Downset

Biography

These fierce and confrontational metal-rappers (usually titled downset.), from the San Fernando Valley/Sylmar area of Los Angeles, originally formed under the name Social Justice in 1986. Immersed in the 90s US independent underground scene, Rey Anthony Oropeza (2 June 1970; ‘Messenger’), James Morris (b. 11 April 1974; bass) and Chris Lee (b. 27 January 1975; drums) were the founding members, later joined by guitarists Rogelio ‘Roy’ Lozano and Brian ‘Ares’ Schwager (b. 12 December 1973) as they slowly evolved into downset. Typically, the band began by recording and releasing a series of singles and cassettes on a variety of labels, with ‘Angel’/‘Ritual’ (Theologian Records) and ‘Our Suffocation’ (Abstract Records) being among the best known. Having established a formidable fanbase, the band inevitably attracted major label interest. By early 1993 the band had to compromise their hardcore ethics in order...

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