Only Crime | Think Fast! Records | Hardcore/punk record label

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Biography

Only Crime is a combination of 5 veterans of the punk/hardcore scene who have pooled their collective experience to create a truly refreshing musical statement. Fusing elements of heavy rock and roll with the furious energy of punk rock from the 1970’s & 80’s, Only Crime has also adopted the creative abandon pioneered by jazz’s seminal protagonists. The band’s sound is heavy without being the least bit “metal”, melodic without sounding “pop”, and experimental without treading into the arcane realm of “art” rock. While the members of Only Crime aren’t new, their music is like nothing you’ve heard before. ONLY CRIME was formed in 2002-2003 when vocalist Russ Rankin (Good Riddance) and guitarist Aaron Dalbec (Bane/Converge) realized they would have the time to pursue a band together; something they had talked about during a Good Riddance/Bane summer tour. Needing another guitarist to round out the sound, the two contacted Zach Blair (Hagfish/Gwar/Armstrong, and currently Rise Against) who signed on instantly. As the trio, who all lived in separate states, began searching for a bassist and drummer they stayed in constant contact and began writing the original batch of Only Crime material. Soon Bill Stevenson (Descendents/ALL/Black Flag), who had produced projects for Russ and Zach separately, got wind of the project and, excited at the chance to play some drums and revisit a musical landscape he had helped pioneer, became the band’s drummer. The last piece of the puzzle was bassist Doni Blair (Hagfish/Armstrong, and later The Toadies) who joined the group just as they were preparing for their first recording. In early 2004 the band recorded material which would eventually comprise their debut release at the Blasting Room studio in Ft. Collins, Colorado. Only Crime then struck out on a string of successful eastern US dates with the Dropkick Murphy's. By the spring of that year Fat Wreck Chords had signed Only Crime and the first album, entitled "To the Nines" was released in July. Only Crime was in the midst of a hectic summer schedule which saw them play a string of dates with Bane and Stretch Armstrong between extended runs on the Van’s Warped Tour which covered the eastern US and Canada. Between the fall of 2004 and the spring of 2005, Only Crime toured the midwestern US with Avail, the West Coast twice; first with Strung Out and then again with Rise Against, joined Lagwagon for the Fat Wreck Chords Japanese Tour and then finally headed to Europe to join the Deconstruction Tour where they shared the stage with the Mad Caddies, Boy Sets Fire and Strike Anywhere. Only Crime spent much of 2005-2006 convening at the Blasting Room for writing sessions as they began developing their second full-length album. The resulting material highlights the band’s cohesion and musical direction after over two years of playing together. "Virulence", was released on Fat Wreck Chords, and not only picks up where "To the Nines" left off, but it utterly surpasses it. Using rhythmic experimentation and ambitious arrangements, "Virulence" set a new standard for heavy rock music and raised the bar by which the band measures its success. Fast forward to 2007 and Only Crime teamed up with Outbreak for a split release via Think Fast! Records. The 7"/Digital Download release features two previously unreleased tracks from Only Crime, as well as two brand new songs from Outbreak.