Horse the Band

California's HORSE the Band launched their career in 2003 via the album R. Borlax, delivering a raucous yet pioneering statement within the emerging Nintendocore offshoot of post-hardcore, where players replicate Nintendo game audio through conventional instruments. The group followed up in 2005 with Mechanical Hand, recorded under the guidance of producer Matt Bayles (Isis, Norma Jean) and issued on the Combat subsidiary of Koch. Vocalist Nathan Winneke, keyboardist Erik Engstrom, drummer Eli Green, guitarist David Isen, and bassist Dashiell Arkenstone coalesced into a far more cohesive ensemble, weaving angular melodies and genuine dynamic shifts through their eccentric sonic mix. Even with these concessions to conventional form, the band remained devoted to screamo interludes, erratic rhythmic patterns, microphone rants echoing the Locust's absurd worldview, and bursts of distorted squelch. Their unpredictability extended to comedy as well: explaining their withdrawal from a 2006 summer package tour, the musicians claimed they had landed in Chicago, found the pizza irresistible, and therefore could not depart. They extended the gag later that year by issuing the Pizza EP, five tracks devoted entirely to the Italian staple. In 2007 the quintet unveiled its third studio album, A Natural Death, now featuring Chris Prophet on drums in place of the previous percussionist. The fourth full-length, Desperate Living, reached stores in 2009.