I Declare War

Characterized by a turbulent sonic approach mirroring the frequent personnel alterations in their roster, the deathcore outfit I Declare War emerged from Seattle, Washington, in 2005. Founding vocalist Jonathan Huber joined forces with guitarists Evan Hughes and Jake Paulson, bassist Zack Ring, and drummer Randy Carpenter to issue the self-released debut What You Deserve the following year. A sophomore effort, Amidst the Bloodshed, surfaced in 2007, after which the group experienced its initial substantial roster turnover in 2009 when Chris Fugate supplanted Paulson on guitar, Ryan Cox assumed drumming duties in place of Carpenter, and Brent Eaton took over bass from Ring. That year also brought a deal with the fledgling Artery Recordings imprint, which issued the third album Malevolence in 2010. Later that same year Huber exited, prompting Jamie Hanks to handle the vocal duties on the self-titled fourth album I Declare War. A wholesale reshuffling followed in 2011, leaving Hanks as the sole remaining original member; the refreshed lineup incorporated guitarists Jacob Hansen and John Winters alongside bassist Gordon McPherson and drummer Colin Bradford. With this configuration the band delivered its fifth album, We Are Violent People by Nature, in 2014 and then self-released the sixth effort, Songs for the Sick, in late 2016.