Only Living Witness
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Jonah Jenkins, Eric Stevenson |
| Defunct | 1995 |
| Headquarters | Boston, Massachusetts , United States |
| Products | Metal music albums |
Only Living Witness was a metal group originating from Boston, Massachusetts, established in 1989 by former members of the disbanded thrash metal outfit Formicide. Their sound, showcased across two studio records, incorporated elements of modern hardcore into metal. The band ceased activities in 1995.
History
The band began in 1989 in Boston with Jonah Jenkins on vocals and Eric Stevenson on drums, both previously part of Formicide. The initial lineup also featured Stevenson's brother Kevin on guitar and Roy Costa, another ex-Formicide member, handling bass duties. In 1991, Craig Silverman and Chris Crowley replaced Kevin Stevenson and Costa. Subsequently, Kevin Stevenson and Costa went on to create The Shods.
After releasing multiple demos, Only Living Witness secured a contract with Century Media Records. Their first album, Prone Mortal Form, debuted in 1993. The group embarked on extensive tours covering 14 countries such as Sweden, England, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. Although the band had already dissolved, their second album, Innocents, was released in 1996.
Following the split, Jonah Jenkins lent his vocal talents to bands including Miltown, Milligram, and Raw Radar War. Guitarist Craig Silverman became involved with groups like Blood for Blood, Ramallah, Slapshot, and Agnostic Front.
In 2008, Only Living Witness reunited briefly for four performances: two shows at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one in Clinton, Massachusetts, and a final concert held in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Eric Stevenson, who was both the band's drummer and primary songwriter, passed away on August 9, 2011, at the age of 43.
Legacy
Only Living Witness played a significant role in shaping the Massachusetts metalcore scene that included bands such as 36 Crazyfists, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, and Unearth. Notably, in 2014, Shadows Fall recorded a cover of Only Living Witness's track "December" for the soundtrack of the movie Let's Be Cops.
Members
- Jonah Jenkins – lead vocals (1989–1995)
- Eric Stevenson – drums (1989–1995)
- Kevin Stevenson – guitar (1989–1991)
- Roy Costa – bass guitar (1989–1991)
- Craig Silverman – guitar (1991–1995)
- Chris Crowley – bass guitar (1991–1995)
- US Reunion, Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008
- Bob Maloney – bass
- Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008
- Benny Grotto – drums
Discography
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Prone Mortal Form
|
| 1996 | Innocents
|
| 2006 | Prone Mortal Form/Innocents (re-release)
|
Demos
- 1990
- Self-titled demo (cassette tape)
- 1992
- Prone Mortal Form demo (cassette tape)
Singles
- 1991
- Complex Man 7" issued in a limited run of 1,000 units (Look Again Records)
- 1995
- Freaklaw 7" released as a limited edition of 3,000 copies (Chainsaw Safety Records)
Compilation appearances
- 1991
- Planned Obsolescence compilation (RRRecords) – featured track "Bad Blood"
- 1993
- East Coast Assault compilation (Too Damn Hype Records) – included track "Twitching Tongues"
- 1994
- Case Closed?: An International Compilation of Husker Du Cover Songs (Snoop Records) – contributed track "Too Far Down"
- 1995
- Bloodlines: The Seeds of Rebellion compilation (Century Media Records) – presented track "Deed's Pride"
- Boston Hardcore '89–'91 (Taang! Records) – featured track "Bad Blood"