Five friends from the quiet Midwestern community of Marshalltown, Iowa—vocalist Jeffrey Eaton, bassist Chris Honeck, drummer Tyler Oleson, and guitarists John Eich and Matt Hoffman—launched Modern Life Is War in 2002, driven by a shared ambition to form their own D.I.Y. punk band and leave their hometown behind. Before the close of 2003 the hardcore unit issued its first 7" single, finished tracking the debut album My Love. My Way., and developed a modest audience through nonstop U.S. road work. Reflections Records licensed that debut early in 2004 and dispatched the group on its first European tour. During 2005 the band signed with Deathwish Inc and devoted several months to writing and recording what became its second album, Witness, which appeared in June. Matt Hoffman soon left, and Holland-born Harm Haverman, formerly of Reaching Forward and Razor Crusade, joined on guitar. While the members tracked their third record, Deathwish reissued My Love. My Way. in fall 2006. In early 2007 Chris Honeck departed on amicable terms; Tim Churchman of Spanish Bombs took over on bass around the time Modern Life Is War announced its signing to Equal Vision and issued Midnight in America later that year. The following year the band revealed plans for a final show in April, held once again in Marshalltown.
