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Grave Mistake and Six Feet Under are honored to present a significant artifact in DC punk history - a reissue of The Suspects' 1995 full length, "Voice of America," along with the tracks from their 1994 debut self-titled 7". Originally released on their own Torque Records label, the band's seminal output contains thirteen blasts of timeless and unadulterated punk rock, delivered with a precise intensity that maintains its urgency two decades later. There is no denying The Suspects' significance during their tenure as torchbearers for Washington DC Punk and Hardcore, and their role in its history paved the way for the city's scene to grow and thrive for decades to follow.
The state of punk rock in Washington DC in the early 90's was an interesting one, to say the least. A decade had passed since the initial wave of classic punk and hardcore bands put the city on the map, and the District was comfortably settled in a post-Revolution Summer era of indie and math rock. While there is no denying the importance and influence of the late 80's / early 90's Dischord Records bands that dominated the region, it came as no surprise that there were a few who still longed for the urgency of the classic hardcore punk sound and attitude that remained notably absent from the DC scene at this time.
It was out of this void that The Suspects were formed. Founded by original Scream drummer Kent Stax alongside guitarist Bryan Harbin, bassist Chris Condayan and vocalist Brian Gayton, the Suspects came together in 1993 with one objective - to inject the Nation's capital with a long forgotten dose of uninhibited punk intensity. Combining their love for classic '77 UK punk with the aggression and power of the DC Hardcore classics, The Suspects were a pivotal band for the region; crucial in keeping the spirit of DC Punk and Hardcore alive and flourishing for generations to come.
Supported by energetic live performances, the band gained an impressive following not only locally, but nationally as well. They shared the stage with a plethora of name bands from the decade - Rancid, The Pist, Violent Society, Dropkick Murphys, Blanks 77, Showcase Showdown, The Boils, Swingin Utters, US Bombs, and Pennywise, as well as legendary bands like the UK Subs, Fear, and The Ramones. Regarded by many as the most relevant DC punk band of the nineties, their music bridged the gap between the eighties Dischord scene and the diverse punk subsets of the 2000s, consequently providing a soundtrack for the lives of countless mohawked outcasts. Chances are if you lived in DC at the time and considered yourself a fan of punk music in any way, you were a fan of The Suspects.
The state of punk rock in Washington DC in the early 90's was an interesting one, to say the least. A decade had passed since the initial wave of classic punk and hardcore bands put the city on the map, and the District was comfortably settled in a post-Revolution Summer era of indie and math rock. While there is no denying the importance and influence of the late 80's / early 90's Dischord Records bands that dominated the region, it came as no surprise that there were a few who still longed for the urgency of the classic hardcore punk sound and attitude that remained notably absent from the DC scene at this time.
It was out of this void that The Suspects were formed. Founded by original Scream drummer Kent Stax alongside guitarist Bryan Harbin, bassist Chris Condayan and vocalist Brian Gayton, the Suspects came together in 1993 with one objective - to inject the Nation's capital with a long forgotten dose of uninhibited punk intensity. Combining their love for classic '77 UK punk with the aggression and power of the DC Hardcore classics, The Suspects were a pivotal band for the region; crucial in keeping the spirit of DC Punk and Hardcore alive and flourishing for generations to come.
Supported by energetic live performances, the band gained an impressive following not only locally, but nationally as well. They shared the stage with a plethora of name bands from the decade - Rancid, The Pist, Violent Society, Dropkick Murphys, Blanks 77, Showcase Showdown, The Boils, Swingin Utters, US Bombs, and Pennywise, as well as legendary bands like the UK Subs, Fear, and The Ramones. Regarded by many as the most relevant DC punk band of the nineties, their music bridged the gap between the eighties Dischord scene and the diverse punk subsets of the 2000s, consequently providing a soundtrack for the lives of countless mohawked outcasts. Chances are if you lived in DC at the time and considered yourself a fan of punk music in any way, you were a fan of The Suspects.