Hassan I Sabbah

Photo credit: Unknown

Hassan I Sabbah was a screamo band from Boston, Massachusetts, active from 2000 to 2001. Members have been in other well-known or influential underground east coast bands including Prevail and Force Fed Glass, and Mike Justian went on to play in Unearth, Trap Them and The Red Chord. Other members would go onto play in Madball, Earth Crisis, Shai Halud and with Thurston Moore to name a few. The lineup included Chad Pfeiffer , Mike Justian, Ryan Daniels, Tommy Davis and Zac Davis.

Hassan I Sabbah remained heavily underground for the most part, mainly due to the fact that they lasted about a year, but within that year, issued many releases including 2 demos and a 7", as well as the famed Usurp Synapse/HIS 7", which is a split featuring two extremely good screamo bands, however was clearly overshadowed by the Usurp Synapse feature due to the packaging of the split (a razor blade in the packaging, by choice of Usurp,  something that Hassan I Sabbah was against). Hassan I Sabbah also had some compilation appearances including on a release put out by Iodine Recordings.

Having a more hardcore approach to most of their stuff compared to a mathcore adjacent band such as Jeromes Dream led them to being loved heavily within the underground emocore and screamo scenes of the very early 2000s. Live performances were unforgettable on virtue of sheer power. An example of one of the most "iconic" screamo show performances was when drummer Mike Justian threw a pair of hi-hat cymbals at guitarist Tommy Davis, slicing his hand which halted his ability to play guitar for several months. There's also the case of them showing up at a show wearing gas masks as well as multiple cases where the band did not showing up at all (common with some of these bands, sometimes. Earth Crisis did this a few times to my knowledge.)

Picture credit: Unknown

Check out the bit of music they have on YouTube or try to find the JUST DO IT! split on vinyl (good luck). Linked below are some ways you can purchase their music or follow their social media. 

HIS Spotify 

HIS Bandcamp 

HIS Instagram 

An original copy of the Usurp Synapse/HIS Just Do It split 7" on vinyl that I found from a auctioneer on the internet. This picture does not belong to me. Complete with the original razor!