Only Living Witness was an American metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1989 by members of dissolved thrash metal band Formicide. Across two studio albums, they developed a modern hardcore-influenced metal sound. The band split up in 1995.
History The band was formed in 1989 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Jonah Jenkins (vocals) and Eric Stevenson (drums, ex-Formicide). Stevenson's brother Kevin (guitar) and former Formicide bandmate Roy Costa (bass) completed the lineup. In 1991, Kevin Stevenson and Costa were replaced by Craig Silverman and Chris Crowley. Kevin Stevenson and Costa went on to form The Shods.
Only Living Witness released a few demos before being signed by Century Media Records. Their debut album, Prone Mortal Form, was released in 1993. The band performed concerts in 14 countries including Sweden, England, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. In 1996, their follow-up CD Innocents was released, but the band had already split up.
Following the band's dissolution in 1995, Jonah Jenkins went on to perform the vocal duties in Miltown, Milligram and Raw Radar War. Guitarist Craig Silverman went on to play in bands Blood for Blood, Ramallah, Slapshot, and Agnostic Front.
Only Living Witness briefly reformed in 2008 for four reunion shows: June 14 and 21 at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 22 in Clinton, Massachusetts, and the final show on August 30 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Eric Stevenson, the band's main composer and drummer, died on August 9, 2011, at the age of 43.
Legacy Only Living Witness would prove to be influential to the wave of metalcore acts that also came out of Massachusetts some years later, like 36 Crazyfists, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Unearth.
In 2014, Shadows Fall's cover of the Only Living Witness song "December" was used in the soundtrack of the film Let's Be Cops.
Members Jonah Jenkins – vocals (1989–1995) Eric Stevenson – drums (1989–1995) Kevin Stevenson – guitar (1989–1991) Roy Costa – bass (1989–1991) Craig Silverman – guitar (1991–1995) Chris Crowley – bass (1991–1995)
US Reunion, Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008 Bob Maloney – bass guitar
Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008 Benny Grotto – drums
Discography YearAlbum 1993 Prone Mortal Form Released: 1993 Label: Century Media Records Released: 2018 Label: Think Fast! Records (vinyl re-issue) 1996 Innocents Released: 1996 Label: Century Media Records 2006 Prone Mortal Form/Innocents (re-released) Released: 2006 Label: Century Media Records (CD re-issue) Released: 2008 Label: Reflections Records (vinyl re-issue)
Demos 1990 Self-titled demo (audio cassette)
1992 Prone Mortal Form demo (audio cassette)
Singles 1991 Complex Man 7" limited press of 1,000 copies (Look Again Records)
1995 Freaklaw 7" limited press of 3,000 copies (Chainsaw Safety Records)
Compilation appearances 1991 Planned Obsolescence compilation (RRRecords) Have contributed with the track "Bad Blood"
1993 East Coast Assault compilation (Too Damn Hype Records) Have contributed with the track "Twitching Tongues"
1994 Case Closed?: An International Compilation of Husker Du Cover Songs (Snoop Records) Have contributed with the track "Too Far Down"
1995 Bloodlines: The Seeds of Rebellion compilation (Century Media Records) Have contributed with the track "Deed's Pride"
Boston Hardcore '89–'91 (Taang! Records) Have contributed with the track "Bad Blood"
References