HEX RECORDS TO RELEASE THE FUNERAL, "Discography 2001-2004" 2xLP THIS SPRING!

As the first announcement for a new release this year we got a whopper of a surprise for you all!  On March 15th, 2019 Hex Records will release a 2xLP discography for defunct Syracuse hardcore band The Funeral!  It has been a long time in the works, but it's finally coming to light!

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            The Funeral were a hardcore band from Syracuse, NY that existed between 2001 and 2004.  In that time they played throughout the Northeast and released two full lengths, as well as three different demos.  The band released all their material themselves (with the exception of the “Ruled By None” full length, which was released via Endwell Records) and booked most of their own hometown shows, in the spirit of doing things for themselves.

            The band started originally as a side project for members of other local bands Darker Day Tomorrow and Spark Lights the Friction to play dark and heavy hardcore in the vein of groups like From Ashes Rise and Tragedy, but also with the monstrous heft of groups such as Hope Conspiracy or Carry On.

            When both Darker Day Tomorrow and Spark Lights the Friction decided to split up The Funeral became more of a priority for the group.  Comprised of members Travis Hance, Andrew Williams, and Tony Tornabene- all from DDT, as well as Grant Johnson – from SLTF, and rounded out by local show promoter/zine scribe/record label person Ryan Canavan the band played frequently and recorded regularly.  The band decided to split up in 2004 when guitarist Grant Johnson moved to California.  The band reconvened for a single Halloween show in 2006 as well.

            Until now the material on this discography was scattered about.  Two demos that were self-released were on CDR format.  A third demo was two songs on cassette where no more than 20 copies exist.  The “Ruled By None” full length was only available on CD as well.  The band’s second full length, simply titled “Final Recording”, was released at their last show on CD and only as a short-run pressing.  An unreleased track, a cover of the Infest song “Judge Me” (from the “Ruled By None” sessions), was released via Hex Records in 2009 as part of a 10-year anniversary compilation from the label on CD.

            The band always wanted to release material on vinyl but it had never happened.  Now, all the material from the band’s entire existence has been remastered (by Jason Randall of Moresound Studio, who originally recorded the majority of the band’s output) and released as a double LP discography.  This includes the demos, unreleased track, and the two full lengths.  30 tracks in total on a gatefold package with an accompanying booklet full of tons of photos, flyers, history, and an oral history of the band compiled by long time friend and Black Sheep Squadron vocalist Chuck Hickey.

            For those interested in the history of Syracuse hardcore this is a small, but important, piece of it.

            Members of The Funeral currently play in The Flashing Astonishers, Difficult, and Dialysis.

You can check out a couple of tracks from the band on the bandcamp right now over HERE

You can pre-order the double LP through the webstore now.  First 100 on violet , and the rest on black vinyl.

The discography will officially be out on 3/15/2019.  Yes, that is very Syracuse of me to do.