Artist description Uphold is a bass-driven metal influenced hardcore band. The music ranges from the early 90's hardcore to newer styles (as the Uphold's writing style progressed) that incorporate time/key changes and dynamic vocals. Uphold has always proved to be an entertaining band to watch, with massive stage presence and overpowering grooves. The CD "Constant Use" does no justice to Uphold's true nature. Quad City metal at it's best, with influences from other local bands and artists.

Music Style Metal, Hardcore, Metalcore, Midwestern Chugga chugga-core.

Musical Influences Wu-Tang Clan, Jurassic Five, Coalesce, Bloodlet, Meshuggah,

Similar Artists Some Bloodlet, a little Helmet, with a little older Snapcase-ish stylings.

Artist History The roots of Uphold were formed in October, 1994. Mickey, Rob, Al, and Steve played as the straightedge HC band "Drift." This happy union did not persist long, but soon became Uphold in March, 1995. Mickey left and was replaced by his negative dimension twin, Curtis. The band evolved into a monstrous mix of HC and Straightedge metalcore. Curtis, Rob, Al, and Steve rocked out until Christmas, 1995.Steve left and pursued a career in computer systems. He was replaced by a long-haired hessian, Chad. Curtis, Rob, Al and Chad set off in new directions. Chad introduced dark metal and a skewed sense of humor to the band. They ran away from the monster they had become, began writing, and settled down for a long winter’s nap. During the hiatus the group’s psyche became warped. Dissonance and skewed time signatures emerged, and Uphold began to sound like a drunken monkey with a third leg. Many gigs, some favorable reviews, and a studio demo resulted during this time.The new music demanded to be on CD....so enter Blank Records, stage left. The wayward boys began the cumbersome task of recording in the studio. This brought to surface many personal demons; not the least of which were a craving for golf, high-capacity handguns, and Italian girlfriends. The recording concluded in August, 1997. The digital tapes had sat, unmixed for months in a dusty vault, next to old Village People 8-tracks and copies of the movie "Shaft."The strain of recording, new jobs, high golf scores, and no money forced Uphold to change its personnel yet again. September, 1997 brought a new drummer with mid-length hair. Ryan had the speed and agility of a true metal guy. This introduced another variable into the horrible, mixed-up three-legged monkey, known as Uphold.In June of 1998, the CD "Constant Use" finally was released, just in time for Cornerstone. A merry time was had by all. The CD was met with good reviews, and gave Uphold the incentive to be creative and write a few more songs. However, a dark time followed in November of the same year, and Al was planning to move to Arizona. Uphold performed their final show in November of 1998. By this time, Ryan had moved to Chicago (earlier in the year), and Chad was asked to fill in.Blank Records disappeared into obscurity, as well as the members of Uphold.A darkness ensued for 2 and a half years.Al moved back to Illinois with his Italian girlfriend.The Core members of Uphold are in talks to record the songs that were written after the release of their multi-platinum release "Constant Use." Earthquakes, floods and blizzards occur throughout the world, and the members look to their trix pops and half-eaten boxes of ranch-flavored Wheat thins for a miraculous sign to continue the prophecy of being a "big, scary, and strange band who will erode the ideas of cliche hessianism."The band in one form or another persists to this very day; lurking, growing, changing...waiting, to play yet another show. Look for them in your dusty village. Or, perhaps, buy their CD if it hits the shelves of the record store or the pages of your favorite distro.

Group Members Curtis Butterfield - VocalsAl Collins - Bass, VocalsRob Dunn - Guitar, Samples (live)Chad Eng - Drums

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Drums, Samples (during live performances)

Albums Initiate (EP, Cassette) - Constant Use - (CD, full length)

Press Reviews Uphold - "initiate" Heavy new school hardcore from this Illinois band. These guys are coming at you from both the new school and the Christian way of life. The riffs on here are heavy and the lyrics reflect this band's religious faith. Powerful stuff. Faith has driven armies into battle and artists to create masterpieces, and it is driving Uphold to create some damn good hardcore. review by: Wasteland 'zine c/o Chris J D'Alessandro 33 LOCKWOOD PLACE Clifton NJ 07012 For starters, this is a definite improvement over their last demo (reviewed in gp#2) and that demo (Irreverence for the people) wasn't bad either. This is much better than the average demo, with excellent production. The majority of this six-song tape is well executed hardcore with a bit of rapcore on the title track. Closer to pure hardcore as opposed to metallic hc, lyrics are sXe influenced with lots of encouragement to "as in times of old, discipline my mind, my body, my soul, no longer will I fail you, discipline, I stay true." & "rise up initiate...and fight...from the bottom I come." This is very poetic at times. review by: Garlic Press 'zine c/o Darrel Mikulcik Box 498 RPO University Saskatoon, SK S7N 4J8 Canada When I first put on this tape I had a feeling of "This group has no feeling and plays plain out HC". But as the tape went on the songs got better with more groove and aggression in the vocals. One of the songs reminded me of Marauder. The only part I didn't like was the talking in the songs. review by: Jackson at State Of Mind 'zine (Brooklyn N.Y.) A tough sampling of hardcore here. Power riffs and vocals deliver these angry at Satan lyrics with a groove. Some nice guitar crunch tones amidst the semi-poor tape sonics. They do a good job of building anticipation with groove. Obviously influenced by bands like The Crucified or Focused. review by: HM magazine May/June Issue #65 1997 Here's some more of that good 'ole Hardcore music for you. The band's called Uphold and they hail from Rock Island, IL. and they deliver six songs for a well rounded tape called Initiate. This is a four piece hXc band and is pretty well bass driven. As a side note this is also where the mixing of the tape went awry as well. The bass is so over powering if you just pop it into your tape deck. Once I lowered the bass level down some it was listenable. Then with the bass lowered you can really hear the talent of Al Collins the bass player for this band. Lyrically they are straightforward in their religion and love for God, and deal with the state of the world, and the only way to deal with it. This is delivered by very clean sounding hardcore vocals delivered by Curtis Butterfield. Truly what stands out in my mind with this tape is the guitar work of Rob Dunn, who tends to play a little thrash influenced and has several parts that are the fast chug chug guitars I like so much. Then on songs like City of Blood he just totally amazes me with the originality of his riffs. Chad Eng rounds out the band on drums and fills the spot nicely keeping everything wrapped up with a strong rhythm. review by: D_Lister @ Dead the 'zine

Location Moline, IL - USA

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