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Old-school hardcore kings DOWNSET plus GIANT WALKER. Tickets 🎟️ https://tinyurl.com/8aa7r4nn 💰 £25 adv. // ⏰ 19:00 •••••••••••••••••••••• Presented by theunderworldcamden.co.uk •••••••••••••••••••••• DOWNSET 🎥 https://youtu.be/Xr45DRhCk9Y 🔗 facebook.com/DownsetLA Monumental progress doesn’t occur overnight. Some of man kind’s most powerful words don’t come from education or privilege, but erupt from the pain and roughness of the streets; they smolder through the cracks in the concrete until eventually grand truths are revealed, and the winds of change slowly emerge. It is with these notions in mind that old school Hardcore Kings DOWNSET began to surface in Los Angeles, California in the early 1980’s. The genesis of DOWNSET itself was not one of entitlement or handouts, either. Originally formed with a straight edge mentality under the name of SOCIAL JUSTICE, the members of DOWNSET have been fighting against societal injustice for a long time. Founder and vocalist Rey Oropeza began using graffiti as its own language for change in about 1982. The group eventually released demos and shifted from SOCIAL JUSTICE to DOWNSET. “It has multiple meanings,” explains guitarist and producer Rogelio Lozano (CYPRESS HILL, POWERFLO). “Some people are set up in life, some are down with a set, but it also means to start off underprivileged; to have a life full of disadvantages.” All of these notions and inspirations eventually procured a self-titled studio album that was released in 1994 via Mercury Records. A musical style that was distinctly hardcore combined with Oropeza’s MC abilities allowed DOWNSET to stand out from other metal acts, while still being able to achieve a variety of tours with some of the most prominent bands of the time. After member rearrangements, and the 1996 release of "Do We Speak A Dead Language," the band went on to join the original “TATTOO THE EARTH” tour in 2000 with the likes of SLAYER, SEPULTURA, MUDVAYNE and more. This all coincided perfectly with the release of "Check Your People," and once again the band was on the hustle. With more member changes and the release of "Universal" a few years later in 2004, followed up by self-released "One Blood" in 2014. DOWNSET signed a new record deal in 2022 with the world’s leading metal label: Nuclear Blast Records, the first fruits of which was their last album “Maintain”. The new year will hold colossal announcements as far as new music, touring, and more. The future of society remains to be seen, but the future of DOWNSET has been carved in the stone of the streets for decades. facebook.com/giantwalker
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Downset Biography
Founded in Los Angeles in the late 80's as part of the thriving hardcore scene, downset has evolved into an icon of sorts. As the original blenders of rap, funk, hardcore, punk, metal, and socially aware lyrics, they drew influences from Black Flag to Black Sabbath, Public Enemy to Bob Marley. Becoming a huge draw, the industry took notice and they caught the attention of Mercury/PolyGram Records and released their self titled debut in 1994.
From California, they perfected their unique, in your face assault of rap/rock fusion pounding street anthems, along with artists like Rage Against The Machine and KoRn, who helped to pave the way for the hip-hop/metal explosion of the late 90's. The band features Rey Oropeza (Vocals), Chris Lee (Drums), Ares Schwager (Guitars), and Rico Villasenor (Bass).
In 1992, Social Justice (1987-92) changed their name to downset and released their self-titled debut album on Abstract Records (1994). The album was praised by critics, exploring various social issues in their songs, including the death of Oropeza's father by the LAPD in the song Anger.
Later in 1994, downset. signed a deal with Mercury Records (Polygram), and released Downset their self-titled effort in the same year. In 1996, the band released their most commercially successful album, Do We Speak a Dead Language?, through Mercury.
Making their departure from Mercury Records, downset were scooped up by Epitaph Records and released their 3rd album, Check Your People in 2000. That same year, rumours circulated that Oropeza was to resume Rage Against the Machine's Zach de la Rocha vocalist position after Zach left. Other replacement contenders were Chris Cornell, Chuck D, and B-Real of Cypress Hill. Cornell was ultimately chosen, and Rage Against the Machine transfigured into Audioslave.
After many line-up changes (most notably, the loss of long-time downset. guitar player, Rogelio Lozano and the addition of original drummer, Chris Lee), in 2004 downset. released their latest album, Universal, on independent record label Hawino Records.
Without mainstream recognition, downset are regarded as a noteworthy influence within the nu-metal & rap-metal subgenres. In addition to headlining the second stage at Ozzfest 1997, they've toured with Linkin Park, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax, among many other eminent metal names.
The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They released their debut album, Unity is Strength, in 1989 and the EP I Refuse to Lose under this name.
http://downset.net
http://myspace.com/downset
Read MoreFrom California, they perfected their unique, in your face assault of rap/rock fusion pounding street anthems, along with artists like Rage Against The Machine and KoRn, who helped to pave the way for the hip-hop/metal explosion of the late 90's. The band features Rey Oropeza (Vocals), Chris Lee (Drums), Ares Schwager (Guitars), and Rico Villasenor (Bass).
In 1992, Social Justice (1987-92) changed their name to downset and released their self-titled debut album on Abstract Records (1994). The album was praised by critics, exploring various social issues in their songs, including the death of Oropeza's father by the LAPD in the song Anger.
Later in 1994, downset. signed a deal with Mercury Records (Polygram), and released Downset their self-titled effort in the same year. In 1996, the band released their most commercially successful album, Do We Speak a Dead Language?, through Mercury.
Making their departure from Mercury Records, downset were scooped up by Epitaph Records and released their 3rd album, Check Your People in 2000. That same year, rumours circulated that Oropeza was to resume Rage Against the Machine's Zach de la Rocha vocalist position after Zach left. Other replacement contenders were Chris Cornell, Chuck D, and B-Real of Cypress Hill. Cornell was ultimately chosen, and Rage Against the Machine transfigured into Audioslave.
After many line-up changes (most notably, the loss of long-time downset. guitar player, Rogelio Lozano and the addition of original drummer, Chris Lee), in 2004 downset. released their latest album, Universal, on independent record label Hawino Records.
Without mainstream recognition, downset are regarded as a noteworthy influence within the nu-metal & rap-metal subgenres. In addition to headlining the second stage at Ozzfest 1997, they've toured with Linkin Park, Slayer, Metallica and Anthrax, among many other eminent metal names.
The band's original moniker was Social Justice. They released their debut album, Unity is Strength, in 1989 and the EP I Refuse to Lose under this name.
http://downset.net
http://myspace.com/downset
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