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The pop-core pioneers are back! Shelter is the band based around NYHC legend
Ray Cappo who managed to push Hardcore into the mainstream in the 90s and
has released a handful of classic albums.
But what’s the fuss about it? Why do mid-twens and thirtysomethings think back
ten years ago when Ray Cappo changed their lives? Shelter weren’t Ray’s first
attempt to revolutionise the world of hard music. His first band Youth of Today set
the mould with their sound and the straight edge attitude. After the end of Youth
Of Today in 1988 Ray Cappo went to India, came back as a krishna and formed
Shelter together with old Youth Of Today guitar player Porcell.
"I was one of the earliest proponents of clean living, spirituality and vegetarianism
in a punk music scene that was not so spiritual and not so clean" Ray speaks about
that time.
His and Porcell’s first efforts as Shelter were far more melodic than anything known
by the hardcore scene at that stage. With the track "Shelter" being entirely electronic
the band took the chance to create something totally new.
The 1995 hit album "Mantra" became an international success and earned Shelter
worldwide tours with No Doubt, Goldfinger and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. But
after a severe bus crash on the "Beyond Planet Earth" tour when several band
members where hurt Ray decided to change his life and focus on spirituality again.
Porcell left the band, and Ray put it finally on hold in 2001. During the past five
years he lived a quiet life in Los Angeles.
Ray talks about this recent time: "Living with very similar values but speaking to
a completely parallel community, I want to indulge my old fans with a lost CD, with
songs I had written but never recorded – until now."
And now Shelter’s back with "Eternal", 10 new songs and a remake of 'In Defense
Of Reality', the opening track of the 1991 album "Quest for Certainty". Collaborating
with Ray are Ken Olden on guitar (Better Than a Thousand, Battery) and Dave
DiCenso (Ex-Cro Mags) who is characterized by Ray as "the drum professor who
played on other Shelter classics as 'Mantra', 'Beyond Planet Earth' and 'The Purpose
The Passion'".
The songs on "Eternal" tie in directly where "Mantra" and "Beyond Planet Earth"
ended - charismatic, energetic and charming with heartfelt lyrics and message.
Discography:
- 1991 Perfection of Desire
- 1991 Quest For Certainty
- 1993 Attaining The Supreme
- 1995 Mantra
- 1996 Beyond Planet Earth
- 2000 When 20 Summers Pass
- 2001 The Purpose, The Passion...
- 2006 Eternal
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