In 1986, at the height of the Hardcore movement in New York City, which included the now infamous CBGB matinee, the underground scene gave birth to one the most original hybrids of Hardcore. Back then, lead vocalist Jim Williams had already established himself in the HC community as a drummer with such early bands as Sarcasm and Nausea. Jim was passionate about bringing together an unlikely group of musicians to challenge the existing musical boundaries with something new and very exciting. And the many connections he had developed while working the door at CBGB made him uniquely suited for the challenge of assembling a diverse group, MAXIMUM PENALTY. In 1987, guitarist Joe Affe joined the band. He and second guitarist Brian Goche wrote two songs that reflected the the individual style of both musicians. The result was MAXIMUM PENALTY’s first two tracks. The following year, those tracks were released on the Blackout Records compilation, “Where the Wild Things Are.” Joe and Brian’s songs, “Hate” and “Immaculate Conception” would be just the beginning of what the band would reveal to the world. That same year MAXIMUM PENALTY would put out the now classic “Demo 89”, recorded by Josh Silver in Brooklyn’s Sty in the Sky studios. Unlike most of the HC demos back then, this body of work was ahead of its time for the way it fused the band’s many different influences. MAXIMUM PENALTY was doing things that hadn’t been done before, breaking new ground by blending punk, HC, metal and hip hop with aggression, melody and most of all, taste. Since those early days, other bands have embraced this fusion of sounds and cultures, but MAXIMUM PENALTY was the innovator. At that time, the reach of New York HC bands consisted mainly of CBGB (New York City), Sundance (Long Island City, N.Y.), Bun Ratty's (Boston), The Anthrax (Connecticut), City Gardens and Fastlane (New Jersey), and 930 (Washington, D.C.), to name a few. MAXIMUM PENALTY made its mark in all of those clubs with friends like Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Raw Deal, Krakdown, Breakdown, Uppercut, Gorilla Biscuits, Outburst and Underdog . In 1991, MAXIMUM PENALTY would pursue a deal with IN EFFECT records. Being label mates with such luminaries as Sick of It All and Raw Deal (now known as Killing Time) was a natural fit. That deal, however, would have to wait while Jim dealt with a situation that made him a guest of New York State. Band members turned to writing and added some new players while waiting for his return. Two years later, in 1993, the band was back together with a renewed sense of purpose. Jim brought a new focus and sense of determination. He drew from his experiences for a new body of MAXIMUM PENALTY songs. The band returned to the stage and played shows in and around New York. That same year, the band went into Night Owl Studios in New York City and recorded what became their “East Side Story” e.p. In 1994, MAXIMUM PENALTY’s e.p. was released through Too Damn Hype records. At this point a whole new generation of bands fronted by veterans of New York’s HC scene was taking charge of the old stages. With the opening of Coney Island High, the band shared many bills with IE, H2O, Crown of Thorns, Subzero and Merauder, never forgetting who they were and never changing the sound that was and is MAXIMUM PENALTY. The year 1996 brought important and positive changes to the band, beginning with work on another record. During that creative process, members parted ways with their drummer and welcomed long-time friend from the scene Darren Morgenthaler to complete the line up. The first order of business would be to record the song “Heartless.” When the recording was complete, it was obvious that the chemistry between Darren and the group was solid. Almost immediately, MAXIMUM PENALTY went on to record its first full-length “Independent” at the Big Blue Meanie studio in New Jersey, which was released by IJT Records. The following year brought a parting with IJT and a new partnership with New York-based Gypsy Records that included a worldwide distribution deal by BMG. Recording of the group’s second LP, “Superlife” began at New York City’s Black Pocket. The band also toured nationally with Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Dropkick Murphy’s, Misfits and H20. In 1998, MAXIMUM PENALTY at long last went international to meet its European fans and support stalwarts Agnostic Front and Vision. It was the first time the world would see the band and match faces with its music and its history. Subsequent tours would bring them back to Europe four times with Misfits, Better than a Thousand, Battery, and