The Hall of Justice is a recording studio in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The triangular-shaped building, which has changed ownership and purpose throughout its century-old history, has functioned as a studio for rock bands since the 1970s. The windowless, unassuming space has been home to the recordings of albums by seminal indie rock bands, including Nirvana, Soundgarden, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, the Decemberists, Sleater-Kinney, Built to Spill, Modest Mouse, and more.
Originally a produce stand, the building was first opened as a studio under the name Triangle Recording between 1976 and 1986. Later, the studio first became popularly known as a partial birthplace of grunge, with countless early acts of the genre utilizing the space, then widely known as Reciprocal Recording (1986–91). After several years as John & Stu's, the studio was operated by musician and producer Chris Walla under its current name since 2000. Walla sold the space to a group of Seattle musicians in 2025, who have retained the name.
History
Early history The complex first opened as a produce stand in 1911. It served as a retail location for most of the twentieth century, and was vacant by the 1970s. Jack Weaver purchased the space and named it Triangle Recording in 1976, recording a series of 7"s by bands like Pell Mell and the Blackouts.
Chris Hanzsek and Jack Endino moved into the space in June 1986, renaming the studio Reciprocal Recording. The studio became famously responsible for all but inventing the grunge movement; Soundgarden and Nirvana recorded early demos at the studio, with the latter completing its debut album Bleach (1989) at Reciprocal. Hanzsek left the space in 1991, while engineer Rich Hinklin continued on, renaming the complex Word of Mouth. In 1993, the space was renamed again to John & Stu's, named after producers John Goodmanson and Stuart Hallerman. Goodmanson, Hallerman, and Phil Ek utilized the space to track dozens of bands, including Sleater-Kinney, Harvey Danger, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse.
Recent years In 2000, in partnership with Barsuk Records, musician and producer Chris Walla began overseeing the space. Walla began working as a producer with Nada Surf, Hot Hot Heat, and the Decemberists, as well as with his main project Death Cab for Cutie, with whom he recorded Transatlanticism (2003). Death Cab took over the lease in 2004 and used the studio as a practice space for four years. In 2010, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes took over the complex, reverting it to it former name Reciprocal. A writer for Spin described the space in a 2011 cover story: "The windowless exterior was once painted brown, but the color has faded and flecked off. Cracked shingles curl up off the roof, and inside the studio, tattered walls and well-worn carpeting give it all the charm of an abandoned church basement."
Walla returned to the studio in 2011, and oversaw an extensive renovation of the space. Walla has continued to record bands in the space, including Lo Moon, the Paper Kites, and Ratboys.
In 2025, Walla sold the studio to local musicians Mike V. Davis, Sam Rosson, Mikey Ferrario, and James Kasinger. Walla had sought someone else to run the studio after moving overseas in 2014, as it was difficult to manage Hall of Justice from afar while still recording bands during visits to Seattle. Its new owners launched community classes to teach studio basics while generating revenue, ensuring the nearly 50-year-old studio remains a creative hub for future generations. Clients have included Pool Kids, Alvvays, and Pinegrove.
Discography
Year Artist Recording 1987 Green River Dry as a Bone SoundgardenScreaming Life1988Ted Ed FredDale Crover demo tapeSkin YardHallowed GroundNirvana"Love Buzz"1989 TadGod's Balls Screaming Trees Buzz Factory Nirvana BleachMudhoneyMudhoneyVarious ArtistsAnother Pyrrhic Victory1990Mark LaneganThe Winding Sheet1990Skin YardFist Sized Chunks1990Nirvana"Sappy""Sliver"1990GruntruckInside Yours1991Skin Yard1000 Smiling Knuckles1992NirvanaIn Utero demo sessions1994Built to SpillThere's Nothing Wrong with Love1995MalfunkshunReturn to Olympus1996LowThe Curtain Hits the Cast1997Blonde RedheadFake Can Be Just as GoodHarvey DangerWhere Have All The Merrymakers Gone?Modest MouseThe Lonesome Crowded WestSleater-KinneyDig Me Out 2000 Sleater-Kinney All Hands on the Bad OneKind of Like SpittingNothing Makes Sense Without It 2001 Death Cab for Cutie The Photo Album 2002Carissa's Wierd Songs About Leaving Hot Hot Heat Knock Knock Knock The Long Winters The Worst You Can Do Is Harm 2003 Death Cab for CutieTransatlanticism The Postal ServiceGive Up The Thermals More Parts per Million 2005 Death Cab for Cutie Plans The Decemberists Picaresque Nada Surf The Weight Is a Gift 2011 Fleet Foxes Helplessness Blues2017Great GrandpaPlastic CoughSpecial ExplosionTo InfinityMinus the BearVoids 2018Lo MoonLo Moon2019 Great Grandpa Four of ArrowsPedro the LionPhoenix2020Deep Sea DiverImpossible Weight2021KississippiMood Ring 2023RatboysThe Window
References
External links
Official Official site