{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = The Austerity Program | image = | image_size = | landscape = | alt = | caption = | alias = | origin = New York City, New York, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * Alternative metal * noise rock * industrial rock * post-hardcore * post-metal }} | years_active = {{start date|1997}}–present | label = Hydra Head, Controlled Burn | website = {{URL|austerityprogram.com}} | current_members = *Thad Calabrese *Justin Foley | past_members = }}
'''The Austerity Program''' is a noise rock and alternative metal band that formed in New York City in 1997, founded by guitarist Justin Foley and bassist Thad Calabrese. The band has a distinct sound; due to their use of a drum machine, the band's categorized as an industrial rock outfit, and comparisons to other bands such as Big Black are made by critics and fans alike.<ref name="Tinymixtapes.com">{{cite web|title=Tinymixtapes Review ((( ''Beyond Calculation'' review )))|url=http://www.tinymixtapes.com/music-review/the-austerity-program-beyond-calculation|publisher=Tiny Mix Tapes|author=Hemmerling, Joe|accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref><ref name="Hydra Head Blogspot">{{cite web|title=Hydra Head Blogspot(((New Records & Merch from Godflesh & The Austerity Program!)))|url=http://hydraheadlines.blogspot.com/2014/06/new-records-and-merch-from-godflesh.html|publisher=Hydra Head Records|author= Cox, Andrew|accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref> The duo has a warm reputation within the American underground music scene since their formation, and their 2014 album ''Beyond Calculation'' was ranked as #12 on ''Rolling Stone's'' 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014.<ref name="Rolling Stones">{{cite web|title=Rolling Stones ((( 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014 )))|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/20-best-metal-albums-of-2014-20141211|publisher=The Rolling Stones|author1=Curin, Grayson |author2=Epstien, Dan |author3=Giest, Brandon |author4=Gross, Joe |author5=Grow, Kory |author6=Harris, Keith |author7=Weingarten, Christopher R. |date=11 December 2014 |accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref>
==History== The project initially started during the mid-early 1990s after guitarist Justin Foley and bassist Thad Calabrese met in college in New York City. The duo then formed a band called Polonium, which was named after what they believed was the heaviest metal on the periodic table.<ref name="The Austerity Program">{{cite web|title=The Austerity Program ((( The Austerity Program Biography )))|url=http://www.austerityprogram.com/biography/index.htm|publisher=The Austerity Program|author=Foley, Justin|accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref> In 1997, the band renamed themselves as The Austerity Program. After sending out multiple, creatively packaged demos, the band was picked up by Hydra Head Records in 2002, and they released their debut extended play, ''Terra Nova'', in 2003.
In 2007, the duo released their first full-length studio album titled ''Black Madonna'', which, according to the Hydra Head bandcamp page, has nothing to do with the singer Madonna.<ref name="Hydra Head Records Bandcamp">{{cite web|title=Hydra Head Bandcamp((( Black Madonna )))|url=http://hydrahead.bandcamp.com/album/black-madonna|publisher=Hydra Head Records|accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref> During spring of 2008, the duo toured with post-metal band Isis.<ref name="Hydra Head Records">{{cite web|title=Decibel magazine((( Tour Diary: The Austerity Program )))|url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/magazine/judas-priest-46-aug-2008/tour-diary-the-austerity-program/|publisher=Decibel Magazine|author= Foley, Justin|accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref> In 2010, the band released a follow-up EP, titled ''Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn''. As a way to market the disc, the band decided to write a humorous press release for it, imitating an irate staff member of Hydra Head complaining about the short run time of the record.<ref name="Noise Creep">{{cite web|title=Noisecreep.com((( hydra Head Doesn't Hate The Austerity Program )))|url=http://noisecreep.com/hydra-head-doesnt-hate-the-austerity-program/|publisher=Noise Creep|author= Villanueva, Justina|date=23 March 2010 |accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref>
In 2012, after Hydra Head announced that they were financially unable to release more records, the band left the label<ref name="Noisy.vice.com">{{cite web|title=Noisy.vice.com((( No, The Austerity Program Doesn't Want A Goddamn Drummer )))|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-austerity-program-interview/|publisher=Vice|author= Cook, Brian|date=29 May 2014 |access-date=February 16, 2015}}</ref> and created their very own label titled Controlled Burn Records.<ref name="Controlled Burn Records">{{cite web|title=Controlled burn Records(((The Austerity Program Biography)))|url=http://controlledburnrecords.com/bands/austerity-program|publisher=Controlled Burn Records|author= Foley, Justin|accessdate=February 16, 2015}}</ref> In 2014, they released their second full-length record, titled ''Beyond Calculation''. The record received warm reception among critics, and it was even listed in Rolling Stone's 20 Best Metal Albums of 2014.
