New Idol Son
Formed in the artistic hothouse of the Bay Area of San Francisco during 1991, New Idol Son immediately saw the press compare them to a '90s rebirth of MC5 meets Black Sabbath'. Vocalist/guitarist Matt Hizendragzer first met drummer Brent Hagin at a Mookie Blaylock (who later transmuted into Pearl Jam) show. Eventually Rich Carr (bass) and Mike Davis (guitar) were recruited via adverts in BAM magazine, with the band titled Difference Engine. Playing shows throughout the west coast as support to Downset, Fear Factory and others, they built a strong reputation among local press outlets until Pavement Music moved in for their signatures in 1994. However, at this point it was discovered that another band already held the rights to the name Difference Engine, and New Idol Son was born when Hizendragzer saw the legend on the back of a book in a second-hand store. Their debut album, REACH, offered crafted musical composition with emotive lyrics, sometimes imbued with quasi-religious overtones.