{{Short description|American metal band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Only Living Witness |image=Only Living Witness (band).jpg |landscape=yes | origin = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. | genre = Alternative metal, hardcore punk, stoner rock | years_active = 1989–1995 | label = Look Again, Slipped Disc, Reflections, Chainsaw Safety, Century Media | website = | current_members = Jonah Jenkins <br /> Eric Stevenson <br /> Craig Silverman <br /> Roy Costa | past_members = Kevin Stevenson <br /> Chris Crowley }}
'''Only Living Witness''' was an American metal band from Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1989 by members of dissolved thrash metal band Formicide. Across two studio albums, they developed a modern hardcore-influenced metal sound.<ref name="AMG" /> The band split up in 1995.
== History== The band was formed in 1989 in Boston, Massachusetts, by Jonah Jenkins (vocals) and Eric Stevenson (drums, ex-Formicide). Stevenson's brother Kevin (guitar) and former Formicide bandmate Roy Costa (bass) completed the lineup. In 1991, Kevin Stevenson and Costa were replaced by Craig Silverman and Chris Crowley.<ref name="AMG">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p165814/biography|pure_url=yes}} |title=Biography by Eduardo Rivadavia |publisher=Allmusic |access-date=August 18, 2011}}</ref> Kevin Stevenson and Costa went on to form The Shods.
Only Living Witness released a few demos before being signed by Century Media Records. Their debut album, ''Prone Mortal Form'', was released in 1993.<ref name="AMG" /> The band performed concerts in 14 countries including Sweden, England, France, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic. In 1996, their follow-up CD ''Innocents'' was released, but the band had already split up.<ref name="AMG" />
Following the band's dissolution in 1995, Jonah Jenkins went on to perform the vocal duties in Miltown, Milligram and Raw Radar War. Guitarist Craig Silverman went on to play in bands Blood for Blood, Ramallah, Slapshot, and Agnostic Front.
Only Living Witness briefly reformed in 2008 for four reunion shows: June 14 and 21 at The Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 22 in Clinton, Massachusetts, and the final show on August 30 in Eindhoven, Netherlands.
Eric Stevenson, the band's main composer and drummer, died on August 9, 2011, at the age of 43.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://obituaries.eagletribune.com/|title=Read recent and archived obituaries and memorial notices from The Eagle Tribune.|website=Obituaries.eagletribune.com|access-date=January 18, 2026}}</ref>
== Legacy == Only Living Witness would prove to be influential to the wave of metalcore acts that also came out of Massachusetts some years later, like 36 Crazyfists, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and Unearth.
In 2014, Shadows Fall's cover of the Only Living Witness song "December" was used in the soundtrack of the film ''Let's Be Cops''.
== Members == * Jonah Jenkins – vocals (1989–1995) * Eric Stevenson – drums (1989–1995) * Kevin Stevenson – guitar (1989–1991) * Roy Costa – bass (1989–1991) * Craig Silverman – guitar (1991–1995) * Chris Crowley – bass (1991–1995)
;US Reunion, Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008 *Bob Maloney – bass guitar
;Clinton, MA and Netherlands show 2008 *Benny Grotto – drums
== Discography == {| class="wikitable" |- !Year !Album |- ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | 1993 | ''Prone Mortal Form'' *Released: 1993 *Label: Century Media Records *Released: 2018 *Label: Think Fast! Records (vinyl re-issue) |- ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | 1996 | ''Innocents'' *Released: 1996 *Label: Century Media Records |- ! bgcolor="#E7EBEE" | 2006 | ''Prone Mortal Form/Innocents'' (re-released) *Released: 2006 *Label: Century Media Records (CD re-issue) *Released: 2008 *Label: Reflections Records (vinyl re-issue) |}
=== Demos === ;1990 : '''Self-titled demo''' (audio cassette) {{Track listing | total_length = 13:57 | title1 = Complex Man | length1 = 3:55 | title2 = Dying System | length2 = 4:31 | title3 = Corruption of Power | length3 = 2:57 | title4 = Bad Blood | length4 = 2:32 }}
;1992 : '''Prone Mortal Form demo''' (audio cassette) {{Track listing | total_length = 22:59 | title1 = Prone Mortal Form | length1 = 5:12 | title2 = Twitching Tongues | length2 = 3:03 | title3 = Window 4:45 | length3 = 4:45 | title4 = Nineveh | length4 = 5:29 | title5 = Slug | length5 = 4:30 }}
=== Singles === ;1991 * '''Complex Man 7"''' limited press of 1,000 copies (Look Again Records) {{track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = Complex Man | length1 = 3:58 }} {{track listing | headline = Side B | total_length = 11:07 | title1 = Dying System | length1 = 4:35 | title2 = Bad Blood | length2 = 2:34 }}
;1995 * '''Freaklaw 7"''' limited press of 3,000 copies ([http://chainsawsafetyrecords.com/ Chainsaw Safety Records]) {{track listing | headline = Side A | title1 = Freaklaw | length1 = 2:48 }} {{track listing | headline = Side B | total_length = 6:52 | title1 = Some Will Never Know | length1 = 4:04 }}
== Compilation appearances == ;1991 * '''Planned Obsolescence''' compilation (RRRecords) Have contributed with the track "Bad Blood"
;1993 * '''East Coast Assault''' compilation (Too Damn Hype Records) Have contributed with the track "Twitching Tongues"
;1994 * '''Case Closed?: An International Compilation of Husker Du Cover Songs''' (Snoop Records) Have contributed with the track "Too Far Down"
;1995 * '''Bloodlines: The Seeds of Rebellion''' compilation (Century Media Records) Have contributed with the track "Deed's Pride"
* '''Boston Hardcore '89–'91''' (Taang! Records) Have contributed with the track "Bad Blood"
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Heavy metal musical groups from Massachusetts Category:American alternative metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1989 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1995