Belmont
Belmont in live show.
Background information
Origin	Chicago, Illinois
Genres	Pop punk easycore Post-Hardcore
Years active	2014–present
Labels	Mutant League Pure Noise
Members	Taz Johnson Brian Lada Jason Inguagiato
Past members	Matt Fusi Joey Legittino Amal Sheth Sam Patt Thomas Hollingsworth Alex Wieringa
Website	belmontil.com

Belmont is an American rock band from Chicago, Illinois.

History

Belmont, consisting of Taz Johnson on vocals, Brian Lada on drums, guitar, and programming, and Jason Inguagiato on guitar, have seamlessly evolved from high school friends to a band hailed by Rock Sound as "quite possibly the next great pop-punk band." Their journey began with the release of the 2016 EP "Between You & Me" and the 2018 self-titled full-length album, which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Heatseekers and Alternative New Artist Albums charts. These early works hinted at a broader range of influences beneath their prog-punk surface.

The true manifestation of these influences takes center stage in "AFTERMATH," Belmont's Pure Noise Records debut. This album marks a significant evolution, showcasing the classical training of Inguagiato and Lada, who studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Led by instinctual musical prowess and a collaborative spirit, Belmont collaborated with billion-streamed producer Andrew Wade (known for his work with A Day To Remember, Neck Deep, Real Friends) to explore new sonic territories.

During the summer of 2021, the band immersed themselves in records from rising hip-hop artists like Pouya and Terror Reid, a stark departure from their pop-punk roots. This infusion of diverse influences, combined with the band's collaborative writing process, resulted in a musical Jenga tower stacked to new heights.

The album opener, "Fully Sent," immediately challenges listeners with trilling trap drums and distorted vocal samples, creating an atmosphere that questions the chosen musical journey. However, Belmont swiftly reassures their audience as they dive into punishing breakdowns, biting vocals, and intricate guitar leads. The first single, "Parasitic," presents a darker and heavier facet of Belmont's sound, while tracks like "What I Lack" maintain the ethereal pop-punk bounce reminiscent of their early material, now polished with a sleek sheen.

Belmont's willingness to experiment is evident in tracks like "Country Girl," defying expectations with its unapologetic fusion of pop, metal, and country influences. Initially conceived as a meme, the song took a surprising turn, incorporating banjo and showcasing the band's refusal to conform to expectations.

Throughout "AFTERMATH," Belmont navigates a genre-less landscape, seamlessly blending disparate sounds into a hyper-modern tour through musical styles. Their influences are eclectic, ranging from trap to nu-metal, Chicago drill to folk, and country. Despite the serious and vulnerable themes explored in the album, there's an underlying spirit of excitement and joyous absurdity that makes listening to it as enjoyable as the creative process itself.

As Johnson aptly puts it, "There’s a lot of serious stuff on this album … it’s personal and vulnerable and hopefully people can relate to it. But at the same time, the process of making it taught us to remember to have fun." Lada echoes this sentiment, expressing a hope that "AFTERMATH" inspires people to embrace their individuality and pursue their artistic passions without reservation. In essence, Belmont invites listeners to give "less of a fuck and instead do whatever they want."—

Band members

Current members

• Taz Johnson – lead vocals (2014–present)
• Brian Lada – drums, guitars, bass (2014–present) ; programming (2019–present)
• Jason Inguagiato – lead guitar (2018–present); rhythm guitar (2017–2018)

Former members

• Amal Sheth – lead guitar, backing vocals (2014)
• Joey Legittino – bass (2014–2015); backing vocals (2014–2016); lead vocals (2014)
• Sam Patt – rhythm guitar (2014–2015); lead guitar (2014, 2015–2020)
• Matt Fusi – lead guitar (2015)
• Alex Wieringa – bass, backing vocals (2015–2022)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

EPs

• Vicissitude (2015, Self-Released)
• Between You & Me (2016, Mutant League)
• Water Weight / Step Aside 7" (2017, Mutant League)
• Reflections (2020, Pure Noise)
• Bowser's Mixtape (2021, Pure Noise)

References