photo by Danny Ensele
Minus Head Records today releases the reissue of 3243, the long-out-of-print solitary release from SOCK – the legendary mid-1990s metalcore band hailing from Sacramento, California, whose members went on to form Will Haven, Far, Crosses, and more.
SOCK was vocalist Grady Avenell (Will Haven), guitarist Shaun Lopez (Far, Crosses), bassist Adam Federico, and drummer Jeff Irwin (Will Haven). The band’s electrifying energy on stage and raw passion for their craft defined a generation, a seminal act in the Sacramento scene. With a sound that fused relentless riffs, thunderous drums, and searing vocals, the band’s music transcended boundaries and until now has only existed in memories worldwide. Born from the gritty underground scene, SOCK captured lightning in a bottle with their only recorded album, meticulously performed and captured live to tape. Their music isn’t just a listening experience; it’s a visceral journey through the depths of emotion, delivered with the ferocity that only SOCK could muster.
In an era of fleeting trends, SOCK remains an enduring force, their impact still felt in the hearts of fans who were fortunate enough to witness their legendary performances. Join the ranks of those who have been touched by the sonic fury of SOCK, a band whose legacy continues to resonate with metalcore enthusiasts and beyond. The album’s title 3243 was named after the street address of the birthplace of many seminal acts to emerge from Sacramento.
SOCK’s 3243 was recorded at Enharmonik Studios in June 1995, the album produced, mixed, and mastered by Eric Stenman (AWOLNation, Will Haven, Deftones, Far, Earth Crisis). While no official photos of the band seem to exist, the cover art was produced by Michael Cobra using old camcorder footage of live performances. Fans of 108, Deadguy, Undertow, Harvest, the early records of Turmoil, Refused, and Snapcase, and of course Will Haven and other heavy Sacramento acts should check out SOCK’s 3243.
Drummer Jeff Irwin reveals, “This record means a lot to me personally. This was an awesome time of our lives; we were all best friends and roommates and this band was just an extension of that. We didn’t make SOCK to become a full-time band, it was just a fun project for us and another reason to hang. I’m very proud of the music and what came from that era, with Grady and I starting Will Haven soon after, Shaun going on to make awesome records with Far Revolution Smile and Crosses and becoming one of the baddest producers today, and Adam going on to become successful in his industry as well. So, if it wasn’t for SOCK, I’m not sure where we would all be, and I am so grateful for this project and I love the songs. I’ll always be proud that I was able to make music with my best friends that are still my best friends to this day, and hopefully SOCK can do more stuff in the future. Hopefully everyone enjoys what we did back then with this reissue.”
Stream SOCK’s 3243 everywhere digitally HERE and in a run of 150 cassettes through the Minus Head Bandcamp HERE.
For review copies of 3243 contact dave@earsplitcompound.com and in the UK/EU contact em@publiccitypr.com.
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