The Killing Flame

In Orange County, most participants in the Killing Flame had previously logged years in classic-style hardcore punk ensembles spanning the 1980s and 1990s. Among them, guitarist and principal songwriter Joe D. Foster had already appeared with Uniform Choice, Ignite, No for an Answer, and Speak 714, while fellow guitarist Gavin Oglesby likewise counted No for an Answer in his résumé. Vocalist Joe Nelson fronted Triggerman and additionally worked as a roadie for Quicksand and Civ. The rhythm section arrived intact from Suppression Swing, where bassist Ed McKirdy and drummer P.T. Pugh had played together; McKirdy’s earlier credits also include Hands Tied. The Killing Flame coalesced in the first months of 1999 and promptly issued two EPs—The Dream Dies on California’s Livewire imprint and the German import Back to Ash—before unveiling its first full-length album, Another Breath, via EVR near the close of 2000.