Some liken Glassjaw's distinct sound to the classic thrash reggae of the Bad Brains. Others consider them distant cousins of metal favourites the Deftones.
Either way is fine with band co-founder and guitarist Justin Beck, who is also quick to point out that the group have evolved significantly since starting out. After all, he and singer Daryl Palumbo were only 13 years old when they met at summer camp. 'From the Cro-Mags to Bad Brains to Orange 9 and Quicksand,' he says from his home in Long Island, New York, where the quartet are based. 'We were emulating that last wave of post-hardcore acts when we were teenagers.'
Their enthusiasm led to a meeting with producer Ross Robinson, best known for his work with Slipknot and the Cure. 'We were juniors in college,' says Beck. 'We never chased it and never sent out a demo.'
But two highly acclaimed albums and record deals with major labels Roadrunner and Warner eventually turned into something else: frustration about how the music business operates.
'There are so many people who made so much money off us,' says Beck about the contracts and dealings that they're still living with today. 'It's stupid people taking advantage of stupider people enabling stupid people. I'd like to see the music industry completely collapse.'
To their credit, Beck, Palumbo and the lengthy list of friends who complete the quartet known as Glassjaw have always treated the group as a hobby, which is part of the reason why they maintain their verve nearly two decades on.