Jade Jones
September 6th, 2022
Photo by Caleb Good
Virginia hardcore is, now more than ever, developing and growing. Band after band pop up every day, creatinga constant stream of new music. But if there's one that sticks out, it's Disposed of Waynesboro, Va.
Formerly known as "Disposed Kings", the band is known for their distinctive blend of deathcore, metalcore and, of course, hardcore. The boys dropped the "kings" off their name about a year ago and have been ripping across the scene ever since. The band includes vocalist Zach Knott, secondary vocalist and guitarist Troy VonMoos, bassist Jacob Mountcastle and Drummer Branden Thomas. The first time I ever saw Disposed perform, at Scandals Live in VA Beach, Thomas played with a sling, earning him the title 'The One Armed Bandit'.
Photo by Antonio Hayward
Bands draw inspiration from all kinds of places, and this of course includes current events. When asked about their role in their writing, the band explained that a particular event really grabbed ahold of them. "Our soon to be released track 'Deputy Bean Bag' has lyrics written as we learned of the awful tragedy in Uvalde Texas where so many children needlessly lost their lives due to the cowardice of those who swore to serve and protect them." The band also cites "unchecked police brutality, often aimed at minorities" as a source of encouragement to put as much emotion into their music as possible.
In terms of musical inspirations, the band draws from some major players in the -core genre game, including, but not limited to: Boundaries, Knocked Loose, Bodysnatcher, Devil Wears Prada, The Ghost Inside, Kublai Khan, and Beartooth.
And much like their idols, Disposed has stepped out of the Old Dominian and expanded their range beyond Virginia's foothills. They recently had a show in Delaware, their first out of state show. The band described their experience as "welcoming" and are excited to go back soon. "It was exciting knowing we're putting our music in fresh ears. We had a great response from the audience which is always the best feeling." But that good feeling can always be found at one of the boys' favorite venues, Scandals Live in VA Beach.
That Virginia Beach scene and other surrounding areas are thriving, thanks to resources being utilized by bands both here in VA and all over the world. In the last 15 years, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are a key component in aiding in the growth of bands like Disposed. "The metal/rock scene has also become much more network savvy. Bands who act professional and friendly usually form mutually beneficial relationships with other bands to help put each other on to new places, shows, and fans." We've seen that relationship in action with bands like 3PEACE, Beyond the Grave, Vilified, Defying Death, Aura and many others. Sharing each other's tour/show dates, wearing each other's merch, and just over all kind and benevolent behavior has changed the scene for the better, and Disposed, along with the above examples, are a huge part of that growth and good will.
The future of the hardcore scene in Virginia is bright and filled with possibility. And we have bands like Disposed, with their forward thinking and heavy tunes dripping with attitude and meaning, who refuse to let the genre stay in a rut. And they have clear goals to get there. "We want to help put the Virginia Hardcore scene on the map through playing shows in and out of the state, releasing and pushing our new EP we're super proud of, and networking with other bands, venues, bookers, and creatives." Disposed continues to make a mark on the scene and the people within it, with meaningful lyrics, explosively heavy riffs and kick ass performances, we are excited to see where they go and what they do next.
Photo by Jade Jones
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