Only Living Witness

Only Living Witness was an American metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1989 by members of dissolved thrash metal band Formicide. Across two studio albums, they developed a groove-oriented hardcore punk-influenced heavy metal sound.[1] The band split up in 1995.

Only Living Witness
OriginBoston, Massachusetts, U.S.
Years active1989–1995
LabelsLook Again, Slipped Disc, Reflections, Chainsaw Safety, Century Media
MembersJonah Jenkins
Eric Stevenson
Craig Silverman
Roy Costa
Past membersKevin Stevenson
Chris Crowley

Career

The band was formed in 1989 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Jonah Jenkins (vocals) and Eric Stevenson (drums, ex-Formicide). Stevenson's brother Kevin (guitar) and former Formicide bandmate Roy Costa (bass) completed the lineup. In 1991, Kevin Stevenson and Costa were replaced by Craig Silverman and Chris Crowley.[1] Kevin Stevenson and Costa went on to form The Shods.

Only Living Witness released a few demos before being signed by Century Media Records. Their debut album, Prone Mortal Form, was released in 1993.[1] The band performed concerts in 14 countries including Sweden, England, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. In 1996, their follow-up CD Innocents was released, but the band had already split up.[1]

Following the band's dissolution in 1995, Jonah Jenkins went on to perform the vocal duties in Miltown, Milligram and Raw Radar War. Guitarist Craig Silverman went on to play in bands Blood for Blood, Ramallah, Slapshot, and Agnostic Front.

Only Living Witness briefly reformed in 2008 for four reunion shows: June 14 and 21 at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 22 in Clinton, Massachusetts, and the final show on August 30 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

Eric Stevenson, the band's main composer and drummer, died on August 9, 2011, at the age of 43.[2][3]

Legacy

Only Living Witness would prove to be influential to the wave of metalcore acts that also came out of Massachusetts some years later, like Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Unearth.

In 2014, Shadows Fall's cover of the Only Living Witness song "December" was used in the soundtrack of the film Let's Be Cops.

Members
  • Jonah Jenkins – vocals (1989–1995)
  • Eric Stevenson – drums (1989–1995)
  • Kevin Stevenson – guitar (1989–1991)
  • Roy Costa – bass (1989–1991)
  • Craig Silverman – guitar (1991–1995)
  • Chris Crowley – bass (1991–1995)
US Reunion, Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008
  • Bob Maloney – bass guitar
Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008
  • Benny Grotto – drums

Discography
Year Album
1993 Prone Mortal Form
1996 Innocents
2006 Prone Mortal Form/Innocents (re-released)

Demos
1990
Self-titled demo (audio cassette)
No.TitleLength
1."Complex Man"3:55
2."Dying System"4:31
3."Corruption Of Power"2:57
4."Bad Blood"2:32
Total length:13:57
1992
Prone Mortal Form demo (audio cassette)
No.TitleLength
1."Prone Mortal Form"5:12
2."Twitching Tongues"3:03
3."Window 4:45"4:45
4."Nineveh"5:29
5."Slug"4:30
Total length:22:59

Singles
1991
  • Complex Man 7" limited press of 1,000 copies (Look Again Records)
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Complex Man"3:58
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Dying System"4:35
2."Bad Blood"2:34
Total length:11:07
1995
Side A
No.TitleLength
1."Freaklaw"2:48
Side B
No.TitleLength
1."Some Will Never Know"4:04
Total length:6:52

Compilation appearances
1991

Have contributed with the track Bad Blood

1993
  • East Coast Assault compilation (Too Damn Hype Records)

Have contributed with the track Twitching Tongues

1994
  • Case Closed?: An International Compilation of Husker Du Cover Songs (Snoop Records)

Have contributed with the track Too Far Down

1995

Have contributed with the track Deed's Pride

Have contributed with the track Bad Blood

References
  1. "Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia". Allmusic. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  2. Eagletribune.com
  3. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com – accessed August 2011
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