Endwell

Growing up as hardcore kids loving bands like Hatebreed and Earth Crisis, Endwell came together in Queens, NY, with their own version of thrashing melodic hardcore. The guys played their first gig in the fall of 2003, and soon found that being from Queens was beneficial (regardless of its own lukewarm local scene), as Endwell could easily go between the thriving Long Island and Manhattan scenes to build up a comprehensive fan base of their own. Endwell toured nationwide a few times and self-released the EP The Missing Pieces before fellow New Yorker Anthony Raneri (of Bayside fame) suggested that the crew get in touch with Victory Records.

But on the way to Chicago for their label showcase, a truck hit Endwell's van, flipping it several times. Thankfully, no one was seriously hurt — everyone was recovered within a few months — and though some personnel changes occurred in the meantime, the band eventually got its showcase and was signed to the Victory roster by spring 2006. Endwell — comprised of vocalist Sean Murphy, guitarists Dan Puglisi and Danny Pupplo, drummer/vocalist Mike Kaabe, and bassist Steve Muskopf — recorded their label debut, Homeland Insecurity, in California with Jay Baumgardner (Papa Roach, New Found Glory), issuing the album that Halloween.