Municipal Waste

Municipal Waste

Municipal Waste is a crossover thrash band from Richmond, United States, formed in 2000 and active since then. The group’s line-up includes Tony Foresta, Ryan Waste, Brandon Ferrell, Philip “Landphil” Hall and Dave Witte. Foresta and Waste are the only constant members across the band’s line-up changes, and Nick “Nikropolis” Poulos is also listed in the band’s later line-up.

Style and influences

The band plays short crossover thrash songs and is associated with crossover thrash, hardcore punk, metal, punk and thrash metal. Its members cite influences including D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies, Corrosion of Conformity from the Animosity period, Nuclear Assault, Attitude Adjustment, Slayer, Anthrax, Exodus, Testament, Sepultura, S.O.D., M.O.D. and the Cro-Mags. Their lyrics often focus on alcoholism, mutants and thrash metal, and their song titles are frequently comic or refer back to their influences. The group is also described in media as “party thrash”.

Early years and recordings

Municipal Waste plays its first show at a Richmond New Year’s Eve keg party in 2000/2001, an event said to have caused a small riot. The band tours the United States and Mexico in 2001 and 2002, and releases two split records in its early period: a 7-inch split with Bad Acid Trip and a 12-inch split with Crucial Unit. It also contributes tracks to several compilations.

Albums, label work and touring

In 2002, Brendan Trache leaves and Brandon Ferrell joins before the release of Tango and Thrash on Amendment Records and Waste ’Em All on Six Weeks Records. After Waste ’Em All, Andy Harris and Brandon Ferrell leave and are replaced by drummer Dave Witte and bassist Philip “LandPhil” Hall. In 2005, the band signs to Earache Records and records Hazardous Mutation. It then makes a video for “Unleash the Bastards”, released in censored and uncensored versions.

Municipal Waste records The Art of Partying with producer Zeuss after touring with Destruction in the United States in 2007. It then headlines in Europe, tours with The Haunted, appears at Wacken Open Air and the Reading and Leeds Festivals, and also tours with Suicidal Tendencies. The video for “Headbanger Face Rip” is filmed by Troma Entertainment. The band receives strong press attention in 2007, including a top-five album placement in Sweden’s Close Up magazine and top-twenty positions in Big Cheese and Kerrang!, as well as front-cover coverage in Metal Maniacs and several appearances in NME.

The band performs at Download Festival in the UK on 15 June 2008 and later joins At the Gates on the “Suicidal Final Tour” alongside Darkest Hour, Toxic Holocaust and Repulsion. In 2010, it is confirmed for the soundtrack to Namco Bandai Games’ remake of Splatterhouse.

Later releases

Municipal Waste releases Massive Aggressive in 2009, The Fatal Feast in 2012 and Slime and Punishment in 2017. The group also has six studio albums, three EPs and four splits to date.