The Hope Conspiracy

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Hope Conspiracy


Img_capt =
Background = group_or_band
Alias =
Origin = Boston, Massachusetts, USA flagicon|USA
Genre = Hardcore
Years_active = 1999 - present
Label = Deathwish Inc. Equal Vision Records
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.thehopeconspiracy.net/ thehopeconspiracy.net]
Current_members = Kevin Baker
Tim Cossar
Neeraj Kane
Jonas Feinberg
Jared Shavelson
Past_members =

The Hope Conspiracy is a hardcore punk band from Boston, Massachusetts that formed late 1999. They were picked up by Equal Vision Records and Bridge 9 Records before signing a deal with Deathwish Records.

Biography

With the help of Mark Thompson of Tortuga and Hydra Head Records, The Hope Conspiracy headed to Godcity Studios in Norwood, Massachusetts to record their first demo in November 1999. It consisted of three songs ("Escapist", "Divinity Sickness", and "When the Doves Fly"). They produced 1000 copies of the tape, and managed to present 200 copies at their first show with black and white covers (which where quickly made on the way to the gig). Then they produced 800 more color copies of the demo cover based on a design by Aaron Turner. In early 2000, Turner brought up the idea of the demo cassette being put on CD and 7" vinyl, and the band accepted the invitation. The CD version contained one extra song, "It Meant Nothing". In both demos, the song "When the Doves Fly" was renamed to "Regret Kills". This demo is now out of print.

In July 2000, The Hope Conspiracy set out recording their debut full-length entitled "Cold Blue" on Equal Vision Records. The 10-song album was recorded in a week in both Godcity Studios and The Outpost in Stoughton, Massachusetts. It was released on October 23, 2000. In the next two years the band toured off of this album, contributed a cover of "Nervous Breakdown" to the Back on Black 7" Black Flag tribute on Initial Records, and released an EP called "File 03" on Bridge 9 Records. "File 03" was a rerelease of their original demo tracks plus two new tracks (one song of original material called "No Love Goes Unpunished" and a cover of Naked Raygun's "Treason"). The European version of "File 03" is available from Join the Team Player Records.

When it came time to record their second full-length, the band had gone through what they called "a long overdue lineup solidification." The album, entitled "Endnote", was recorded during May and June 2002 in Brooklyn, New York's Atomic Studios. The 12-song album was produced by Dean Baltunosis and was released on October 17 2002. In November 2002, Deathwish Records released a limited split 7" with The Suicide File with a song called "Failure", which was an outtake from earlier recording sessions.

The band went on a hiatus in 2004. In that time, Kevin Baker did vocals for Bars, while Jared Shavelson played drums for None More Black.

Their third album, "Death Knows Your Name", was released on September 19, 2006 on Deathwish Records. The album has received favorable reviews. [http://www.stuffmagazine.com/hype/review.aspx?id=11640] [http://www.altpress.com/reviews/420.htm] [http://www.decibelmagazine.com/features/nov2006/hopeconspiracy.aspx] As a teaser, the record label released the "Hang Your Cross EP" in July 2006.

Members

*Kevin Baker - Vocals (1999-present)
*Tim Cossar - Guitar (2005-present)
*Neeraj Kane - Guitar (1999-2001; 2006-present; mainly participates in songwriting)
*Jonas Feinberg - Bass (1999-present)
*Jared Shavelson - Drums (2002-present)
*Jim Carroll - Guitar (live appearances 2003-2007; usually replaces Kane for live dates)

Former members

*Adam Patterson - Drums (1999-2002)
*Dan Zimmerman - Guitar (1999-2002)
*Aaron Lisi - Guitar (2001-2003)
*Jarrod Alexander - Drums (2002)

Discography

*Self-titled Demo (1999, 2000 Life Recordings)
*"Cold Blue" (2000 Equal Vision Records)
*"File 03" (2001 Bridge 9 Records / European Version on Join the Team Player Records)
*"Endnote" (2002 Equal Vision Records)
*Limited Split 7" with The Suicide File (2002 Deathwish Records)
*"Hang Your Cross EP" (2006 Vinyl Version on Deathwish Records / CD Version licensed to Resist Records)
*"Death Knows Your Name" (2006 Deathwish Records)

External links

* [http://www.thehopeconspiracy.net/ The Hope Conspiracy Official Website] (defunct)
* [http://www.deathwishinc.com Deathwish Records Official Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/hopecon The Hope Conspiracy Official MySpace]
* [http://www.purevolume.com/thehopeconspiracy The Hope Conspiracy on Purevolume]
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* [http://www.euphoniaonline.net/reviews/TheHopeConspiracy.html Euphonia Online's review of "Death Knows Your Name"]