Man Is The Bastard
Noise Hardcore Band from United States formed in 1991
Band Members : Israel Lawrence, Andrew Beattie, W.T. Nelson, Joel Connell, Aaron Kenyon, Henry Barnes, Eric Wood, Shawn Connell
Man Is the Bastard was an American hardcore punk band based in Claremont, California. The band existed from 1990 to 1997, releasing mostly vinyl splits, extended plays, and albums on obscure labels from around the world. By 1997, the group ended and members all went on to do other projects, such as the noise group Bastard Noise, which originally started out as a Man Is the Bastard side project. They are typically seen as part of the 1990s powerviolence movement.Man Is the Bastard has dissolved but its members are involved with a number of other projects. Wood occasionally performs in the Los Angeles area as Bastard Noise. Kenyon and Connel continue to perform in progressive rock acts such as Frank Booth Youth, Bastard Lounge, ControllingHand, Lux Nova Umbra Est, and Umbra Vita. Andy Beattie continues doing vocals. Staying within his Hardcore/Powerviolence roots, he has performed/screamed in such bands as Controlling Hand, Low Threat Profile, Infest, Dead Language, featuring members from Iron Lung, and Cave State. His current band, Dead Mans Life (2018) performs the Los Angeles area. His "solo" band, Institute of Infinite Sorrow, is also active.
Style
Musical
Man Is the Bastard (aka Charred Remains) has been described as powerviolence (a term that was created by Matt Domino, a member of Eric Wood's previous band Neanderthal), hardcore punk, noise rock, and sludge metal. The band's "set up" included two bass guitars, as well as dual vocals, performed by Wood and Kenyon. The band is also notable for their extensive use of noise, even going as far as creating the noise side-project Bastard Noise, which still actively make releases to this day. This heavy noise influence was brought into the band's sound in part by band member Henry Barnes, who brought his electronics into the band's sound. Barnes made his own electronic instruments from scratch. Man Is the Bastard's recordings are characterized by their thin, raw low fidelity production values.
Lyrical
The band's lyrics are often political and dark, with common themes being animal rights, violence, misanthropy, torture, police brutality, starvation, and depression. Man Is the Bastard's lyrical violence was balanced by their adamant advocacy of progressive ideals. This record of political activism resulted in their most widely available album, 1997’s split LP with death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Artwork
Artistically most of their releases had a similar design, with their trademark skull on both sides of the words Man Is The Bastard with the release title underneath in quotations. The band's "skull logo" was originally taken from a medical book that Eric Wood was reading. Most of their recordings included simplistic liner notes that briefly explained each track's meanings. When artwork was used, it was typically stark, standing out against a basic layout. In 2012 the band Akron/Family used the skull logo for a t-shirt design, to which Eric Wood accused of plagiarism. The band apologized, and both parties made up in agreement.
Influence
The band is now seen as a critical part of the California powerviolence movement. Spazz bassist and operator of Slap-a-Ham Records Chris Dodge has called the group "the most unique band of their day". The indie folk band AJJ reference the group on the track "Do Re and Me" on their 2014 album Christmas Island.
Members
Original line-up
Eric Wood - vocals, bass
Joel Connell - drums
Henry Barnes - guitars, electronics
Aaron Kenyon - vocals, bass
Shawn Connell - guitar on Charred Remains / Pink Turds in Space Split EP.
Later members
Bill Nelson - electronics
Andrew Beattie - vocals
Isreal Lawrence - vocals, electronics
Style
Musical
Man Is the Bastard (aka Charred Remains) has been described as powerviolence (a term that was created by Matt Domino, a member of Eric Wood's previous band Neanderthal), hardcore punk, noise rock, and sludge metal. The band's "set up" included two bass guitars, as well as dual vocals, performed by Wood and Kenyon. The band is also notable for their extensive use of noise, even going as far as creating the noise side-project Bastard Noise, which still actively make releases to this day. This heavy noise influence was brought into the band's sound in part by band member Henry Barnes, who brought his electronics into the band's sound. Barnes made his own electronic instruments from scratch. Man Is the Bastard's recordings are characterized by their thin, raw low fidelity production values.
Lyrical
The band's lyrics are often political and dark, with common themes being animal rights, violence, misanthropy, torture, police brutality, starvation, and depression. Man Is the Bastard's lyrical violence was balanced by their adamant advocacy of progressive ideals. This record of political activism resulted in their most widely available album, 1997’s split LP with death row prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Artwork
Artistically most of their releases had a similar design, with their trademark skull on both sides of the words Man Is The Bastard with the release title underneath in quotations. The band's "skull logo" was originally taken from a medical book that Eric Wood was reading. Most of their recordings included simplistic liner notes that briefly explained each track's meanings. When artwork was used, it was typically stark, standing out against a basic layout. In 2012 the band Akron/Family used the skull logo for a t-shirt design, to which Eric Wood accused of plagiarism. The band apologized, and both parties made up in agreement.
Influence
The band is now seen as a critical part of the California powerviolence movement. Spazz bassist and operator of Slap-a-Ham Records Chris Dodge has called the group "the most unique band of their day". The indie folk band AJJ reference the group on the track "Do Re and Me" on their 2014 album Christmas Island.
Members
Original line-up
Eric Wood - vocals, bass
Joel Connell - drums
Henry Barnes - guitars, electronics
Aaron Kenyon - vocals, bass
Shawn Connell - guitar on Charred Remains / Pink Turds in Space Split EP.
Later members
Bill Nelson - electronics
Andrew Beattie - vocals
Isreal Lawrence - vocals, electronics
View full biography
Band Members : Israel Lawrence, Andrew Beattie, W.T. Nelson, Joel Connell, Aaron Kenyon, Henry Barnes, Eric Wood, Shawn Connell
- Biography -
35 albums

