Racetraitor

Racetraitor is a hardcore and metalcore group from Chicago, United States. The band forms in 1995 and is active through 1999, with a later return in 2016. Its membership includes Andy Hurley, Dan Binaei and Pete Wentz at various points, and the group is associated with straight edge and vegan politics.

Style and themes

The band begins with a sound shaped by powerviolence and grindcore, with heavy noise and blast beats and many early songs lasting less than a minute. Its live performances in this period often feel closer to spoken word than to conventional song structures. Over time, the music shifts toward longer, more defined pieces, with hardcore punk, extreme metal and especially death metal and metalcore influences becoming more prominent.

Racetraitor is known for lyrics centred on anti-racism and anti-colonialism, informed by ideas such as black nationalism and Islam. Alongside groups such as Abnegation and Day of Suffering, it is regarded as one of the forerunners of vegan metal and an early pioneer of metalcore.

Releases and activity

The band first draws attention before any official release, including notice from magazines such as Maximumrocknroll and HeartattaCk. Its debut release, Burn The Idol of the White Messiah, appears on Uprising Records in 1998. A split EP, Make Them Talk, follows on Trustkill in 1999 with Burn It Down before the group initially breaks up.

After reforming, Racetraitor releases two EPs with new material on Organized Crime Records. Its second full-length album, 2042, is issued by Good Fight Music in 2018. The band also releases recordings through Uprising Records, Trustkill, Organized Crime, Contraband and Good Fight Music.

Line-up and connections

At different times, Racetraitor shares members with Fall Out Boy, Vegan Reich, Rise Against, Killtheslavemaster, Project Rocket, The Kill Pill and Arma Angelus. The group’s listed members include Mani Mostofi on lead vocals, Andrea Black and Daniel Binaei on guitar, Brent Decker on bass, Andrew Hurley on drums, and former members Eric Bartholomae, Karl Hlavinka, Pete Wentz and Rich Miles.