User:Leviathan13~enwiki/Merge Left

Merge Left is a political punk rock band from Saint Paul, Minnesota. Influences include Strike Anywhere, Bad Religion, Dead Kennedys, Propagandhi, Behind Enemy Lines and others. In 2005, after winning a battle of the bands at Hillcrest Recreation Center, Merge Left was nominated for a Minnesota Music Academy award as best teen artist. Other artists nominated for Minnesota Music Academy awards in 2005 were Motion City Soundtrack, Atmosphere, P.O.S., and DJ Abilities. Merge Left's first full length, titled Divided Nation was released on July 14, 2006, coinciding with a CD release show at Twin Cities Underground (TCU) on Lake Street in Minneapolis, MN. Merge Left’s debut full-length CD, Divided Nation, blends influences from bands such as Anti-Flag, Rise Against, and the Bouncing Souls into a remarkably catchy sound that will attract fans of these bands as well as anyone with an appreciation for tuneful, enthusiastic, and energetic political punk rock...Raw, intense, thought-provoking—Merge Left delivers a riotous celebration of youthful enthusiasm and idealism in an aural package full of energy and rage: Divided Nation. -Divided Nation description from Interpunk Divided Nation given a 9/10 rating by Punk United! Punk United Review ''...now you're all thinking you praised them throughout the review, and yet only a 9/10. Well, I feel the need to explain this rating, which I believe is a first for me. This band is by every stretch of the imagination very talented. However, they're also very young. And with that comes the potential to be a much better band. So, the 9/10 isn't me being an a**hole. It's me knowing this band can and will do better things. And I'm saving my 10/10 for when they do that.'' -From the Punk United Review of Divided Nation In November 2006, Maximumrocknroll #282 said Divided Nation is ...brimming with suitably fiery lefty lyrical concerns married to a driving, melodic SoCal sound...bears more than a passing resemblance to the first Bad Religion LP, and that can only be a good thing, right!? In 2007, Merge Left released a free, downloadable E.P. called Democrazy. The Democrazy E.P. featured 3 new songs and 2 new versions of older Merge Left songs. It was recorded with Tony Thomas of Minneapoliscast, Anchorhead and Man Afraid fame. In 2007, Merge Left completed a summer tour around the midwest to support Divided Nation and Democrazy with the Saint Paul punk band Redrum.

After the tour, Tony Thomas also recorded a podcast showcasing the 3 new songs which can be found here: Merge Left Podcast. A highlight of 2008 for Merge Left was opening for established punk/metal band A Wilhelm Scream and Fueled By Ramen band The Swellers at the legendary Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis.

Discography
2006: Divided Nation

2007: Democrazy

Links
Divided Nation Interpunk Link Democrazy Download Link Punk United Review of Divided Nation Merge Left Podcast on Minneapoliscast MySpace: Merge Left