About Harkonen

Harkonen was an American post-hardcore band from Tacoma, Washington, United States that were active from 1997 through 2005. They began around 1997 originally as a five-piece that played noisy hardcore similar to artists such as Deadguy and Kiss It Goodbye. Their formative years were tumultuous and keeping a steady line-up proved difficult. After recording their self-titled single in 1997, the band were reduced to a four-piece following the departure of guitarist Chris Vancourt and vocalist Mike Jones, and it marked the addition of vocalist Aaron Connell (formerly of Grip and Christ and later went on to found Himsa and Iamthethorn). Shortly after releasing their single "Hung to Dry", vocalist Aaron Connell and short-lived guitarist Niehl Brady departed, leaving the band a three-piece, with Ben and Bill taking on the Vocal role. Some time after, guitarist Bill Quinby also left and was replaced by Casey Hardy. This lineup of Verellen, Howard and Hardy would prove to be the band's most enduring line-up. After bouncing around labels and slowly but steadily changing their overall sound into a more noise rock outfit (points of reference include Scratch Acid and Nirvana, Harkonen landed on national label Hydrahead Records where they released the Grizz record as well as Shake Harder Boy and their collaboration with These Arms Are Snakes (with whom Ben would go on to play drums with for a while), Like a Virgin EP. This gave them bigger exposure and allowed them to embark on national tours with Isis and other Hydrahead Records bands. Harkonen also began to lose steam around the recording of their final EP Dancing and the band called it a day sometime in 2005. They recorded several more records prior to their breaking up which were released right around and just after the band disbanded. Ben Verellen - Bass & Vocals Casey Hardy - Guitar & Vocals Matt Howard - Drums http://www.myspace.com/harkonen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harkonen_(band)