Askance

Most of the hardcore I gravitate to has some sort of message.  Weather it be about politics, love, tragedy, oppression, prejudice, etc.- I am touched most by music that has a message I can relate to and believe in.  I am also inspired by seeing bands play live.  Few things move me like a powerful, sincere, emotional show.

In the early 90's, Askance embodied both the message and the moving live show.  Hailing from Richmond, they were also somewhat 'local' to the DC area.  Consisting of members from Device, Step Aside, and As It Stands- Askance regularly played shows with the likes of Born Against, Rorschach, Avail, Four Walls Falling, and so on.  They handed out lyric sheets at shows (a practice I still STRONGLY believe in) and talked about song meanings before playing them.  Live, they brought with them an energy and an urgency that could only be pulled off by people that truly gave a shit- which almost always resulted in a floored audience.

Musically they were much more complex than many of the other snare/bass, open E chord bands playing at the time.  No sing-along choruses, no 'mosh' parts, and no guitar solos.  Instead they had complex songs lead by drumming of the likes I'd never heard before (and still haven't).  Anyone who has seen or heard them would agree that the unique, intricate, ants-in-your-pants drumming style is/was the most memorable musical component of Askance.  On the recorded material- the vocals came across much more tame and whiney than in live performances.  At first listen they can be off-putting, but give it a few listens and they grow on you.

Askance was Matt Rankin, Brad Goodwin, Jimmy Anthony, Craig Henry and Jon Bone.  From 1991 to 1993, they put out a four song demo (with Rob Kelshian from Avail, Ipecac, Shadowman on guitar), two songs that showed up on compilations (Old Glory's God's Chosen People and Allied's Emergency Broadcast System), and a four song 7".  The 7" was released on Catheter Assembly, and had a booklet with contributions from all five band members.

Included in each download are scans of the lyric sheets.  I encourage you to read them, as it will give you a better sense of what Askance was about.

Fuck your pride, we stole this.

Demo
Emergency Broadcast System
God's Chosen People
you'll never be the mannequin 7"