JR Ewing

Formed in Oslo, Norway, in 1998, Jr Ewing unleashes a full attack of angular guitars and relentless riffs reminiscent of Drive Like Jehu, the Hot Snakes, At the Drive-In, and Refused. A few months after forming, Jr Ewing went into X-Ray Studios and recorded six songs that resulted in the band's self-released Integritas.Consonantia.Claritas 7", which was later re- released by Lilac Sky.

After touring Scandinavia and Europe, the band released two split 7"s with Break and SYC. Calling in Dead, Jr Ewing's debut full-length, recorded in six days, improved the band's sound with tighter songwriting. The record was released on Coalition Records in 2000. The Singles Collected followed on German imprint Scorched Earth Policy, and then in February of 2001 the group recorded The Perfect Drama EP, which embraced a trashier lo-fi sound. When drummer Morten Billeskans became sick and couldn't complete a tour, the band solidified the lineup of vocalist Andreas Tylden, guitarists Erlend Mokkelbost and Hakon Mella, and bassist Peter Snekkestad, with Kenneth Lamond on drums. They then recorded a split record with This Machine Kills. Ride Paranoia , Jr Ewing's most accomplished album and their first for Gold Standard Laboratories, was recorded in nine days in May of 2002 and released in February of 2003. With tightly wound dual guitars and a thrashy intensity, the album served to sweep the dust out and revitalize the stale hardcore genre.

The band remained relatively quite state side after Ride Paranoia, but continued to write and tour extensively in Europe. JR Ewing will make their triumphant return to North America with the July 25, 2006 release of Maelstrom on Dim Mak Records. While still retaining the intensity and post-hardcore roots that fans have come to expect from these Nords, this latest effort shows some more progressive and polished moments. But, don’t let that scare you, this is still the same in you face, rock and roll terrorists that we’ve all come to know and love. Maelstrom, launches a post-punk thunderstorm on your ears, so be sure to bring and umbrella.

Maelstrom is set to release July 25, 2006, on Dim Mak Records.

Dim Mak Releases:
DM029: This Machine Kills/JR Ewing split 7"/CD
DM098: JR Ewing "Maelstrom" CD out July 25, 2006

Listen
Pitch Black Blonde from Maelsrtom

Press

Wow, check out this extremely positive review of "Maelstrom" from Cornzine.com. Even in death JR Ewing still is generating new excited fans. "It's not too often that a band crosses my path that I think is pretty unique. These days everyone claims to 'have their own sound', etc., but in reality it's just fairly hard to do that anymore. This is my first experience with JR Ewing and I'm finding that they are definitely unique and they are definitely growing on me more and more every time I listen to them.". Click the banner to read the full article.

Amazing review from Chord Magazine. Click the image to get a full size scan of the review.

Here is an EPIC review from our good friends over at Wonka Vision Magazine. "Fitting (JR Ewing) should end with an album like "Maelstrom", which is without a douby their most ambitious album, full of melody without scrimping on the chaos." Click the magazine image to read the full article.

4/5 from Alternative Press Modern punk and emo's premier magazine, Alternative Press, gives JR Ewing's Maelstrom a glowing review. Reiterating what we've all been saying "...[Maelstrom] is a testament to what could have been", damn straight!. Click the image to see a enlarged, readable version of the individual review.

Our good friends at Punknews.org did a nice review of "Maelstrom". "While JR Ewing hasn't completely abandoned their hardcore roots, the band is clearly aiming for a cleaner sound; the easiest comparison is certainly later-era At the Drive-In, not simply in the high-pitched clean vocals and occasional screaming, but in the complexity of the work." Click the logo for a full review.

Look here a B+ from Exoduster.com!!
"If JR Ewing seems like they've been hanging in the ether for sometime without your finger every landing on them, then the brilliant ten-track Maelstrom is set to change your perceptions. Seriously though, Norway's JR Ewing is always listed in RIYL-type phrases, but few people seemed to have a firm grasp on them - even with a release on GSL. With a move to Dim Mak, the band takes their post hardcore sound on a guitar acid trip and it's awesome. The songs on Maelstrom are just an unrelenting attack on your senses that preserves the post hardcore frame but pushes the beams up with wild Mars Volta-type assaults. Hardly a bad song across the bunch, JR Ewing's consistency is remarkable. Headline tracks can be found in "Change Is Nothing (Everything Is)," the dropping riff on "Nihilistic Elitist," the oddly poppy "Take a Hint" complete with handclaps, the melodic "Pitch Black Blond" and its full-blown breakdown that crescendos back, and the hard rocking closer "Here I Vanish." Thank God that JR Ewing violently murders the Scandinavian rock stereotype."

"However, fans of the genre will no doubt be impressed and will receive the album for what it is– a musically mature and fitting last effort by an established outfit." Click image for full review.

Positive review from Geek Burger.com. Click the banner to read the full review.

Really positive review from UK's MontagPress. "Both a superb release, and a spectacular eulogy, but their premature departure keeps them from the acclaim they so keenly deserve which is always going to tint this, their final outing, with a veneer of pathos." Click image for full review

Solid review from New-Noise.com. Click banner for full review

Here is another review of "Maelstrom", this time from the wonderful people at All Ages Zine.
Call Norway's JR Ewing post-hardcore if you want to, but always use the word excellent when describing their music. With that being said, this album is an excellent display of what good rock music should sound like. The vocals tended to remind me of Porno For Pyros era Parry Farrell most of the time except when there is the minimal amount of screaming, but musically this is a spastic blend of chunky guitars and stop and go bass lines that lead you into well-crafted choruses that will grab your attention. This isn't the type of band that has that mainstream appeal due to the rawness of the songs, but I could certainly see JR Ewing causing a commotion in the underground scenes. Keep your eyes out for these guys. (JK)

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