their self-produced six-track release. Meanwhile, Benjamins and Mattson collaborated in the local outfit DUMT before retiring from music entirely. Notably, Hull and Benjamins appeared on the Seattle television comedy program Almost Live! in 1993.
Century Media re-released Uncertain Future with additional tracks from The Shore in 1999; later, Lost and Found Records reissued As Above, So Below in 2009.
In late 2020, news emerged regarding a potential Forced Entry reunion coinciding with the first availability of their catalog on streaming services. By February 2021, Benjamins and Mattson confirmed discussions about regrouping for live performances and possibly new recordings. They considered recruiting Jeff Loomis or other guitarists due to Hull’s reported unavailability. No further announcements have been made as of February 2024.
Studio albums
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Uncertain Future
|
| 1991 | As Above, So Below
|
EPs
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1995 | The Shore
|
Demos
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 1987 | All Fucked Up
|
| 1987 | Thrashing Helpless Down
|
| 1988 | Hate Fills Your Eyes
|
External links
- Articles with short description
- American thrash metal musical groups
- Heavy metal musical groups from Washington (state)
- Musical groups from Seattle
- Musical groups established in 1983
- 1983 establishments in Washington (state)
- Musical groups disestablished in 1995
- Musical groups reestablished in 2002
- 1995 disestablishments in Washington (state)