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Society's Finest

From Alfawiki
Society's Finest
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
Founded1997 in Dallas, Texas, United States
Headquarters
Dallas
,
United States
ProductsMetalcore music albums and EPs

Society's Finest is a metalcore group originating from Dallas, Texas, in the United States. Their first full-length record, The Journey...So Far, was launched through Solid State Records in May 2000. After experiencing lineup shifts and addressing personal issues, the band temporarily ceased touring and recording activities. During this break, lead vocalist Josh Ashworth toured with the metalcore outfit Zao.

The band reassembled in 2004, signing with Hand of Hope Records and issuing Love, Murder, and a Three Letter Word midway through the year. This release featured a blend of fresh tracks alongside songs from their initial EP, Private Conflicts and Suicides (released by Pluto Records). Their third studio album, And I, the Drunkard, was released in June 2006.

Josh Ashworth remains the only founding member still active in the lineup. Former participants have gone on to join prominent groups such as As I Lay Dying, Demon Hunter, and The Famine. Society's Finest has shared stages with influential bands including P.O.D., Zao, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Living Sacrifice, Stretch Arm Strong, Hatebreed, and Stavesacre.

History

Formed in 1997, Society's Finest originally consisted of Josh Ashworth on vocals, Rob Pruett and Derek Rawls handling guitars, Joel Bailey on bass, and Phillip Brummett behind the drums. Their initial recording was a split EP with My Spacecoaster in 1998, followed by the album Private Conflicts and Suicides in 1999. Subsequently, Josh Burnett took over drumming duties from Brummett. Between 1999 and 2003, they worked on their debut full album, The Journey...So Far, which was released by Solid State Records. During this timeframe, both Derek Rawls and Josh Burnett exited the band.

In 2004, Society's Finest regrouped with Ashworth and Bailey joined by newcomers Nick Nowell (guitars), Daniel Clark (guitars), and Lucas Laskaris (drums). That year saw the release of their second album, Love, Murder, and a Three Letter Word. By 2006, Nowell and Stephen Poole had departed.

Their spots were filled by Guy Turner on guitar and former drummer Chad Wilburn; however, Wilburn left during the album writing process. Jason Roe, previously part of Between the Buried and Me, contributed to recording sessions before Jesse Smith (ex-Zao) briefly joined. Although Smith later clarified he never officially became a member, the album And I, the Drunkard was issued through Alveran Records in 2006. The group disbanded once more in 2011.

In 2014, Ashworth revived Society's Finest with Tyler Berry on guitar, David Cezero on bass, and Jason Roe to honor late guitarist Randall Watts. They announced plans for a new album but did not provide additional details. By 2017, Ashworth revealed that the band’s lineup consisted solely of himself along with former guitarist Eli Bowser.

In 2021, Society's Finest declared an upcoming release featuring a lineup composed of Ashworth, Bowser, returning bassist Daniel Barton, and Lucas Laskaris resuming drumming duties.

Members

Current lineup

  • Josh Ashworth – lead vocals (1997–2003, 2004–2011, 2014–present)
  • Joel Bailey – bass guitar (1997–2003, 2004–2006, 2022–present)
  • Jordan Brady – drums (2002), bass guitar (2014), guitars (2022–present)
  • Chad Wilburn – drums (1997–2001, 2005–2011, 2017–2021, 2022–present)

Past members

  • Kris McCaddon – guitar (1999–2001)
  • Rob Pruett – guitar (1997–2000)
  • Tim Lambesis – guitar (2000–2001)
  • Kane Kelly – guitar (2000)
  • James Allain – drums (2001–2002)
  • Daniel Clark – guitar (2001–2003)
  • Pete Rose – bass guitar (2003)
  • Guy Turner – guitar (2004–2011)
  • Nick Nowell – guitar (2004–2006)
  • Randall Watts – guitar (2004–2005; deceased)
  • Stephen Poole – drums (2004–2005)
  • David Cerezo – bass guitar (2014–2016)
  • Tyler Berry – guitar (2014–2016)
  • Jason Roe – drums (2006, 2014–2016)
  • Eli Bowser – guitar (2004–2011, 2016–2022)
  • Daniel Barton – bass guitar (2006–2011, 2021–2022)
  • Iasko – drums (2021–2022)


Discography

Studio albums
Year Album Title Track Listing
2000 The Journey...So Far
  1. "1955" (2:48)
  2. "6 Seconds Left Until Daylight" (3:35)
  3. "Lucky 13" (2:08)
  4. "Kiss the Girls" (3:55)
  5. "Knife Fight" (5:30)
  6. "Monarch" (2:16)
  7. "7 Years of Momentum" (3:46)
  8. "Martial Reality" (3:09)
  9. "Following the Robertsons" (3:43)
  10. "Dead People" (3:18)
2004 Love, Murder, and a Three Letter Word
  • Issued by Hand of Hope Records
  1. "Vanity and the Gun" (3:05)
  2. "Pop Culture in Houston" (2:55)
  3. "Ennis, TX" (2:45)
  4. "The Art... The Morgue" (2:46)
  5. "Always a Bridesmaid, Never a Bride" (3:41)
  6. "A Cold Winters Mourning" (4:44)
  7. "Eggshell" (3:25)
  8. "Journeyman" (3:32)
  9. "Zero-Nine-Three-Zero" (3:29)
2006 And I, the Drunkard
  • Distributed by Alveran Records
  1. "NYC"
  2. "And I, the Drunkard"
  3. "Cutters, Oh Cutters"
  4. "One More Kiss"
  5. "Holland"
  6. "Sunday Prayer"
  7. "Goddess"
  8. "Fourth Floor Corpse"
  9. "Nebraska"
  10. "Dear, Rebecca Nurse"
  11. "Untitled"
  12. "Deadlightstrangers"

Extended plays

  • Private Conflicts and Suicides (1999) featuring guest musicians Derek Rawls on guitar and Phillip Brummett on drums, alongside Josh Burnett on drums.
  • The Difference Between Us (2001; split EP with Rise Over Run)
  • My Spacecoaster & Society's Finest (1998; split EP with My Spacecoaster) featuring Derek Rawls on guitar and Phillip Brummett on drums.

External links

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