A Known Place: Joshua Fit For Battle (1998-2003)

Joshua Fit For Battle was a hardcore band from Newark, Delaware who were active from 1998-2003. Members of the band also played in Hot Cross, Neil Perry, A Petal Fallen and Welcome To The Plague Year. Their discography includes one 12"s, a split 12" with Neil Perry, a split 12" with Flashbulb Memory, a 7", a split 7" with Love Lost But Not Forgotten, a split 7" with All I ask a compilation 12" and a tour CD. They also had tracks appearing on a few compilations.

Joshua Fit For Battle really evaded being labelled as any one definite genre with their varied sound. Their songs are not unlike the post-hardcore and "emotional" hardcore of the time but theres a distinct difference in their instrumental organization. They were lot slower in pace than a lot of this music, but not lacking in power at all. All of their songs have a distinct melancholic feel to them. Despite being a hardcore band I'd describe their sound as more sad than aggressive and angry.

One Of my favourite tracks "Sleepwalker's Guide" is a good representation of their versatility and lack of conformity to other hardcore from the time. It has a slow, melancholic instrumental intro for almost half the song before it breaks down into fast dual guitar riffs and intense, shrieked vocals. Joshua Fit For Battle really had a knack for building up intensity over their songs before erupting into pure chaos making the payoff feel even more powerful.