Ignite

Formed in 1993 in the suburbs of Orange County, California, Ignite was composed of four members: Brett Rasmussen on bass, Casey Jones on drums, Joe D. Foster on guitar and Randy Johnson on singing. Their first recording, entitled Scarred for Life , was released in 1994 at Lost And Found Records ; It includes eight tracks, three of which are sung by Joe Nelson. But it is at the end of 1994 and the arrival of Hungarian singer Zoli Teglas that the band will take on its real dimension. This one will bring true originality thanks to a very melodic song that contrasts with the rest of the hardcore scene. It thus gives Ignite an incomparable trademark. On the other hand, it will open up the group to political, social and especially environmental awareness; Zoli then worked in a marine animal rehabilitation centre and was particularly concerned with pelicans. Ignite becomes the militant group par excellence, involved in the environmental movement and social action. He supports many associations such as Médecins Sans Frontières, Habitat For Humanity, Sea Shepherds, Project Blue Sea, Earth First or Pacific Wild Life, to which he pays part of his earnings and to which he organises concerts. These characteristics will make Ignite a particularly appealing group because of its sincerity, intelligence and commitment, but also one of the florets of melodic hardcore. After various productions, including Call On My Brothers in 1995, Past Our Means was released in 1996 at Revelation Records. Recorded at Paramount Studios, it is produced by Jim Goodwin ( Face To Face , Voodoo Glow Skulls , Bigwig , Guttermouth ). When A Place Called Home released in 2000 at TVT Records, Ignite's line-up evolved considerably. Joe D. Foster, guitarist and principal composer, and drummer Casey Jones left the band, replaced by Brian Balchack and Craig Anderson. Produced by Thom Wilson (The Offspring , The Bounting Souls , D.O.A. ., Face To Face , The Adolescents ), the album arrives in Europe in 2001 with three bonus tracks, "Old", a Hungarian cover of "A Place Called Home" and especially the masterful cover of "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2 . The album is a success and propels Ignite to the rank of very great hardcore. It will take six years to listen to a new realization of Californians. Enriched with a second guitarist in the person of Nick Hill, the band, who signed with Abacus Recordings, book Our Darkest Days in 2006. The album, produced by Cameron Webb ( Motörhead , Limp Bizkit , Monster Magnet ), of outstanding quality, was unanimously criticized. In 2009 Zoli Teglas (Chant) joined Pennywise in the position of singer, however Ignite did not die and the band indicated that they would continue to shoot/composing. Line up : Craig Anderson - drums Brian Balchack - guitar Nick Hill - guitar Brett Rasmussen - bass Zoli Teglas - singing