Tension (hardcore band)

Tension was a Christian straight-edge hardcore punk band that formed in 1993.[2]

Tension
Origin	South Florida,[1] United States
Genres	Hardcore punk, Christian hardcore, straight edge hardcore, punk rock
Years active	1993-1997
Labels	Independent, Uprising, First Street, Endless Fight
Associated acts	Strongarm, Endure, Shai Hulud, New Found Glory
Website	Tension on Facebook
Past members	Mikey Hurley Joe Keit Chris Michaelis Nick Dominguez Ray Rodriguez Eric Leon Mike McDermit Matt Fox Ray Souza Chad Gilbert Kenny Fontaine John Wylie

History

In 1993, Vocalist Mikey Hurley formed Tension, as a side project of his band Endure.[3] Hurley hired Joe Keit of the Murrychesstoes on guitars and Chris Michaelis on drums.[4] Soon thereafter, Nick Dominguez of Endure joined the band on bass guitar, which completed the first official lineup. Shortly after the band's first phone call together, the band demoed out six songs and recorded them two weeks later in studio. The songs became Tension's first release, In Our Time, which came out shortly after being recorded.[4]

In 1993, Dominguez left the band to join Strongarm[5] and was replaced by Ray Rodriguez.[4] The band released The Sickness of our Age EP in 1994, which is considered to be their best release.[4][6] Michaelis left the band shortly thereafter, being replaced by Eric Leon, which was when the band reached its peak. In 1995, the band went on tour with Uplipht and Strongarm, and played around 25-30 shows.[7] Tension was then asked to partake in a 4-way split 7" with Culture, Roosevelt and After All on Intention Records but the release fell through.[7]

Leon was soon thereafter asked to leave for reason unmentionable, and was replaced by Mike McDermit. He performed on the band's debut album, Agent of the People. Tension signed to Uprising Records and released Agent of the People and re-released Sickness of our Age.[4]

Tension is looked at as classic or legendary in the Florida hardcore scene.[8][6][9] The band also had various connections with several other well-known Florida bands, such as New Found Glory, Endure, Strongarm, Shai Hulud, and Further Seems Forever.[10]

The band had several short term members, which included Matt Fox (Shai Hulud), Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory), Ray Souza (LOAD), Kenny Fontaine (Kenny Steel), and John Wylie (Where Fear and Weapons Meet).[4] The band played shows with Earth Crisis, Hatebreed, Strife, Shelter, and Marilyn Manson.[4][11]

In 2017, Mikey Hurley, the band's original member, died on July 18 at the age of 45.[12] It was reported that he committed suicide.[12] His death was mourned by his bandmates and his friends.[4][12]

Members

Last known lineup

Years	Name	Instrument
1993-1997	Michael "Mikey" Joseph Hurley II (died 2017) [4][12]	Vocals
1993-1997	Joe Keit	Guitars
1993-1995, 1996-1997	Ray Rodriguez	Bass
1996-1997	Mike McDermit	Drums

Former members

Years	Name	Instrument
1993, 1995-1996	Nick Dominguez	Bass
1993	Matt Fox	Bass
1993-1994	Chris Michaelis	Drums
1994-1996	Eric Leon	Drums
	Chad Gilbert
	John Wylie	Guitar
	Ray Souza
	Kenny Fontaine

Discography

List of studio albums [13]

Year	Title	Label
1996	Agent of the People	Uprising Records

List of EPs [13]

Year	Title	Label
1993	In Our Time	First Street Records
1994	The Sickness of our Age	Endless Fight Records

List of Compilation appearances [13]

Year	Title	Label
1994	SFSA: South Florida Slammie Awards Vol. 1	GJ Records
1994	"Stand Aside" on Identity?! Songs of Hatred	Century Media
1995	"Stand Aside" on Ceremony of Fire	Uprising
1995	"Greed" on Point Counterpoint	Inside Front Records
1995	"Greed" on South Florida Comp	Far Out Records
1995	"Unheard" on Over The Edge Compilation Vol. 2	Endless Fight
1995	"Stand Aside" on Stones to Mark a Fire	Militant Records/Vegan Earth Order
1995	"Stand Aside" on Bloodlines - The Seeds of Rebellion	Century Media
1996	"Greed" on Inside Front the Compact Disc	Inside Front

References

1. Ramirez, Carlos (October 25, 2016). "Interview: Matt Fox (Shai Hulud, Zombie Apocalypse)". No Echo. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
2. "Tension". Last.fm. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
3. Jones, Brandon (January 13, 2014). "Fast FWD - What They're Up 2 Now: Chris Carbonell of Strongarm". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
4. "Tension - "TENSION (1993-1997) A long time ago, in a..."". Facebook. August 25, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
5. "Strongarm". New Release Tuesday. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
6. xCHIPxSEM. "A Look Back: South Florida Hardcore in the 90s (Part 1)". xStuck in the Pastx. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
7. Julien, Alexandre (June 28, 2014). "Intention Records Interview". Abridged Pause Blog. Archived from the original on September 5, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
8. Newsome, Robert (August 16, 2017). "8 Vital Bands From the Current Crop of Florida Hardcore". Retrieved December 27, 2017.
9. Folgar, Abel (June 9, 2014). "Broward and Palm Beach Counties' Ten Best Hardcore Bands of All Time". Broward/Palm Beach New Times. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
10. "Endure". Richseam. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
11. "Tension". Richseam. Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
12. Crandell, Ben (August 23, 2017). "Chris Carrabba homecoming cloaked in mysteries". South Florida. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
13. "Tension". Discogs. Retrieved December 27, 2017.