Ensign

ByLets Go Punk
Ensign formed in New Jersey in 1995

Ensign started in New Jersey in 1995 and moved fast from a homemade demo to a steady run of records. The band shifted between labels as they grew, moving from Indecision to Nitro, circling back for select releases, and later working with Blackout. The sound stayed urgent and the calendar stayed full.

How The Band Got Started

The first lineup took shape in New Brunswick with Chris Ross on drums, Walt Svekla on bass, and guitarist John Fraunberger. After tracking an early demo, they searched for a front person and found Tim Shaw, who knew the New York hardcore circuit through his time on the road with Sick of It All.

1996-1998: Indecision Era

The group signed with Indecision and issued a self titled four song 7 inch in May 1996. Lineup changes followed, with Nate “Edge” Gluck stepping in on bass and Ryan Murphy on drums. Mid 1997 brought the Fall from Grace EP. Before leaving to pursue a teaching degree, Fraunberger recorded material that became the debut album Direction of Things to Come, released in November 1997. Ryan “Mackenzie” Donoghue replaced him on guitar for touring. In 1998 the band looked to a wider network and partnered with Nitro Records. That year Indecision also pressed three live songs on the Devil’s Night 7 inch, with the rest of the set later collected on Three Years Two Months Eleven Days.

1998-2002: Nitro Years

Keeping the familiar Trax East studio and producer Steve Evetts, Ensign delivered Cast the First Stone in March 1999. A European and UK tour followed that August, including shared dates with As Friends Rust. During the run in Ireland, Ryan Murphy exited and John “Vince Vegas” O’Neill took over on drums.

Spring 2000: Return to Indecision

Indecision released the anthology Three Years Two Months Eleven Days in April 2000, gathering early EPs, outtakes, unreleased songs, and six live tracks from the Showcase Theater in 1998.

2000: Splits and an EP

Four new songs were cut in New York for the EP For What It’s Worth, issued in October 2000. Two additional tracks appeared on a split 7 inch with Death by Stereo on Indecision that December, and two more landed on a split with Reaching Forward via Reflections Records in Europe. The band returned to Europe and the UK in late summer 2000 for more shows with As Friends Rust. Just before the trip, Ryan Donoghue left on good terms. Nate Gluck shifted to guitar and coached Chris Oliver through bass duties for the tour.

2001: The Price of Progression

Recording began in November 2000 for the next album. Nate handled bass, guitar, and backing vocals, with Chris Byrnes adding second guitar in December. Guest spots came from Russ Rankin of Good Riddance and Andy West of Kill Your Idols. The Price of Progression arrived in April 2001. The Death by Stereo split was reissued on CD that February as part of Indecision’s split series.

2002-2003: Tours and Covers Set

The band supported Hatebreed on a Canadian run in 2002, then toured Europe with Avail in 2003. With Frank Piegaro settling in on guitar and Brian “Pnut” Kozuch replacing John O’Neill on drums, Ensign cut twenty covers in seven days at a Hoboken studio, saluting core inspirations such as Bad Brains, Descendents, Dag Nasty, Hüsker Dü, Misfits, and Discharge. Blackout issued the collection in October 2003 as Love the Music, Hate the Kids, with a European edition via JoinTheTeamPlayer.

UK Release

Household Name released a limited split 7 inch in November 2003 with Leeds band Fig 4.0, featuring Ensign tracks “A Place,” “Circa 1985,” and “Three Can Keep a Secret.” Only 500 copies were pressed.

Members

  • Tim Shaw, vocals
  • Dan Brennan, guitar
  • Nate Gluck, bass and guitar, 2000-2002
  • Corey Perez, guitar
  • Derek Reilly, drums

Previous Members

  • Walt Svekla, bass, 1995-1996
  • Ryan Murphy, drums, 1996-1999
  • Chris Ross, drums, 1995-1996
  • John Fraunberger, guitar, 1995-1997
  • Ryan “Mackenzie” Donoghue, guitar, 1997-2000
  • John “Vince Vegas” O’Neill, drums, 1999-2001
  • Chris Oliver, bass, 2000-2002, live and rehearsals
  • Chris Byrnes, guitar, 2001-2002
  • Frank Piegaro, guitar, 2008-2011
  • Brian “Pnut” Kozuch, drums, 2008-2011

Discography, Albums

  • Direction of Things to Come (1997), Indecision Records
  • Cast the First Stone (1999), Nitro Records
  • Three Years Two Months Eleven Days (2000), Indecision Records
  • The Price of Progression (2001), Nitro Records
  • Love the Music, Hate the Kids (2003), Blackout Records

EPs and Splits

  • Ensign, self titled 7 inch EP (1996), Indecision Records
  • Fall from Grace, 7 inch EP (1997), Indecision Records
  • Ensign / Good Riddance, split 7 inch EP (1997), Orphaned Records
  • Devil’s Night, label compilation 7 inch (1998), Blackout Records
  • For What It’s Worth, EP (2000), Nitro Records
  • Death by Stereo / Ensign, split EP (2000), Indecision Records
  • Ensign / Reaching Forward, split 7 inch (2000), Reflections Records
  • Ensign / Fig 4.0, split 7 inch EP (2003), Household Name, UK
  • Scream for Help!, compilation 2×10 inch (2006), KOI Records

Similar Posts