BLOODWAR was started by two best friends from childhood, Justin Markou on guitar, and Jerome Delsoldato on vocals. After many years in the 80's and 90's hc scene's on the east coast both friends watched and supported each others bands as each band came up, Markou with withstand and Pushbutton Warfare, Jerome with Cell 42 and Drawn Out. After the break up of their old bands, the decision was made to form the deadliest team in hardcore music, BLOODWAR out of new york. recruiting Mass. native Kevin Mahon on bass and powerhouse drummer Matt George on drums, they set out to write a crushing hybrid of metal tinged MERAUDER style hardcore with some ALL OUT WAR for good measure. playing everywhere all the time.
They caught the eye of long time pal Jamie Jasta of HATEBREED/Stillborn Records and he released the now out of print split cd with Troy's Dying Breed. This cd sold out and was widely received everywhere. More shows came, but problems were tearing the band apart. A long hiatus follows. Matt George quit drumming.
PHASE 2- MATTHEW FALLON, FORMERLY OF WITHSTAND STEPS IN, AND THE DRUMMER SEAT IS FILLED WITH A KID CRAZIER THAN EVERYONE IN THE BAND COMBINED!! BLOODWAR RECORDS THE "BORN TO DIE" EP FOR A EURO LABEL AND UNFORTUNATLY IT NEVER SEES THE LIGHT OF DAY IN THE STATES. OVERSEAS, THE FOLLOWING IS BIGGER THAN EVER, BUT WITH NO LABEL BACKING, THE BAND CAN ONLY GO TO CANADA, WHICH THEY DO REPEATEDLY. AT THIS TIME DAVID STACK OF EXECUTION STYLE JOINS ON SECOND GUITAR TO ROUND IT OUT. NEW SONGS ARE WORKED ON AND THEN.
CRASH
JEROME GOES TO JAIL, MARKOU GOES TO BROOKLYN, DAVE PASSES AWAY, AND THE BAND BREAKS UP. FALLON GOES ON TO OTHER THINGS IN ALBANY.
JEROME COMES BACK AND THEY TRY ONE REUNION SHOW AND THEN PUT IT TO REST, BUT THIS BAND WILL NOT DIE OR GIVE UP. WITH NEW LABEL INTEREST, NEW TOUR OFFERS, AND A SLEW OF NEW FANS, BLOODWAR STARTS DEMOING SONGS FOR A SPLIT CD WITH 25 TA LIFE.
THINK MERAUDER MASTER KILLER, OUTBURST/KILLING TIME, AND ALL OUT WAR MEETS INTEGRITY, NO SHIT, THIS BAND WILL SLAY YOU. LOOK OUT FOR THE RECORD AND A TOWN NEAR YOU
RIP-In late November of 2006 after a long bout with addiction Justin P Markou succumbed to the horrors of that addiction with a fatal overdose. This event rocked the band to the core and made us all question our mortality and our dedication to music. Would we let this tragic event set other ones in motion or would we have it make us stronger??
After a mourning period for our guitarist and best friend, the decision was made to clean up and rededicate ourselves to this band and to the music scene as a whole. All the sudden a band that was fueled on drinking ,drugs, fights and generally unacceptable behavior has stepped up to the plate to deliver the high quality hardcore that was Justins vision.
Kevin Mahon has moved from bass to guitar(his original calling).
On drums we welcomed "Bad Ass" Billy Oconnor. A accomplished musician from the west coast with a true love of hardcore and the hardcore scene.
And lastly Jerome"Joey Doggs" Del Soldato is back to front this circus. The constant front man and ringleader, has cleaned up and is DRUG FREE for the first time since age 12. With all legal troubles behind him and new lyrics based on the trials of this band, it is full steam ahead!!!!
