Cipher (band)
| Ciphers | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Long Beach, New York, USA |
| Genres |
Hardcore punk Metalcore, Rapcore |
| Years active | 1996–2011, 2014 |
| Labels |
Uprising Records and their affiliated licensees and distributors |
| Website | www.facebook.com/cipheronline |
| Members | Moe Mitchell Dan Bianco Zach Barnett Kevin Falco Danny Bobis (deceased) |
| Past members | Edward Lally Jay Cordella Chris Fry Mike Signa Krys Maniecki Mark Dollar Ben Yazak |
Cipher is an American hardcore punk, metalcore band that formed in 1996 in Long Beach, New York. Cipher's core line-up consisted of Maurice "Moe" Mitchell (vocals), Danny "Cipher" Bobis (drums), Chris Fry (guitar) and Krys Maniecki (bass).
The band's earliest demo's released when they were High School Juniors. These releases were marked by a noticeably more metal and progressive sound than their contemporaries in the Long Island Hardcore scene. Another distinct element of Cipher's sound was Moe Ciphers vocals which were expressed as rhythmic, staccato yells rather than screams which drew some comparisons to Hip hop. Cipher's music addressed socio-political activism, hardcore scene politics and identity.
Later releases became progressively pointed in their political critiques and complex in their musical structure. The release of the EP Protoculture marks a distinct change in artistic direction for Cipher. The four song recording was the first time Cipher put together a compilation of work written for the express purpose of being released as a unit. The outcome was a treatment on race, the trans-Atlantic slave trade, spiritual indecision, and the role of the individual in changing her/his reality.
Cipher has released three demos (Serial, 99 cent Demo, 2), one EP (Protoculture), one 6 inch EP (Burnt Halos), and one music video (for "Reaching Higher States" off the Antidote album). The band has become highly regarded in the Hardcore underground as a consistent voice of radical political dissent and musical experimentation. In 2003, the band was featured in James Spooner's cult classic documentary Afro-Punk. In 2005, Cipher released their first non-DIY, nationally distributed release, Children of God's Fire. Children of God's Fire has gone on to become an emblematic record in the band's history and an influential record, seen as a needed departure from the apolitical recordings popular in mainstream heavy music.
Since their 2005 release Children of God's Fire, the band had several line-up changes with the exception of founding members Danny Bobis and Maurice Mitchell.
In 2010, the band released their second major release, The Joyous Collapse. The record is Cipher's attempt at chronicling the internal contradictions and struggles of daily life, our many overlapping identities, and the many forms of oppression we encounter in society.
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Wikipedia