Counterparts are a Canadian melodic metalcore band from Hamilton, Ontario. Formed in 2007, the band currently consists of lead vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarists Blake Hardman and Alex Re, bassist Tyler Williams and drummer Kyle Brownlee. The band's most recent two albums have received critical acclaim from magazines Rock Sound and Exclaim!. They were released through Victory Records. They are among the most visible bands within contemporary melodic hardcore, while they are also considered one of the major powers of the metalcore revival wave.
Counterparts formed in Hamilton, Ontario in 2007, under the name "Brigade", later "Sharia" before settling on Counterparts. Counterparts consisted of vocalist Brendan Murphy, guitarist Jesse Doreen, guitarist Curtis Washik, bassist Eric Bazinet, and drummer Ryan Juntilla. In mid-2009, Washik departed from the band, and Alex Re joined the band temporarily as their guitarist before becoming their permanent guitarist. In March 2009 Counterparts toured Canada. In 2010 Shane Told, from the band Silverstein, signed them to his Verona Records label.
Lead vocalist Brendan Murphy was featured on the song "The Artist" on Silverstein's fifth album, Rescue. He also appeared in their music video.
The band's debut album Prophets was released 23 February 2010 on label Verona Records. In 2010, Juntilla left the band, and was replaced by Chris Needham. A split EP, featuring Needham on drums was released 21 November 2010 with Exalt. The band toured North America in support of the album.
In spring of 2011, the band was signed to Victory Records. The band continued to tour until the summer of 2011, when they announced that they were recording a new album. During this time, Needham left the band to see a speech therapist. A search for their next drummer was started, but ultimately, Juntilla rejoined the band, just in time to start recording for their second album, The Current Will Carry Us. Album was released October 24, 2011 on Victory. A music video was released for the song "Jumping Ship".
The bands latest album, entitled The Difference Between Hell and Home was released on July 24, 2013 to positive critical reception. A music video for the track "Witness" was posted ten days prior to the release of the album.
In the Fall of 2013, guitarist Alex Re posted on his personal Facebook page that he had left Counterparts and will be playing his last show with the band at their hometown show in December. In the meantime, the band was able to get Adrian Lee to fill-in for Re on their last few tours of 2013. It is unknown if Lee is a permanent replacement for Re. In the spring of 2014, bassist Eric Bazinet announced that after seven years, he was leaving the band due to pursue a career and to spend time with family.
In the spring of 2015, vocalist Brendan Murphy announced in an interview that their fourth album, Tragedy Will Find Us, is expected to be released in the summer of 2015. On 23 April, the band announced that they have signed to Pure Noise Records, and New Damage Records. Pure Noise will release their upcoming album in the U.S., while New Damage will release it in Canada. The fourth album was released in July 2015. As of 2016, original guitarist Jesse Doreen and long time drummer Kelly Bilan have left the band, leaving Brendan Murphy as the last original member. Blake Hardman returned to the band as permanent member as Doreen's replacement. Likewise, Kyle Brownlee returned to the band as a permanent member as Bilan's replacement. Tyler Williams, a bandmate of Hardman's in Nashville hardcore act on Point, also joined the band during this period. It was announced in March 2017 the band would play the 22nd annual Vans Warped Tour.
Counterparts entered the studio in March–April 2017, with Will Putney of Graphic Nature Audio at the production helm once again.
Vocalist Brendan Murphy announced that he started a new band with members of Fit For An Autopsy, Misery Signals and Reign Supreme called END. They released an EP called From the Unforgiving Arms of God.
The band's fifth album, You're Not You Anymore, was released on 22 September 2017 via New Damage / Pure Noise Records. They have also shared singles from the album, called Haunt Me, Bouquet and No Servant of Mine.
You're Not You Anymore was the first recorded effort without the participation of Doreen due to his departure from Counterparts. The band did not let lineup changes derail their creativity and spirits. Playing an important role in the modern melodic hardcore scene, their new album is considered to have a different set of influences and a more refined sound. Odyssey states: "The rawness of Poison The Well's and Misery Signal's technical but absolutely emotionally devastating take on metalcore are influences they wear on their sleeve, tied together with the tortured poetry of Brendan Murphy’s lyrics."
Members
Current:
Brendan Murphy – lead vocals (2007–present)
Alex Re – guitar, backing vocals, clean vocals (2009–2013; 2019–present)
Kyle Brownlee – drums, percussion (2012, 2016, 2017–present)
Blake Hardman – guitar, backing vocals (2016–present), bass (2014, 2017)
Tyler Williams – bass guitar, backing vocals (2017–present)
Former:
Curtis Washik – rhythm guitar (2007–2009)
Chris Needham – drums, percussion (2010–2011)
Ryan Juntilla – drums, percussion (2007–2010; 2011–2012)
Adrian Lee – rhythm guitar (2013–2019), bass (2017)
Eric Bazinet – bass (2007–2014)
Jesse Doreen – lead guitar (2007–2016)
Kelly Bilan – drums, percussion (2012–2016)
Brian Kaczmarczyk – bass guitar (2014–2017)
Ben Leathem – drums, percussion (2016–2017)
http://counterpartshc.com/
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…shrink me down again