State Faults

American post-hardcore band

State Faults

Also known as| Brother Bear (2010–2011)
Origin| Santa Rosa, California, U.S.
Genres|

* Screamo
* post-hardcore

Years active| 2010–2015, 2019–present
Labels|

* No Sleep
* Tiny Engines
* Dog Nights
* Deathwish Inc

Members|

* Jonny Andrew
* Jef Overn
* Jared Wallace
* Michael Weldon

Past members|

* Chip Kelley
* Toby Brown
* Jordan James

Website| www.statefaults.com

State Faults (formerly known as Brother Bear) are an American post-hardcore band formed in Santa Rosa, California in 2010.[1] Noisey included their album "Resonate/Desperate" as one of the records that best captures the last decade of hardcore punk.[2] In 2019, they were listed at number 16 on Kerrang's 50 Best American Hardcore Bands Right Now list.[3]

## History

[edit]

The band formed in 2010, under the name Brother Bear, releasing their debut EP, Head In the Clouds the next year.[4] However changed their name soon after due to the large number of bands who were also operating under that name.[5] On 8 May 2012, they released their debut album Desolate Peaks through Tiny Engine Records.[6] On 12 November 2013, they released their sophomore album Resonate/Desperate through No Sleep Records.[7] In 2015, Kelley departed from the band, while Chris Hansen from No Sleep Records was pushing the band to put out a new record. This led to the three remaining members deciding to officially break-up and work on a separate musical project, which would turn out to be noise rock band Slow Bloom.[8]

In 2019, Andrew, Weldon and Wallace reformed State Faults due to increased interest by fans and began recording material.[8] Their first performance after reforming was at Santa Rosa's Chop Shop on 18 February, with support from Outlier, Sloth & Turtle and Pushing It.[9] Their third album Clairvoyant was released on 21 June 2019.[10] In December 2019, Brooklyn Vegan placed Resonate/Desperate at number 95 on their top 100 punk rock and emo albums of the 2010s.[11] In addition to this, Chris Luedtke of Metal Injection included the album as an "Honourable Mention" in his list of the greatest albums of 2019.[12]

## Musical style

[edit]

State Faults have primarily been categorised as screamo[13][14] and post-hardcore[13][10] possessing elements of black metal,[15][16] post-rock,[17][18] shoegazing,[19] heavy metal,[20] noise rock, mathcore and heavy psych.[1] Their music often makes heavy usage of dynamics,[21][22] by incorporating both ambient and cacophonous passages.[23] Their softer sections are often utilized through the usage of reverb effects, ambient synths and occasionally spoken word.[4] Dan Ozzi, a writer at Noisey, described their music as "what a panic attack sounds like".[24] Some tracks, such as "Wildfires", incorporate melody and hooks into unclean vocals.[25]

Lyrically, their music generally focuses on spirituality,[1] makes use of references to the occult[26] and is heavily emotional.[21] A number of the tracks on their debut album were based on anxiety and its repercussions.[27] In an article for No Echo, Adam Yoe described their lyrics as "meditation on trauma and healing".[23]

## Members

[edit]

Current

* Jonny Andrew – lead vocals, guitar (2010–2015, 2019–present)
* Jef Overn – bass (2020–present), vocals (2020–present)
* Jared Wallace – drums (2012–2015, 2019–present), guitar  (2010–2012)
* Michael Weldon – guitar (2010–2015, 2023–present), vocals (2010–2015, 2019–2020, 2023-present), bass (2019–2020)

Former

* Chip Kelley – bass, vocals (2010–2015)
* Toby Brown – drums (2010–2012)

## Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

* Desolate Peaks (2012)
* Resonate/Desperate (2013)
* Clairvoyant (2019)
* Children of the Moon (2024)

EPs

* Head In The Clouds (2011)
* Moon Sign Gemini (2020)

Singles

* Vespers (2010)
* Arrowhead (2010)
* Ugly (2012)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c "Exclusive: State Faults' New Track Flails With Satanic Panic". Kerrang!. June 12, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
2. ^ Ozzi, Dan (August 22, 2018). "What Records Best Capture the Last Decade of Hardcore?". Vice Media. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
3. ^ Enis, Eli; Krovatin, Chris; Fixell, Ethan (August 28, 2019). "The 50 Best American Hardcore Bands Right Now". Kerrang!. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
4. ^ a b McGonigle, Andy (April 2015). "Album Review: State Faults – Head In the Clouds". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
5. ^ Kamiński, Karol. "Interviews State Faults (ex-Brother Bear) interview". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
6. ^ White, Tom (May 22, 2012). "Album Review: State Faults – Desolate Peaks". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
7. ^ Bird, Michele (November 12, 2013). "State Faults Stream New Album, 'Resonate/Desperate'". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
8. ^ a b Montoya, John (July 10, 2019). "Interview: State Faults". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
9. ^ Perkins, Carly. "State Faults reunite at the Chop Shop with friends". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
10. ^ a b Pessaro, Fred (April 16, 2019). "Hear Post-Hardcore Trio State Faults Channel Converge on Furious New Song". Revolver. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
11. ^ Sacher, Andrew (December 18, 2019). "100 Best Punk & Emo Albums of the 2010s". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
12. ^ Luedtke, Christoper (December 17, 2019). "Chris Luedtke's Top 20 Albums of 2019". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
13. ^ a b Ozzi, Dan (October 3, 2013). "If You'd Like to Hear What a Panic Attack Sounds Like, Listen to This New Song from State Faults". Vice Media. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
14. ^ Arsenault, Nici. "State Faults Debut New Music Video For "Wildfires"". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
15. ^ "ostraca last (2017)". May 24, 2017. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
16. ^ "State Faults Resonate/Desperate (2013)". November 15, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
17. ^ "Album Review: State Faults 'Clairvoyant'". June 26, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
18. ^ Sacher, Andrew (September 10, 2013). "State Faults releasing an LP (stream a new track, "Wildfires")". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
19. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 13, 2019). "The 10 Best Hardcore Albums Of 2019". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
20. ^ Fetty, Bill. "State Faults – Clairvoyant". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
21. ^ a b Sennett, Troy. "Review: Statue Faults – 'Resonate/Desperate'". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
22. ^ Loeffler, Shawn (September 3, 2013). "About State Faults".
23. ^ a b Yoe, Adam (July 23, 2019). "State Faults, "Dreamcatcher, Pt. II," from Clairvoyant (No Sleep Records, 2019)". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
24. ^ Ozzi, Dan (October 3, 2013). "If You'd Like to Hear What a Panic Attack Sounds Like, Listen to This New Song from State Faults". Vice Media. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
25. ^ "Review: State Faults – 'Resonate/Desperate'". Retrieved December 27, 2019.
26. ^ Senior, Nicholas. "Album Review: State Faults – Clairvoyant". New Noise Magazine. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
27. ^ Whitt, Cassie (August 29, 2013). "Song Premiere: State Faults, "Meteor"". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 27, 2019.