In 2016, the duo re-recorded their early material under the Polonium moniker and issued ''Seriphim'', and album which collects these new recordings, on April 4 of that year.<ref name="metalsucks">{{cite web |last1=n/a (2016-04-04) |title=Exclusive Full Album Stream: Seriphim by Polonium (AKA The Austerity Program) |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2016/04/04/exclusive-track-premiere-seraphim-polonium-k-austerity-program/ |website=metalsucks.net |date=4 April 2016 |publisher=Metal Sucks |accessdate=2019-06-16}}</ref> The pair's third full-length as The Austerity Program, ''Bible Songs 1'', was released on June 14, 2019 after a lengthy production process. The album, largely inspired by the darker aspects of Biblical stories, was followed by a short European tour.<ref name="metalsucks2">{{cite web |last1=n/a (2019-06-10) |title=Exclusive Full-Album Stream: The Austerity Program's Bible Songs 1 |url=http://www.metalsucks.net/2019/06/10/exclusive-full-album-stream-the-austerity-programs-bible-songs-1/ |website=metalsucks.net |date=10 June 2019 |publisher=Metal Sucks |accessdate=2019-06-16}}</ref><ref name="MI">{{cite web |last1=Kennelty |first1=Greg (2019-06-11) |title=THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM Invokes The Wrath Of God On New EP Bible Songs 1 |url=https://metalinjection.net/av/new-music/the-austerity-program-invokes-the-wrath-of-god-on-new-ep-bible-songs-1 |website=metalinjection.net |date=11 June 2019 |publisher=Metal Injection |accessdate=2019-06-16}}</ref>
==Members== *Thad Calabrese – bass *Justin Foley – guitar, vocals
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== *''Black Madonna'' (2007, Hydra Head) *''Beyond Calculation'' (2014, Controlled Burn) *''Bible Songs 1'' (2019, Controlled Burn)
===Extended plays=== *''Terra Nova'' (2003, Hydra Head) *''Backsliders and Apostates Will Burn'' (2010, Hydra Head)
===Demos=== {| class="wikitable" width="100%" |- ! style="width:10%" | Title ! style="width:5%" | Year ! style="width:30%" | Details |- || ''November 2000 Demo'' || 2000 ||Packaged with a box of firecrackers, a friction strip, and a match |- || ''Practice 7-27-02'' || 2002 ||CD-R packaged in an airtight paper sleeve. Came with a razor blade that the owner could use to open the sleeve. |}
===Compilation contributions=== {|class="wikitable" ! Year ! Track ! Album |- | 2003 | "Song 10" | ''The Champions of Sound 2003''{{citation needed|reason=full ref never entered, ref given as ref name=TAP-audio|date=June 2018}} |- | 2004 | "Song 9" | ''2XH vs. HHR, Vol. 1 - Where Is My Robotic Boot?''<ref>{{cite web| title = ''2XH vs. HHR, Vol. 1 - Where Is My Robotic'' – Overview| work = Allmusic| url = http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hjfqxqualdhe| accessdate = May 4, 2010}}</ref> |- | 2011 | "Song 6" | ''NYC Sucks: Volume 2''<ref>{{cite web| title = Free Download for Your Listening Pleasure: ''NYC Sucks Volume 2'', Featuring the Best of New York City's Metal Scene| work = MetalSucks| date = February 22, 2011| url = http://www.metalsucks.net/2011/02/22/free-download-for-your-listening-pleasure-nyc-sucks-volume-2-featuring-the-best-of-new-york-city%E2%80%99s-metal-scene/| accessdate = February 25, 2011}}</ref> |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{The Austerity Program}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Austerity Program}} Category:Post-hardcore musical groups from New York Category:American alternative metal musical groups Category:American noise rock music groups Category:American rock music duos Category:Musical groups established in 1997 Category:Musical groups from New York City Category:American post-metal musical groups