Experimental Thinking / Human Horror Hymns
2018 - United StatesNoise
Vinyl 12" ⎯ 9 Tracks
Deep Six Records

Live On KSPC 88.7 FM 1992
2017 - United StatesPower Violence, Experimental
Vinyl LP ⎯ 17 Tracks
Deep Six Records

"The Brutality Continues" "Anger And English" "De-Programming The Bigot" "Under The Surface" "Smashed Visions"
2016 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Experimental
Vinyl 10" ⎯ 7 Tracks
Deep Six Records

The Lost M.I.T.B. Sessions
2015 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Grindcore
Vinyl LP ⎯ 4 Tracks
Deep Six Records

Our Earth's Blood Part V
2015 - United StatesNoise
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 9 Tracks
Skull Records

A Call For Consciousness / Our Earth’s Blood
2015 - United StatesHardcore, Punk, Noise
Vinyl 10" ⎯ 12 Tracks
Deep Six Records

Man's Epitaph / Noise Bomb The Cosmos
2014 - United StatesGrindcore, Experimental, Noise
Vinyl LP ⎯ 25 Tracks
Streaks Records

First Music / First Noise
2013 - United StatesHardcore, Noise
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 10 Tracks
Deep Six Records

Skull Report
2002 - United StatesNoise, Power Electronics
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 2 Tracks
No Fucking Labels

Mancruel
2000 - United StatesPunk, Hardcore, Power Electronics
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 15 Tracks
Deep Six Records

Bastard Noise Hails The Finnish Sound Masters / The Symptoms Of A Failing Equilibrium
1999 - United StatesIndustrial, Noise, Experimental
CD Album ⎯ 9 Tracks
Freak Animal Records

Nazi Drunks Fuck Off Live / Native American Life
1997 - United StatesHardcore, Noise
Vinyl LP ⎯ 22 Tracks
Vibrator Records

Mumia Abu-Jamal Spoken Word With Music By Man Is The Bastard
1997 - United StatesPunk, Spoken Word, Experimental
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 16 Tracks
Alternative Tentacles

Our Earth's Blood Pt 2 / Locust
1996 - United StatesPunk, Hardcore, Noise
Vinyl LP ⎯ 23 Tracks
King Of The Monsters

Sum Of The Men "The Brutality Continues...."
1996 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Power Electronics
CD Album ⎯ 37 Tracks
Vermiform

Thoughtless...
1995 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Power Violence
Vinyl LP ⎯ 12 Tracks
Gravity

D.I.Y.C.D.
1995 - United StatesHardcore, Punk, Grindcore
CD Album Compilation ⎯ 64 Tracks
Slap A Ham Records

Born Against / A Call For Consciousness
1994 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Experimental
Vinyl 8" ⎯ 9 Tracks
Vermiform

Throne Of Apprehension / Provoked Behaviour
1994 - United StatesGrindcore, Noise
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 6 Tracks
Theologian Records

Our Earth's Blood
1993 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Experimental
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 8 Tracks
Vermiform

Session Of Extreme Nihilistic Horror / Sanctity Of Oil
1993 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Experimental
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 5 Tracks
Dp

Bleeding Rectum / Man Is The Bastard
1993 - United StatesPunk, Hardcore, Thrash
Vinyl LP ⎯ 13 Tracks
Dp

Under The Surface: Smashed Visions
1993 - United StatesHardcore, Grindcore
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 9 Tracks
Farewell Records

Uncivilized Live
1993 - United StatesHardcore, Noise, Experimental
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 13 Tracks
Deep Six Records

Abundance Of Guns
1992 - United StatesHardcore, Grindcore
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 11 Tracks
Soa Records

Sources Of Power From Another World
1992 - United StatesNoise, Experimental
Vinyl LP ⎯ 16 Tracks
Dp

Backwards Species
1992 - United StatesPunk, Hardcore, Noise
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 7 Tracks
Ecocentric Records

Untitled / "The Brutality Continues....."
1992 - United StatesNoise
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 5 Tracks
Dp

Practiced Hatred / S.O.I.G.
1992 - United StatesHardcore, Grindcore
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 12 Tracks
Slap A Ham Records

"Gnu" / "Dis-Corporation" "The Power Of Hash"
1992 - United StatesPunk, Noise
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 10 Tracks
Dp

Sum Of The Men "The Brutality Continues....."
1991 - United StatesPunk, Hardcore, Experimental
Vinyl LP ⎯ 8 Tracks
Vermiform

Split
1991 - United StatesPunk, Hardcore, Thrash
Vinyl 7" ⎯ 8 Tracks
Slap A Ham Records

"Discography" From Capitalist Casualties And Bleeding Rectum Split 12"s
- United StatesHardcore, Noise
Vinyl Album Compilation ⎯ 11 Tracks
Deep Six Records
- Videos Man Is The Bastard -
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Man Is The Bastard
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Last Update : 01 January 2021
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