Trap Them

Trap Them

Trap Them is a hardcore, grindcore and crust punk group from Salem, United States, active from 2001 to 2017. The band forms around vocalist Ryan McKenney and guitarist Brian Izzi, who begin the project in 2001 as a side project before it develops into a full-time band. Its line-up includes McKenney, Izzi, Jeff Lohrber and Michael C. Sharp, with later releases also featuring bassist Galen Baudhuin and drummer Brad Fickeisen.

Style and influences

The band’s sound combines hardcore punk, grindcore and crust punk with elements of mathcore and noisecore. Its songs use complex, often dissonant guitar work alongside d-beat and grindcore drumming. Trap Them draws on hardcore punk groups such as M.D.C., Black Flag and Discharge, metal bands including Dismember and Entombed, and experimental music such as Swans.

Lyrics and themes

Ryan McKenney writes lyrics that often address personal and political subjects. Later material also includes a conceptual approach to lyric writing.

History and recordings

McKenney is formerly the vocalist of Backstabbers Incorporated, and Izzi is the guitarist of December Wolves. The two meet while working together at Newbury Comics in Salem, New Hampshire, and later become close friends and roommates. After leaving Backstabbers Incorporated to concentrate on other work, they focus on Trap Them’s material and expand the project.

In 2006, the band agrees a release deal with Trash Art! for a vinyl-only EP and a full-length album, Sleepwell Deconstructor, recorded with Kurt Ballou at God City. The album and accompanying single, including a spoken-word section by McKenney, appear in 2007. Trap Them then signs to Deathwish Inc., the label run by Jacob Bannon of Converge.

The group tours Europe with The Ocean and Rotten Sound, works with Extreme Noise Terror on a split EP, and tours the United States with Napalm Death. Seizures in Barren Praise follows in 2008. In 2010, the band releases the EP Filth Rations, first as a very limited cassette edition and later on 12-inch vinyl through Southern Lord Records, with cover art by Justin Bartlett. Darker Handcraft follows on Prosthetic Records in 2011. The 2014 album Blissfucker is the first to feature Baudhuin and Fickeisen.

Live activity and touring

Trap Them appears at Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore in 2009, and also tours the United States with Victims, Black Breath, Skeletonwitch and Saviours. A European tour follows to support Darker Handcraft.