Retox (band)

Retox
Retox performing live in Chicago during their 2014 tour with The Dillinger Escape Plan
Background information
Origin	San Diego, California, US
Genres	Hardcore punk
Years active	2011 (2011)–present
Labels	Ipecac, Epitaph
Associated acts	Head Wound City, Holy Molar, The Locust
Website	retox.bandpage.com
Members	Michael Crain Ryan Bergmann Brian Evans Justin Pearson
Past members	Gabe Serbian Thor Dickey

Retox is an American rock band that formed in 2011. The four-piece was founded by Justin Pearson and Gabe Serbian, both of whom had previously performed together in The Locust, Head Wound City, and Holy Molar, as well as numerous other bands separately. The two additional members are Thor Dickey and Michael Crain. Serbian was replaced by Brian Evans in 2013. Retox has since been signed to Ipecac Recordings and Epitaph Records and released three studio albums: Ugly Animals (2011), YPLL (2013) and Beneath California (2015).

Retox formed in 2011, originally out of founding members Justin Pearson's and Gabe Serbian's disappointment that their previous band Head Wound City was too short-lived and wanted to rehash that sound, though this sound evolved over time and with the addition of Thor Dickey and Michael Crain. The band released a self-titled EP and their debut album Ugly Animals that year through Ipecac Recordings, a California-based record label co-founded by Mike Patton and Greg Werckman. Ugly Animals was self-funded by the band members and recorded on analog tape to capture the aesthetic of the band that couldn't be captured digitally, a decision made by engineer Manny Nieto.

In 2013, Retox announced that they signed to Brett Gurewitz's Epitaph Records for their second studio album. Pearson previously worked with Epitaph to release Heaven's Pregnant Teens in 2006 from his former band Some Girls and two releases from The Locust. Retox released YPPL through the label on May 7, 2013. Prior to the release of the album, founding drummer Serbian left and was replaced by Brian Evans. For YPLL, Retox focused more on simpler song structures and guitar riffs, and featured a guest appearance from Nick Zinner (Head Wound City, Yeah Yeah Yeahs) on the track "Congratulations, You Are Good Enough."