Albany, New York-based punk band Downswing rose quickly through the ranks to become one of the leading acts on Albany's HC scene. Downswing were formed in early 2017 by guitarist Anthony Salvaggio, bassist Brandon Jared, and drummer Nick Manzella, who had previously worked together in a metalcore band called Animal. The musicians were eager to change up their sound, and as it happened, so was vocalist Brett Colvin, who has been singing in pop-punk bands for nine years without enjoying much success. After recruiting Colvin and guitarist Chris Arnold, Downswing's lineup was complete, and in March 2017 the band released a three-song demo, titled Swingstyle. After posting the demo online, the band caught a lucky break when Vincent Bennett, vocalist with the group the Acacia Strain, heard Swingstyle and gave Downswing his endorsement on social media. Bennett's posts brought plenty of attention to Downswing, leading to bigger and better gigs, including a spot on an East Coast date of the 2017 Vans Warped Tour. Downswing soon struck a deal with Rise Records, the well-established punk label that was also home to the Acacia Strain, and in November 2017 Downswing released their Rise debut, a five-song EP called Dark Side of the Mind. ~ Mark Deming