Artist description Godfathers of Columbus' Current Heavy Scene

Music Style Metal

Musical Influences Black Sabbath, Kiss, Biohazard, DRI , Neil Young

Similar Artists Biohazard, DRI

Artist History Any talk about the hardcore stylings of the Columbus, Ohio music scene must first begin with a trip back in time to 1993 when Unconfined were THE big dogs in the yard. Formed form the ashes of seminal act Dark Harvest by that band's guitarist Doug Sexton and vocalist Kevin Montavon (now with Voidgazer), Unconfined would take the first brave steps into musical territory that is now passe in Cowtown's hardore community. "We won't even play the hip-hop style beats in Voidgazer. We like to rock out more, but back in the Unconfined days I was all over it...no one else in town was doing it then. I can still remember people telling us how original we sounded," Montavon recalls. "We were the first hardcore style band to play The Alrosa Villa, and now they got a hardcore style local band in there every Friday night. It's a cool thing," he stated. Unconfined took the Metallica style thrash sound and mixed it with a hip-hop vocal flavor a la Biohazard circa "State Of The World Address". Early opening gigs with DRI (at Park Avenue, owned by Voidgazer drummer Roger Coffman's father) and Clutch, Unconfined quickly made a name and following for themselves among the Columbus music fans starved for an alternative to the then popular trend of tribute bands and holding-on-to-their-last-breath Hair Metal bands. A full-length CD debut "Unconfined" was released in September of 1994, and a CD release show at The Newport Music Hall drew 800 maniacs to a show which also featured Columbus legends Ouchcube, Gasohol, and Godbox (in their debut gig). A visit to The 1994 Foundations Forum Music Conference in Burbank, CA followed, and the band garnered the attention of both major and independent labels. Unfortunately, the band broke up less than two months later, with most of the members going on to form the Clutch-style band Binge in 1995, and sending Kevin to Tempe, Arizona, where he formed Spit THC, and eventually returned to Ohio and Voidgazer. While Unconfined are no more, their influence can be heard on any Friday night at the Alrosa Villa. Ask some of the members of the bands that are playing about them, they might even remember who they are!

Group Members Doug Sexton - guitars Larry Jones - bass Glen Pullins - guitars Larry Bradshaw - drums Kevin Montavon - vocals

Instruments guitars, bass, drums

Albums Unconfined (released in 1994... Currently Out of Print...Re-release coming soon)

Press Reviews Old Ohio State University Lantern article coming soon (the only press the band ever got)

Additional Info Rare demo

Location Columbus, Ohio - USA

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