By Virtue Alone is an all American member, metal- influenced hardcore band that was originally formed in Japan as Locked Down. Since the conception of the band, we have gone through numerous changes in addition to the name. Since then, our music has changed dramatically and continues to change and mature. We feel that having the opportunity to grow as a band while being separated from the U.S. music scenes has been useful and benefitial to us because we have been less restricted and influenced by their music styles, fashion, and attitudes.
Our influences are as drastic and obscure as imaginable. Each of us have past band experience in a variety of styles, from Jeremy playing in a death metal band to Scott playing 80's cheesy hairspray metal. Our varied past experience and influences have molded what could be considered a pretty unique style of hardcore.
During our two years of playing live in Japan, we have frequented clubs in Yokohama, Yokosuka, numerous districts of Tokyo, and Utsunomiya. Our first CD release, available on Tokyo hardcore label Out ta Bomb Records, was released in Japan May 1999 with limited distribution to the U.S. Our second release, a split CD with Boston hardcore band Diecast is due out in December 1999.
As for now, we are preparing more material and ourselves to return to the Albany, NY area with hopes of a full-length release sometime in the near future.
***UPDATE 6 January 2000*** Our Japanese CD release, "Odds Against Tomorrow" has been re-released in the states by NH hardcore label Common Ground Records and is available at Very and Lumberjack Distribution. Boston's Diecast was originally slotted to be on our split CD but have since dropped out and been replaced by Mass' Holdstrong - look for that to be out March 2000.
