The history of according to Ryan the guitarist. Motive began in 1995 when Atif [originally on bass] and I (Ryan) [guitar] met Pete [drums] at a Hardcore show at the Huntington YMCA. Atif and I were looking to start a new hardcore band after being exposed to hardcore music in the senior year of our dead end william floyd high school senior year. We instantly clicked with Pete and he really was the perfect drummer as he was tight and played like a machine. Also he was already playing out the short lived LIHC band Derailed. Before playing with Pete, Atif and I played in a violent metal band Crooked Stick who unfortunately broke up. So it was great to meet someone new who was already a good drummer and start up a brand new project. I remember early on, we rehearsed in the Northport basement of of "Maxx the punk" and wrote most of our early tunes. The sound was a mix of old school hardcore with a biting metallic tinge. At first, we tried out friend Macky, but eventually decided to not work with him and kept looking for a vocalist....In walks Al. AL brought with him a wealth of knowledge and hardcore ideology on vocals that immediately fit in with our newly formed "straight edge" version of Motive. [Not Pete- he still smoked butts!] We recorded the first demo "Demonstration" at the old ARTI studio. Shortly after we also recorded 2 songs for the "516 Comp" on None of the Above Records and we instantly were playing shows in the thriving Long Island Hardcore Scene. Next was an ill-fated 7" "Underneath The Principleless Terrain" on the instantly defunct label Bittersweet Records where only 100 copies are said to have made it out into circulation. [The other 900 copies were rumored to have been destroyed.] The recording showcased the first sign of our advancing sound with dissonant chords, a boost of chaotic energy and Jay May at the helm at Outeast Studios. Unfortunately Al Carter (RIP) didn't work out (long long story) with our increasing taste for darker and acidic music and we decided to part ways with him. Somewhere around this time, we were picked up by the NYC label Exit/Wreckage. Atif took over on vocals and unleashed this insane roar that I swear could be heard without a fucking PA! What followed was a return to Outeast Studios and 3 new songs that were regarded by most as Motives finest hour: "A Doctrine of Scripted Torture". The sound was solidfied with a new bassist "Ballpoint" Pete who previously played with the LIHC band "the Motoba Erehwon Conspiracy". Constant intense live shows followed and we kept writing more intense songs. We were eventually tempted by the poisons and Atif and I "sold out" to our drug free life style. This happened to coincide with the release of "I Vs. the Beckoning of Darkness". We injected a huge new influence of technical and progressive metal guitar riffs and drumming with strong and increased dark texture topped off with depressing words of isolation screamed as intensely as possible by Atif. I think this record went over lots of peoples heads, including Wreckage, who hated our guitar solos and metal parts hahaha!. Clearly we made a decision not everyone liked, but back then we were damn proud of our sound because we regarded it as original and pure! We recorded the Album with Davide and Ian love in NYC. It was an awesome experience. I experimented with lots of guitar pedals and Atif had the time to really put alot of work into his vocals. This was the first time we were in a "pro-studio" so the sound sounds a bit "strange" when I listen back. Meaning: not exactly like we sounded live. Anyway, to our surprise, lots of people on Long Island embraced our progressed sound on the record and we played lots of great shows on LI and even a self booked US tour as well! We partied hard and eventually sobriety was now a distant memory. Motive progressed into a equal parts Metal band as much we were a HC band. Unfortunately, Ballpoint who was still sxe, could not tolerate us anymore, and we parted ways with him never to hear from him again. Due to our increasingly drunken/stoned actions and increased unpopular tech/death metal influence most Hardcore Kids wanted nothing to do with these long hair metal heads! After a failed attempt at recruiting a new bassist Ray, the new motive was further solidified with the addition of bassist "Dogmaster" Todd. Todd was a talented metal guitarist-turned-emergency metal bassist from our home town Mastic/Shirley. [also the singer and guitarist in crooked stick] Due to lots of fighting with the people in the LIHC scene we decreased in popularity and less and less people came to see Motive play. Yet.... we still carried on and wrote some of our most advanced songs ever. A harsher darker Motive emerged. We returned to Jay May in Laurel (!) and recorded the great yet unreleased 4 song demo "Fetus Shall Become Ash". Two songs off that "Fetus" demo got released out on some random compilations but eventually [more or less .. this time period is a bit blurry] motive went to sleep and the story fades... This only includes the "I vs. The Beckoning of Darkness" and "A Doctrine Of Scripted Torture" 7". I was introduced to this band by a good friend of mine and was instantly impressed. I was reminded of a band from the same area called skycamefalling's early material. If your a fan of them you might love this band. Very dark and bitter sound. The first song on the " I vs. Beckoning..." release "The Dormancy Pill" is what caught my attention and i hope it catches yours. Enjoy.
