First Blood (band)

Lore & Background

First Blood formed in San Francisco, California, in 2002. Their first release was a self-titled EP in 2003, self-released or on another label. The following year they released a split EP with Blacklisted titled The Dead Man's Hand on Deathwish Inc. In 2006, the band released their debut full-length album, Killafornia, on Trustkill Records. That same year they toured with Ignite, Comeback Kid, The Red Chord, Sick of It All, Stretch Arm Strong, and others, and performed at the New England Metal Fest on April 29. In 2007 they toured extensively with Full Blown Chaos, Since the Flood, and Death Before Dishonor.

After a gap, the band released their second album, Silence Is Betrayal, in 2010 on Bullet Tooth Records. Their third studio album, Rules, was released on February 10, 2017, on Pure Noise Records, produced by Will Putney. It peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart. The lyric video for "Rules of Conviction" premiered in January 2017, and a video for the same song featuring Jesse Barnett of Stick to Your Guns and Kobayashi Hiroyuki of Loyal to the Grave appeared in June 2017.

The band's lineup has seen many changes. Founding vocalist Carl Schwartz has remained constant since 2002. Other long-term members include guitarist Lordninnaum (2012–2019) and drummer Bobby Blood (2003–2016, 2022–present). Numerous other musicians have filled in or held positions on bass, guitar, and drums over the years.

Reader's Guide

First Blood is a hardcore band from San Francisco that has maintained a consistent presence since 2002, releasing three studio albums over fifteen years. Their debut full-length, Killafornia, helped establish them within the hardcore scene, and they toured with notable acts such as Sick of It All and Comeback Kid. The band's second album, Silence Is Betrayal, came out in 2010, and their third, Rules, appeared in 2017 after a seven-year gap, charting on Billboard's Top Heatseekers. The band's significance lies in their longevity and their role in the hardcore community, with a frequently changing lineup anchored by vocalist Carl Schwartz. Their discography includes EPs, a split, and three studio albums on labels including Trustkill, Bullet Tooth, and Pure Noise Records.

Did You Know?

• First Blood formed in 2002 in San Francisco, California.
• Their debut full-length album, Killafornia, was released in 2006 on Trustkill Records.
• The band's third album, Rules, peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.