In December of 2004, Andy Zarate, Matt Martinez, and Micky Figueroa formed the hardcore band Curbcheck. Based out of Oak Cliff, Texas, the newly founded group recruited Josh Maldonado of the Dallas punk band The Decline to handle bass. Curb Check played a handful of shows around North Texas and began to build a following until a conflict in musical direction led to their breaking up. The remaining members, Josh and Andy, decided to start something new. That something was Hands of the Few, whose goal was to play the kind of straight forward, heavy hardcore that seemed to be missing from the Dallas hardcore scene at the time.
Hands of the Few played their first show in August of 2005 and released their first self-titled, 6 song ep that October. Josh Maldonado was now playing guitar for the group, and bass position taken over by Dallas Shaheen, who Andy and Josh had known from his group at the time, Serious Youth . HOTF gained recognition all over the Dallas area and well as the Texas hardcore scene, and continued to slowly build a name for themselves.
Through out the next few years, Hands of the Few went through more member changes, with the addition of Jose “Chunks” Martinez on drums, Matt rejoining the band temporarily, and even a brief stint with Brian "Tyts" Clemer of the Memphis hardcore band Clenched Fist. For their second release, they recorded 11 songs, releasing six as a demo later in 2007. One month before Hands of the Few were scheduled to the play the annual Texas hardcore fest, Fallcore, in October of 2007, drummer Brian Clemer had to return to Memphis, Tennesee for personal reasons. Not wanting to cancel their Fallcore performance, Josh and Andy quickly recruited Jesse Fuentes from the Dallas death metal band Melora, to play drums, and were able to play Fallcore successfully.
Dalton "Scumgrinder" Tuerck--who also played guitar in Melora--later joined on guitar, making Hands of the Few a five piece, but only for a few shows. Matt decided he no longer wanted to pursue music, but insisted on remaining close to the band. Dalton moved to bass duties and Hands of the Few was once again a four piece. In October 2008, Hands of the Few recorded two new songs, titled "Torn Apart" and "This Sad Existence." Soon after they caught the attention of Dead Vibrations Industry and now plan to release an E.P. through the label in 2009.
In mid 2009 HOTF changed its name to Grounds of Decay " we felt the new name captures the sound and intensity this band is trying to achieve, it was simply time for a change" says Andy when asked about the subject. He goes on to say " Were trying to bring back a a certain sound to Hardcore we feel has been missing. Our influences are pretty obvious if you already know whats up and were simply taking a certain style of hardcore that we love and putting our own twist on it".
As of 2009, Grounds of Decay have sworn in a concrete line up and have begun to creatively explore new caverns of hardcore. Their goal is to pay homage to past influences while staying true to a sound of their own. Much is in the works for G.O.D in the years to come.
WATCH OUR MUSIC VIDEO FOR "THIS SAD EXISTENCE"
Record Label: Dead Vibrations Industry (Sweden)
AND THROUGH THESE FINE LABELS/DISTROS:
GOODLIFE (benelux)
DISOBEDIENCE (belgium)
LET IT BURN (germany)
BURNING SEASON (austria)
CUSTOMCORE (france)
RUCKTION (united kingdom)
FAST ROCK FACTORY (finland)
ON MY OWN (finland)
CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY (united states)
SURPRISE ATTACK (united states)
RETRIBUTION (japan)
DYSLEXIA (south korea)
CRUZADE (spain)
HATE UNIT (italy)
LIFELINE (poland)
SCHIZOPHRENIC (denmark)
SOUND POLLUTION (sweden)
MONUMENT (sweden)
