Band history
Early career (1998–2001)
Walls of Jericho were formed following the demise of two Detroit based bands. The first being the influential Earthmover, featuring members Mike Hasty (guitar) and Wes Keely (drums). The second was a band called Universal Stomp which Aaron Ruby (bass) played in. Both bands fizzled out at around the same time prompting the three friends to start a new band. At the same time Candace Kucsulain, 2 year singer for the band Apathemy .auditioned with the band. After numerous other auditions for lead singer the band accepted Candace as their new frontwoman in September 1998. For the first few months the band would perform with friends of theirs filling in on guitar however later decided to ask close friend Chris Rawson in as full time member who was able to offer more commitment to the band. With the line-up complete the five piece began touring the local Detroit hardcore scene. Soon after in April 1999 the band released their first EP on 7" through label Underestimated, which was followed shortly thereafter by a CD EP containing that 7" and demo tracks, called A Day and a Thousand Years released on Florida based Eulogy Recordings. This was later released by European imprint Genet. After continuous touring in support of their EP releases, the band attracted the attention of both Ferret and Trustkill Records. They went on to sign with Trustkill which resulted in the December 1999 release of their debut full-length album The Bound Feed the Gagged. The band hit the touring and hardcore festival circuit the following year. In August of 2000 they began touring the United States in support of straight-edgers Earth Crisis, Swedish melodic death metal band In Flames, and Oakland, CA's metallic Skinlab. After another spate of touring in 2001, drummer Wes Keely announced he would be leaving the band to finish school in Seattle, Washington. With the band based in Detroit it would prove impossible for them to continue together. Keely was replaced by ex Suicide Machines drummer Derek Grant. Five months after touring with the band Grant announced he would be leaving to join Chicago punk rockers Alkaline Trio.
Break up (2001–2003)
After unsuccessful auditions to fill the vacant drummer position the band, feeling that none of the applicants met their criteria as a band member were forced into a hiatus. Shortly before this announcement was made singer Candace got herself an apprenticeship in body piercing which would occupy her free time over the next two years. Also during this time band members Mike, Aaron and Chris started a side project band called It's All Gone to Hell. For the next 2 years guitarist Mike Hasty would continue to work out of his recording studio Cloud City as an engineer working with bands such as The Black Dahlia Murder and Bloodlined Calligraphy.Re-formation
After a 2 year silence period the band would eventually see the vacant drummer slot filled by ex Catharsis member Alexei Rodriguez who called the band after returning from Germany. It was at the same time that Candace was on her way to audition for a local indie band when she received the call from Mike saying that WOJ were re-forming. In April 2003 the band began touring again playing major hardcore events such as Hellfest in Syracuse, NY. Complete with their new drummer the band began writing new material and had completed recording in September 2003. All Hail the Dead was released in February 2004, 5 years since the release of The Bound Feed the Gagged.The album was released to critical acclaim across the hardcore/metal scene and propelled the band to the forefront of the hardcore scene seeing them fill support slots for bands such as Madball, Hatebreed and Sick of It All as well as headlining tours of their own. It wasn't long after the release that the band would see the loss of their third drummer. Fortunately for the band the position was filled relatively quickly by long time friend Dustin Schoenhofer - ex drummer for Next to Nothing and Premonitions of War.
The next two years would see WOJ touring extensively across the United States and Europe gaining more and more support and a very loyal following along the way.
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