Somerset Thrower

Long Island-based Somerset Thrower blend the post-hardcore emo of bands like Jawbreaker and Sunny Day Real Estate with a dose of Swervedriver-esque '90s-inspired alt-rock, as heard on their 2018 debut album Godspeed. Formed from the ashes of Long Island bands Agent, Polygon, Bastard Cut, and others, Frank Traficante, Jr. (vocals, guitar), Conor Freeman (bass), Tim Chimeti (drums), and John Stippell (guitar) got together when they each found themselves all looking for a new project. Bringing together the punk and alt-rock sounds of their previous bands, the four-piece started jamming around 2012, and released a demo the following year, recorded by Sheer Terror's Anthony Corallo. The band's debut EP, Falling Swingers -- which featured a cover of Smashing Pumpkins' "Stumbleine" -- followed in 2015 on Dead Broke Rekerds. Live dates followed alongside the likes of the Story So Far, Iron Chic, and Slingshot Dakota before the group issued their second single, Rain. Over the next year Somerset Thrower played select dates while writing and recording their debut album. Heading back into the studio with Corallo -- and Long Island punk fixture Phil Douglas -- the group laid down their debut. A split single with MOUTH was issued in mid-2018, and full-length Godspeed followed a month later. ~ Rich Wilson