Strongarm

**Labels:** | * First Street Records
* Tooth & Nail Records
* Solid State Records
* Blood & Ink Records (affiliated)
 **Former Members:** | Nick DominguezJoshua ColbertChris CarbonellChad NeptuneJason BerggrenBob FranquizSteve KleisathMatt FoxMatt Fletcher

**Strongarm** was a metalcore/hardcore band that began in 1993, after switching names and styles from **Ikthus**, a punk band that began in 1991. Their biggest hits were "Smoke a Bowl for Jesus" and "God Bless You And Your Line of Coke."

## History

### Ikthus and original lineups (1991-1993)

The band began in 1991 as a punk rock band called Ikthus. The band's lineup consisted of Jason Berggren on Guitars, Dave Bean on Vocals, Matt Fletcher on Bass and Chris Carbonell on Drums. The band released a single demo, much to the chagrin of it's members. Fletcher departed from the band, which saw the induction of Chad Neptune on Bass.

In 1993, Bean departed from the band, which prompted that Ikthus be changed to something else. Berggren would attempt to take over vocal duties, however with punk rock it was not working out. Berggren, Carbonell and Neptune recruited their friends Joshua Colbert and Nick Dominguez to form the band that would become Strongarm. Colbert was in a band called Planet X, Dominguez was in a band called Tension, while both were in Endure.

### Strongarm and *Atonement* (1993-1995)

In 1993, the band changed their name to Strongarm, however, some of the members believed that the name was a bit "wrestle-mania". The band, with the new lineup would release a self titled demo. They shortly thereafter would also release *These Times That Try Men's Souls*. While recording the demo, the band signed to Tooth & Nail Records. In 1994, Matt Fox (ex-Planet X, Shai Hulud) briefly filled in on Drums.

The same year, the band released an EP titled *Division*, which came out via Tooth & Nail Records. In 1995, the band recorded their debut album, *Atonement*, and released it the same year via T&N. Shortly after the release, Carbonell and Dominguez were fired from the band. The song "Increase" was written about the process Berggren went through with that. The song "Trials" was re-released on a 7" EP, along with the newly written and recorded track "Increase". The band hired Bob Franquiz (Amboogalard) on Rhythm Guitars and Steven Kleisath (ex-PULL) on Drums.

According to Carbonell, Berggren wanted to replace Dominguez with Franquiz. However, Carbonell, admittedly, handled the situation poorly, which resulted in him being fired. Kleisath would ask for Carbonell's permission before officially joining the band.

### Lineup instability, *Advent of a Miracle* and disbanding (1996-1998)

A few months after the departure of Carbonell and Dominguez and the induction of Franquiz and Kleisath, Berggren and Franquiz departed from the band. Dominguez returned to the band as their guitarist. While trying out new vocalists, they asked Carbonell to help them through the process. However, none of the vocalists they were trying out seemed to fit in the band, which led Carbonell to try out as their vocalist. He fit the band's criteria as the vocalist.

Shortly after Carbonell joined, the band embarked on a tour. The band was threatened on tour by non-Christian gang members. However, they influenced them, bringing them the message of Christianity. Carbonell would become terribly sick on tour, with three different medical issues - a lung virus, a "hardcore version" of the flu, and an additional problem. The band would pull out of the tour, missing the final performance of the tour. They would soon then record *Advent of a Miracle* in 1997, releasing it via Solid State Records. In 1998, the band disbanded as there was no longer an interest, with all of the members, minus Carbonell, performing in an indie rock band Further Seems Forever. While Carbonell was asked to be apart of the band, he knew he could not sing, therefore would not fit the bill.

### Reunion and other projects (2000-present)

In 2000, the band reunited at Furnace Fest, with the lineup of *Advent* plus Fox performing additional drums. Berggren, however, had previously mentioned a potential reunion with the band, which was shot down by the members. The relationship between them remains strained, however reconciliation seems to be an option. In 2009, there was a Cornerstone Festival tribute concert for the band, which sparked some controversy. The next year, Blood & Ink Records reissued *Atonement* on vinyl. Berggren was also featured on the song "The Call" by fellow metalcore/hardcore band Venia. Carbonell would also perform in a band with his brother, Rob called Age of Awakening. However, it was short lived, as Carbonell stated he did not record in any other projects.

## Members

**Last Known Lineup**

* Chris Carbonell - Drums (1992-1995), Vocals (1996-1998, 2000)
* Joshua "Josh" Colbert - Lead Guitars (1993-1998, 2000)
* Nick Dominguez - Rhythm Guitars (1993-1995, 1996-1998, 2000)
* Chad Neptune - Bass (1993-1998, 2000)
* Steve Kleisath - Drums (1995-1998, 2000)

**Former**

* Jason Berggren - Vocals (1991-1996), Guitars (1991-1993)
* Dave Bean - Vocals (1991-1993)
* Matt Fletcher - Bass (1991-1993)
* Bob Franquiz - Rhythm Guitars (1995-1996)

**Live**

* Matt Fox - Drums (1994, 2000)

## Discography

**Studio Albums**

* *Atonement* (1995)
* *Advent of a Miracle* (1997)

**EPs**

* *Division* (1994)
* *Trials* (1995)

**Demos**

* *Strongarm* (1993)
* *These Times That Try Men's Souls* (1993)

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Carbonell, Chris (October 9, 2016). "Chris Carbonell of Strongarm". Interview with Trav Turner. As the Story Grows. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Power, Billy (May 2, 2015). "Interview with Chad Neptune (Strongarm, Further Seems Forever) (Part One)". Urban Achiever. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jones, Brandon (January 13, 2014). "Fast FWD - What They're Up 2: Chris Carbonell". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
4. ↑ "Strongarm". Solid State Records. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
5. ↑ Fox, Matt (July 11, 2015). "Matt Fox". Urban Achiever. Interview with Billy Power. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Turner, Travis (April 22, 2017). "The Advent Of A Miracle Strongarm Special". As The Story Grows. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
7. ↑ Turner, Travis (June 7, 2015). "Steve Kleisath of Further Seems Forever, Strongarm, Shai Hulud". As The Story Grows. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
8. ↑ "Strongarm Biography". Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
9. ↑ Turner, Travis (December 18, 2016). "Jason Berggren (formerly) of Strongarm". As The Story Grows. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
10. ↑ "Strongarm "Tribute" Cornerstone 2009". Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
11. ↑ Van Pelt, Doug. "Strongarm's Atonement album to be re-released on vinyl". HM Magazine. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
12. ↑ Jones, Brandon (January 8, 2014). "Fast FWD - What They're Up 2 Now: Jason Berggren of Strongarm". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
13. ↑ Jones, Brandon (November 26, 2014). "IVM Presents: Age of Awakening". Indie Vision Music. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.

## External Links

* Band profile at Tooth & Nail Records
* Band profile at AllMusic.com
* Power, Billy (May 9, 2015). "Interview with Chad Neptune (Strongarm, Further Seems Forever) (Part Two)". Urban Achiever. Retrieved on April 4, 2018.
* Powell, Mark Allan (2002). *Encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music.* Hendrickson Publishers. p. 891.