Contraband

**Contraband** was a American rock band formed in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1999 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Justin Sunoco and drummer Brent Olsen. The band is well known for their 2001 debut album *14 Ways to Mosh at a Rager* which sold 8,000,000 copies worldwide. The band was active until Justin's death in 2021 due to COVID-19 complications.

## Contraband

### Genres

Heavy metal, Nu metal, Groove metal, Alternative metal

## Members

### Past members

Justin Sunoco, Emma Spencer, Jake Nothing, Brent Olsen

## History

Justin and Brent met when Justin moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan. They became friends and had lunch together every Saturday. Justin and Brent later met Emma Spencer and Jake Whitmer (known as Jake Nothing). They recruited them as bass and lead guitar respectively, while Justin took to vocals and rhythm guitar and Brent took to drums. The band recorded a demo which manage to impress a representative from Psychopathic Records, who signed the band in early 2000. In 2001, the band released their debut album *14 Ways to Mosh at a Rager* which sold 8,000,000 copies worldwide and was certified 8x platinum by the RIAA, The band went on Ozzfest 2002 from August 4, until August 17th of that year. In 2004, the band released their second album *Ecstasy Cola* and went on tour with Egypt Central as the opening act in late 2004, which included Gathering of the Juggalos 2005. In 2007, the band released their third album *Novena* which sold 700,000 copies worldwide and was certified gold by the RIAA.

The band went on tour In This Moment as the opening act, which included playing the main stage of Ozzfest 2007 from August 8th until August 14th of that year. In 2010, the band recorded their fourth album. This album, 2011's *Audiotopsy* featured a huge nu metal sounding and followed up with 2012's fifth album *Silvertomb*. The band went on tour from 2012 to 2013 which included 2012's Ram's Head Live and Knotfest 2012. In 2015, the band released their self-titled sixth album and played a concert residency at the Crisler Center from January 9, 2016 to June 16, 2016. In 2017, the band released their seventh album *Gauntlet of Death* which featured a huge melodic death metal influence. The band went on tour with Sleep Token as the opening act from February 2017 to July 2017. In 2019, the band released their eighth album *Killdozer* and toured for the album until 2020. In 2021, Justin Sunoco died due to COVID-19 complications, it was decided that the band split up. However in 2022, the band would release their ninth album *The Year of the Imp* with Justin Sunoco singing and playing rhythm guitar posthumously. In 2023, Jake Nothing was killed in a car crash in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Marking it impossible for a reunion to take place.

## Members

Justin Sunoco-lead vocals (1999-2021; his death) \*had 8 different Sennheiser microphones\*, rhythm guitar (1999-2021) \*last played a Gibson Justin Sunoco signature Anaconda Burst Victory guitar with DOD Big Pig Fat Distortion pedal\*

Emma Spencer-bass (1999-2021) \*last played a Ibanez Silver Iceman bass\*

Jake Nothing-lead guitar (1999-2021; died 2023) \*last played a Fender Jake Nothing signature Slime Green Swinger guitar with BOSS DS-2 pedal\*

Brent Olsen-drums (1999-2021) \*last played a double bass 10 piece drum set by Pearl and ZBT\*

## Discography

*14 Ways to Mosh at a Rager (2001)*

*Ecstasy Cola (2004)*

*Novena (2007)*

*Audiotopsy (2011)*

*Silvertomb (2012)*

*Contraband (2015)*

*Gauntlet of Death (2017)*

*Killdozer (2019)*

*The Year of the Imp (2022)*