BEATDOWN HARDCORE + HARDCORE PUNK + DEATHCORE

No strangers to the hardcore scene, rising from the ashes of The Ghost of Rick James & A 3rd Murder, the band’s sound is harsher and more brutal than ever. Their sound hits you like a brick to the gut. 

Six, maybe seven, degrees of separation from the worst-of-the-worst violent curb stomping brutality out there, the band are surprisingly optimistic, positive thinkers—your basic glass half full motherf$ckers—but make no mistake, they have zero problem getting in your face and seeing what happens. They’re an enigmatic puzzle of light and dark, of energy and chaos, of obnoxiousness and jerkiness, but that's just part of their charm.

For 1st Assault, the past is present—always. The details of their individual origin stories, pre-Assault, is the driving force behind the Chicago-based bands success. Their blunt, unfiltered, and distinct worldviews lead us through the darkness and resilience that defines their existence…and it’s heavy as hell.​
Left to Right: Winston (Lead Guitar), Rico (Drums), Krusty (Bass) & Johnny (Rhythm Guitar)
DRUMMER
name:  Rico 'The Butcher'  Duarte
birthday:  1989
birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
drums: Pearl

bio:  Rico had a rough time growing up as the son of Mexican immigrants trying to build a life in the U.S. In L.A., his parents were always working, so he ended up running with the wrong crowd just to pass the time. One thing led to another, and he eventually landed in juvie for a short stint.

His family moved to Chicago for a fresh start and settled in Pilsen, where his father opened a restaurant. After school, Rico would help out, but he still had all this pent-up energy. He was always tapping on things, being loud and obnoxious.

One day, his dad handed him a pair of drumsticks and said, “Ya que andas inquieto, mejor hay que darte algo que hacer.”

That moment stuck. He found purpose in music, and as he got deeper into it, his natural style turned heavy and aggressive just in time to join the band. 


role:  He's the hardest working member of the band. He practices every day in his time-off, constantly honing in his craft. He comes off as rude and with an attitude but he's the most rational member of the band.
BASSIST
name:  Chase 'Krusty' H. 
birthday: 1988
birthplace: Chicago, IL
bass: Panther & Turbocaster

bio:  Krusty came to the U.S. from Eastern Europe with his father, starting over with nothing. His mom left when he was young, and between school bullying and other issues he rarely talks about, he spent most of his time alone.

While his dad worked long hours, Krusty disappeared into imaginary worlds — toys, video games, internet forums. Music wasn’t part of the picture until someone in school passed him a burned CD full of heavy shit. It hit something raw and visceral in him.

He dove deep, obsessing over bands, live shows, production gear, not just the music but everything behind it. Quiet in person, but loud in his head, Krusty started writing to express the noise.
He picked up bass after linking with Rico, then guitar when he realized he had something more to say. 1st Assault is the third band he’s built from the ground up — after A 3rd Murder and The Ghost of Rick James.


role:  Don't be fooled by his quiet demeanor, Krusty’s the backbone of the band. He writes, arranges, engineers, and runs most of the behind-the-scenes work, from sound to graphics to video. He’s the tech guy, the fixer, the one who stays up late tweaking the mix after everyone else has passed out. He’s not loud physically & personality wise but you'll notice him . That’s how he likes it.
LEAD GUITARIST
name:  Winston Warren
age:  1990
birthplace:  Houston, TX
guitar: Over-G & Redgie

bio:  Winston grew up chasing silence in a house that never had any. His dad was gone, his mom was strung out, and school didn’t stick. Most days he was just waiting to get high, numb the noise, and figure it out later.

He stole a guitar from a friend and started squatting, drifting from place to place. Somewhere between the hangovers and cracked amps, he realized he didn’t want to die a nobody.

Then he met Krusty. Got pulled into 1st Assault, started showing up, and never stopped practicing. Most of what he knows came from his old man’s record stash: Pantera, Guns N' Roses, Metallica, Ratt, Mötley Crüe, Dokken; loud, over-the-top, shameless. Just like Winston on stage.


role:  He is the lead riff writer for the band. He's usually a smart ass to people he doesn't know but the most social and charismatic.
RHYTHM GUITARIST​
name:  Johnny Mirusea aka John Wayne
age:  1990
birthplace:  Boston, MA
guitar: Voyager & Redgie

bio:  John's grandparents were Korean defectors who moved to Japan a long time ago.  His mother met a Japanese-American who was stationed at a military base there. 

On a trip to his dad's hometown of Boston, his mom gave birth to John.  So Johnny grew up with a whole lot of different influences and was quite traveled. Eventually though, his parents divorced, and he decided to go with his dad, who moved back to the United States. 

He started going to hardcore shows in the iconic Boston scene and his love of the hardcore genre got him through some hard times. 

role:  He creates the solid backing riffs that fill in Winston's more intricate work. He makes sure the songs have the right level of heavy with grooves to keep everyone moving. He also has no problem with giving some belt to ass if it comes down to it. For the most part though, he's the calmest member of the band.