Leathermouth

Leathermouth
Name	Leathermouth
Origin	Belleville, New Jersey
Genres	Hardcore punk, Punk rock, Emo
Years active	2007–2009, 2013
Labels	Epitaph Records
Associated acts	My Chemical Romance, Give Up the Ghost (band), The Used, Thursday (band)

Leathermouth was an American hardcore punk band formed in Belleville, New Jersey in 2007 by members associated with My Chemical Romance, Give Up the Ghost (band), and the New Jersey music scene. The group released a studio album on Epitaph Records and toured regionally and nationally, drawing attention for its aggressive lyrics and ties to established acts such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, Thursday (band), and Senses Fail. Leathermouth's brief activity intersected with members' commitments to My Chemical Romance and influenced subsequent projects in the hardcore punk and post-hardcore communities.

History

Leathermouth formed in 2007 amid connections to the New Jersey music scene, including My Chemical Romance, Give Up the Ghost (band), Fall Out Boy, and local venues like the Asbury Park circuit. Initial songwriting and rehearsals occurred in proximity to members' involvement with My Chemical Romance, Senses Fail, The Bouncing Souls, and Thursday (band), while management discussions referenced labels such as Epitaph Records, Reprise Records, and Fueled by Ramen. The band entered studios with engineers associated with projects by The Bronx (band), Alexisonfire, Green Day, and Bad Religion, leading to a 2009 release. Internal schedules tied to My Chemical Romance and legal considerations involving the Recording Industry Association of America influenced Leathermouth's intermittent activity and eventual disappearance from major festival lineups such as Warped Tour and Reading and Leeds Festivals.

Musical style and influences

Leathermouth's sound drew on Hardcore punk, Punk rock, and Emo traditions, referencing touchstones like Black Flag, Minor Threat, Agnostic Front, Cro-Mags, and Terror (band). Arrangements and production showed affinities with recordings by Converge, Hot Water Music, Refused, At the Drive-In, and Glassjaw, while vocal delivery echoed artists from The Bronx (band), The Used, Thursday (band), and Blacklisted (band). Lyrical themes paralleled writers and works associated with Charles Bukowski, Hunter S. Thompson, William S. Burroughs, and the countercultural perspectives present in music by Joy Division and The Dead Kennedys. Production techniques aligned with engineers who worked on albums for Rise Against, Good Charlotte, Anti-Flag, and Every Time I Die, situating Leathermouth within a network of punk rock and post-hardcore acts that shaped late-2000s underground scenes.

Band members

Leathermouth's lineup featured figures linked to notable acts and labels: lead vocalist with ties to My Chemical Romance and collaborators from Saves the Day, instrumentals from members associated with Give Up the Ghost (band), The Bouncing Souls, and Senses Fail. Touring and session contributors included musicians connected to The Used, Thursday (band), Taking Back Sunday, Brand New (band), and Rise Against. Production and management personnel overlapped with staff from Epitaph Records, Fueled by Ramen, and booking agencies that worked with Warped Tour, Mayhem Festival, and Taste of Chaos.

Discography

Leathermouth released a primary studio album on Epitaph Records in 2009, produced by engineers who had worked with Alexisonfire, Refused, Converge, and The Bronx (band). Singles and promotional materials circulated through channels used by My Chemical Romance, The Used, Senses Fail, and Thursday (band), with vinyl and digital releases distributed alongside titles from Rise Against, Anti-Flag, Bad Religion, and NOFX. Limited-run pressings and merchandise were handled by companies that also produced items for Hot Topic, Alternative Press (magazine), and independent record stores tied to the punk rock distribution network.

Live performances and tours

Leathermouth performed regionally in the Northeastern United States, appearing at venues and festivals frequented by My Chemical Romance, The Used, Senses Fail, and Thursday (band). The band was linked to lineups on tours associated with Warped Tour, Taste of Chaos, and regional bills alongside Rise Against, Anti-Flag, The Bouncing Souls, and Taking Back Sunday. Touring schedules were affected by members' commitments to My Chemical Romance and other projects, leading to intermittent live activity and guest appearances at benefit shows and local festivals in New Jersey and the New York City area.

Reception and legacy

Critical reception referenced the band's raw approach and connections to established acts such as My Chemical Romance, The Used, Thursday (band), and Senses Fail, with reviews appearing in outlets that covered punk rock and hardcore punk scenes, including Alternative Press (magazine), Kerrang!, and local publications tied to Asbury Park. Leathermouth's brief but intense presence influenced later collaborations among members who moved between post-hardcore and punk rock projects, contributing to crossover scenes that included bands like Brand New (band), Taking Back Sunday, Alexisonfire, and Glassjaw. The album's association with Epitaph Records and distribution channels of labels such as Fueled by Ramen and Reprise Records helped cement its cult status among collectors and fans of late-2000s hardcore punk releases.

Category:Hardcore punk groups from New Jersey