New Sweet Breath

Emerging from Seattle amid the shadow of grunge fame, New Sweet Breath advanced further with their mature noise-ridden pop, drawing on the influential presence of Superchunk and Butterglory. The lineup featured Graig Markel handling vocals and guitars, Nicholas Markel on bass, Christopher Hazel at the drums, and Stephan Mollmann on guitars. Their recorded output launched in 1995 via the debut album Supersound Speedway. The following year saw a burst of activity that encompassed three seven-inch EPs along with split releases involving Sinkhole and Hefty, plus the issue of their sophomore effort Demolition Theater through Ringing Ear Records. After embarking on a US tour and inking a deal with Big Top Records during 1997, the group unveiled their third album A Shotgun Down An Avalanche in the same period.