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The Explosion, formed in Boston, Massachusetts in the fall of 1998 by Matt Hock, David Walsh, and Damian Genuardi, emerged from a local punk scene that emphasized rapid, aggressive songwriting; the trio met through indie label Big Wheel Recreation and soon added drummer Andrew Black and guitarist Sam Cave. Their first release, the self‑titled EP The Explosion (April 2000), compiled demo tracks and attracted Jade Tree Records, which issued the full‑length Flash Flash Flash (July 2000) to critical acclaim, earning Spin Magazine’s best‑album list for 2000 and positioning the band among the top‑10 punk acts of 2001. In 2003 they released Sick of Modern Art on their own Tarantulas Records before signing with Virgin Records; the 2004 album Black Tape (October 2004) produced singles such as "Here I Am" and "No Revolution", and saw tracks featured in games including Tony Hawk's Underground and Midnight Club 3: Dub Edition. The Explosion toured extensively with acts like AFI, Social Distortion, and the Nerve Agents, and performed on Late Night with Conan O’Brien (October 2004). After announcing a split in April 2007, the band played a final show in September 2007 but later reunited for sporadic performances, including a 2016 show in Asbury Park. Their unreleased 2006 project Bury Me Standing was eventually issued in 2012 by Chunksaah Records, extending their legacy within the punk community.
