Biography
Orlando-based New Mexican Disaster Squad launched in 1999, channeling the stripped-down aggression of 1980s hardcore acts such as Black Flag and Minor Threat into their own brand of abrasive punk aimed at a fresh audience of rock listeners. The group wasted little time, releasing their debut 7-inch, Weapons and Equipment of Counter-Terrorism, before the year closed. With Sam Johnson handling vocals and guitar, Brian Etherington on guitar, Alex Goldfarb on bass, and Richard Minino behind the drums, the quartet recorded an eight-song demo in 2000 for sale at live shows; several tracks from that recording later surfaced on a split with fellow Orlando act Destination Daybreak. Frustrated by their city’s indifferent local circuit, the members took to the road full-time, logging endless miles across the country. Through relentless touring they cultivated a following, which led to the release of their full-length Abrasive Repulsive Disorder on Breaker Breaker Records and, soon after, interest from A-F Records. That label issued the band’s self-titled album in 2003, followed in 2004 by a split 7-inch on No Idea Records shared with San Francisco’s Western Addiction. By late 2005 New Mexican Disaster Squad had signed with Jade Tree, whose first release from the group, the fierce Don’t Believe, arrived the next May.
Albums
