The Explosion

Boston punk quintet the Explosion came together in the fall of 1998 when vocalist Matt Hock, guitarist Dave Walsh, ex-In My Eyes bassist Damian Genaurdi, and drummer Dan Colby first joined forces; former Trouble guitarist Sam Cave later stepped in to round out the five-piece. Their Jade Tree debut arrived in 2000 as a self-titled EP, after which tours alongside labelmates the Promise Ring and Turing Machine paved the way for the summer arrival of the full-length Flash Flash Flash. Revelation issued the follow-up EP Steal This that autumn, and by year’s end Andrew Black had taken over the drum chair from Colby. The band then logged extensive road time supporting the (International) Noise Conspiracy, Rocket from the Crypt, and Cave In. In 2003 the Explosion resurfaced with Sick of Modern Art on their own Tarantula label before signing with Virgin for the 2004 major-label bow Black Tape. Live in Boston, captured in December 2004, appeared next. At the close of 2004 Sam Cave departed and ex-Let It Burn guitarist Chris Gonzales filled the vacancy. After finishing Bury Me Standing, the group was dropped by Virgin in February 2007 and began seeking another home for the album. That spring the band disclosed its dissolution on its website, leaving a handful of final summer performances and the eventual issuance of Bury Me Standing as parting offerings to fans.