Ensign (band)
Ensign is an American hardcore punk band from New Brunswick, New Jersey. They formed in 1995 and quickly built a name in the New York hardcore scene. Their early lineup included Tim Shaw (vocals), Chris Ross (drums), Walt Svekla (bass) and John Fraunberger (guitar).
They released a self-titled four-track 7-inch on Indecision Records in 1996. Fraunberger left later, and Nate Gluck (bass) and Ryan Murphy (guitar) joined. In 1997 Ensign issued Fall from Grace and their first full-length album, Direction of Things to Come. The band signed with Nitro Records in 1998 and released Cast the First Stone in 1999, followed by a European/UK tour.
In 2000 they released a retrospective collection called Three Years Two Months Eleven Days and the For What It’s Worth EP, along with other split releases. Their third full-length album, The Price of Progression, arrived in 2001, with guest spots from Russ Rankin and Andy West.
Ensign continued to tour, including a Canadian run with Hatebreed in 2002 and a European run with Avail in 2003. In 2003 they issued Love the Music, Hate the Kids, a 20-song cover album recorded at Trax East and released on Blackout Records; it was also released in Europe by JoinTheTeamPlayer, and UK label Household Name released a split with Fig 4.0.
Over the years Ensign has had many members, but Tim Shaw remained a key vocalist, and the band has continued to be active in the hardcore scene. Current members include Tim Shaw (vocals), Dan Brennan (drums), Nate Gluck (bass), Derek Reilly (guitar) and Corey Perez (guitar).
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 20:46 (CET).