Strung Out. MAXIMUM PENALTY also had the honor of playing at one of Dynamo’s last music festivals. With the folding of Gypsy Records in 1999, the follow-up to “Superlife” never saw the light of day, and the band was back to square one. The years 2000 through 2003 were a dark period for the band, which had begun with the folding of its label and was followed by the three band member’s decisions to scrap their work and pursue separate music ventures. Darren was recruited for Madball’s “Hold it Down” LP on Epitaph Records; Joe was brought in on MOD’s “Rebel You Love to Hate” LP on Nuclear Blast Records, Jim spearheaded another MAXIMUM PENALTY record, “Uncle Sham” on I Scream Records. All of which were successful and fun but the three still had unfinished business with the band that had brought them together. In 2004, the band came back with a roar, returning to Europe for its “Dour Festival” and making plans for another release. They also decided that before they wrote any new material, they would release for the first time their original “Demo 89” on CD, along with their first e.p. as an added extra. Prior to the European tour, Joe and Darren had been writing songs for another band, but they couldn’t escape the pull of MAXIMUM PENALTY. When the band returned from Europe, Joe’s and Darren’s new tunes didn’t just pick up where the band left off, they brought the band back to its roots in HC with the distinctive sense of culture and fusion of sounds that had set the band apart during its early years. They immediately started demo-ing songs and brought them to Jim. It was during this time that a whole new MAXIMUM PENALTY revitalization was taking place. The following year, the band worked out the knots in their new material by playing the songs live and local. It didn’t take long for MAXIMUM PENALTY to enter a studio and begin pre-production for the next record. The band’s vision was to write, record and complete the new album with the sound and style members had always pursued, a project without deadline pressures that could bring compromise. Their goal was to make the record they had always wanted to make, free from constraints. For the first time, Joe, Darren and Jim refused to hurry and write the songs to rush an album in time for an impending tour. Also falling into place during this period was an introduction to producer Dan Korneff by longtime friend and one-time band manager Billy Milano. Dan’s credits include such acts as Lamb of God, Ill Nino, Candiria, Breaking Benjamin, E-Town Concrete and Paramore. Sparks began to fly. In 2006, the band expanded the scope of the record from 10 songs to 15. Pre-production continued through the year, consistent with the band’s commitment to take as long as was needed. In 2007, the band started with its drum tracks at Water Music in New Jersey and Korneff. But just as the band planned to start guitar work the label that was funding the project backed out, bringing everything to a grinding halt. It was only when Korneff pushed the project forward that months of waiting came to an end. He believed in the songs and the whole body of work. The record was finished and mixed at House of Loud Studios in New Jersey. In 2008, members of the Reaper Records family heard some of the new demo tracks and were very enthusiastic. Encouraged by this response, the band made plans to gain their support for the album. By the end of the year, both parties finally met and a plan was hammered out to release the 15 track album the following year. Reaper Records was an obvious fit with the band, with feet planted firmly in HC’s roots and a keen eye for its future. Knowing Reaper’s well-known commitment to HC and its consistent support for its bands, MAXIMUM PENALTY’s decision was an easy one. The Reaper roster is rich and diverse with a broad spectrum of bands and Reaper fans are both discerning and open-minded. That roster includes younger groups such as Trapped Under Ice and Forfeit, and older groups such as Terror and Death Threat. Mix this with classic re-releases by the Icemen and Merauder. The first order of business was to establish an East coast tour, which was booked with long time Reaper allies and friends Terror. Upon the tour’s completion, mastering of the album was finished along with its graphic layout. October 2009 will bring the fruits of a seed first planted in 1986 and since then been cultivated by many different hands. It’s been a long road and the stories of both MAXIMUM PENALTY and this new LP have been fraught with false starts and disappointments. As Reaper Records enters, those pitfalls are at an end and the new era begins!