Trap Them was an American hardcore punk band formed in Salem, New Hampshire in 2001. They released five studio albums and five EPs, including a split EP with Extreme Noise Terror.

History

Trap Them began in 2001 as a side-project for Ryan McKenney, who at the time was the vocalist of Backstabbers Incorporated and Brian Izzi, a brief second guitarist Backstabbers Incorporated, and consistent member of December Wolves. The pair first as employees of Newbury Comics in Salem, New Hampshire. They took the band's name from the 1977 film by Joe D'Amato called Trap Them And Kill Them, known also as Emanuelle E Gli Ultimi Cannibali and Emanuelle and the Last Cannibals. Both departed from Backstabbers Incorporated in 2008 and soon became roommates, leading to Trap Them becoming their full-time project.On April 3, 2007, they released their debut album Sleepwell Deconstructor. They toured Europe in early 2008 with the Ocean and Rotten Sound.Trap Them worked with crust punk band Extreme Noise Terror for a split EP and toured the U.S. with Napalm Death. Their second album Seizures in Barren Praise, was released in November 2008. In May 2009, the band played on the year's bill for the annual Maryland Deathfest music festival in Baltimore, Maryland. The band went on US tours with Victims and Black Breath in May and June 2009, and Skeletonwitch and Saviours in mid-July.

In 2010 the band released the EP Filth Rations, initially only as a strictly limited cassette release restricted to just fifty copies available at their appearance at the Scion Rock Festival. The EP was later released on Southern Lord Records on 12" vinyl featuring an etching on the B-side by artist Justin Bartlett, who also drew the main cover.In late 2010, it was announced that in March 2011 the band would release their third full-length Darker Handcraft through Prosthetic Records - their first for the label since signing for them in mid-2009.

In April 2011, the band embarked on a European tour to promote the album as main support for Rotten Sound.On April 7, 2014, the band announced that they had completed work on their following album, titled Blissfucker, which was released on June 10, 2014. It was the first album to feature their new bassist, Galen Baudhuin (Infera Bruo), and drummer Brad Fickeisen (No Salvation, ex-The Red Chord).Crown Feral, the band's fifth and final studio album, was released on September 23, 2016, via Prosthetic Records. The album was again recorded with producer Kurt Ballou at the God City recording studio and featured artwork from artist Mattias Frisk.The band performed their final three shows in November in New York City, Montreal and Boston before disbanding.

Musical style and influences

Trap Them's music has been categorised as grindcore, crust punk, hardcore punk and metalcore. The band make heavy use of the Boss HM-2 guitar pedal, which creates a distinctive guitar tone that was first popularised by Swedish death metal bands. Metal Injection writer Christopher described their sound as Luedtke "Bringing a hardcore/punk, d-beat, and grind attitude with death metal riffs ala Grave".The band's influences include hardcore and crust punk bands, such as Black Flag, Born Against, and Tragedy and metal bands like Dismember and Entombed.

Members

FinalBrian Izzi - guitar (2001-2017)

Ryan McKenney - vocals (2001-2017)

Brad Fickeisen - drums (2013-2017)

Galen Baudhuin - bass (2013-2017)PastNat Coghlan - bass (2006-2007)

Scott DeFusco - drums (2006-2007)

Mike Sharp - drums (2007-2008)

Stephen LaCour - bass (2007-2011)

Mike Justian - drums (2008-2009)

Chris Maggio - drums (2009-2013)Timeline