Joel Thorpe

**Labels:** | * Burning Records
* Hope Prevails Productions
 **Associated Acts:** | Aletheian, Crutch

**Joel A. Thorpe**, also known as **JT**, is an American musician that began his musical career in 1998. Thorpe was a part of the technical death metal band Crutch, formed by Alex Kenis, and was the second vocalist, following Vinnie Aldrich. Crutch later changed their name to Aletheian, with Thorpe remaining vocalist with the band. Thorpe also formed Aletheian's label, Hope Prevails Productions.

## History

Joel Thorpe began his musical career in 1998, replacing Vinnie Aldrich as the vocalist of the band Crutch. With Thorpe in the lineup, the band consisted of Alex Kenis on guitars, Keith Isenberg on bass, and Bryan Clarkson on drums. With the lineup, the band recorded an album, *Crutch*, which came out independently. The band would begin to write a new EP, initially titled *Annealed by Animosity*, until they changed it to *Transitions*. Following the release on the EP, however, Clarkson departed from the band. Travis Turner joined the band as the drummer, by way of recommendation from his cousin Stephen Mark Sarro (Tantrum of the Muse). The lineup rounded out with guitarist Donny Swigart joining the band. The five would then record *Awe and Disbelief*.

The band would continue to play shows all around their area, including Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia, New York, and Illinois. With the band growing to substantial size, Mike Fealko of the Ohio metalcore band Vessel signed them to Burning Records, a label he had created. Crutch would release their sophomore album, *...Hope Prevails*, which came out through Burning Records. In 2002, the band saw Turner and Isenberg being forced to depart due to family matters. At this time, Crutch changed their name to Aletheian, which consisted of Thorpe on vocals, Kenis on guitars, Swigart on guitars, and new members Joe Walmer on drums and Travis Wagner on bass. Thorpe formed Hope Prevails Productions when the band switched names, operating it as his business. The band recorded and released *Apolutrosis*, which was initially supposed to be an EP, however, at the time the band was in talks with Century Media. With this in mind, the band extended their material to a full-length, which is why there are several instrumentals.

Thorpe formed Hope Prevails in response to this, releasing the album, as well as designing the stained glass in the artwork. After *Apolutrosis* was released, Thorpe re-released all the band's prior material, which had been under Crutch's name. In 2005, the band caught the attention of Metal Blade Records subsidiary, Ironclad Recordings. With the distribution from a major label, the band released their fourth studio album - their second under the name Aletheian - titled *Dying Vine*. The album saw several major delays; Kenis and Walmer built a studio in Walmer's home and there they tracked the drums. Shortly thereafter, Kenis severed a tendon in his left thumb with a box-cutter blade. Once the album was finished, the deadlines were far too close, which led to Thorpe begging for distribution and the CD manufacturers before Ironclad re-released the album. In 2006, Aletheian would tour with Becoming the Archetype and Crimson Moonlight. The band continued performing until 2008, with Cornerstone Festival being the final show the band played before embarking on a hiatus. New material does exist, but due to the members being busy with life, it has not been recorded. Thorpe continues to work in art, maintaining the site Artistry of Color.

## Bands

* Aletheian (2003-2008) (Hiatus)
* Crutch (1998-2003)

## Discography

**Crutch**

* *Crutch* (1998)
* *Transitions* (1999)
* *Awe and Disbelief* (2000)
* *...Hope Prevails* (2001)

**Aletheian**

* *Apolutrosis* (2003)
* *Dying Vine* (2005)
* *Live* (2005)

## References

1. ↑ "ALETHEIAN - Band Members". Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
2. ↑ "Joel Thorpe". LinkdIn. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Crutch - Crutch". Discogs. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
4. ↑ "Homepage of the independent band Crutch". Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Pelletier, Danny; King, Joshua (January 7, 2018). "Danny Pelletier and Joshua King of Not Beneath". As The Story Grows Podcast. Interview with Travis Turner. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
6. ↑ Sarro, Stephen (August 2015). "Down The Line Magazine August 2015". Down The Line Magazine. Interview with Steve Ruff. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
7. ↑ "Crutch - Awe and Disbelief". Discogs. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Turner, Travis (June 18, 2020). "Discuss Metal Episode 018: Travis Turner of The Satire". Discography Discussion. Interviewed by Daniel Terry. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
9. ↑ "Joel Thorpe". Encyclopedia Metallum. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
10. ↑ "Hope Prevails Productions". Discogs. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
11. ↑ "Aletheian Signs With Ironclad Recordings". Blabbermouth.net. April 22, 2007. Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "ALETHEIAN - Dying Vine". Retrieved on February 22, 2021.
13. ↑ "Artistry of Color". Retrieved on February 22, 2021.