Unwound

Unwound
Unwound performing in 2023. From left to right: Scott Seckington, Jared Warren, Sara Lund, Justin Trosper.
Background information
Also known as	Giant Henry (1988–1991) Cygnus X-1 (1991)
Origin	Tumwater, Washington, U.S. Olympia, Washington, U.S.
Genres	Post-hardcore noise rock experimental rock indie rock post-rock art rock
Discography	Unwound discography
Years active	1988–2002 2022–present
Labels	Kill Rock Stars Gravity Troubleman Unlimited Punk In My Vitamins? Honeybear Matador Rebel Beat Factory Numero
Members	Justin Trosper Sara Lund Jared Warren Scott Seckington
Past members	Vern Rumsey Brandt Sandeno David Scott Stone
Website	unwoundarchive.com

Unwound (/ˈʌnˌwaʊnd/^[1]) is an American post-hardcore band. Formed in 1988 in Tumwater and Olympia, Washington, the band currently consists of Justin Trosper (vocals, guitar), Jared Warren (bass guitar), Sara Lund (drums), and Scott Seckington (guitar).

Originally founded by Trosper, bassist Vern Rumsey and drummer Brandt Sandeno under the name "Giant Henry," Sandeno was replaced in 1992 by Lund who performed on their debut album in 1993. Largely based in Olympia throughout the 1990s, the trio consisting of Lund, Trosper, and Rumsey recorded seven albums, plus numerous singles, and toured relentlessly until the band's dissolution in 2002.

Often classified as noise rock in addition to post-hardcore, Unwound played a sharply dissonant and angular style that made use of unusual guitar tones, and garnered attention locally for their relentless touring schedules, favour towards "all ages" venues and their strong DIY ethics. Unwound was largely associated with the independent record label Kill Rock Stars throughout the 1990s, with the band's debut album, Fake Train (1993), being the first non-spoken word release from the label. Unwound's wider stature grew with the release of the band's fifth and sixth studio albums Repetition (1996) and Challenge for a Civilized Society (1998), which saw the band experiment with their sound beyond noise rock. Unwound's self-produced seventh album, Leaves Turn Inside You (2001), was the band's only double album, and saw the band stylistically shift into post-rock and avant-garde territory; it was critically acclaimed and later appeared on several best-of album lists of the 2000s.^[2][3][4]

Following a disastrous U.S. tour in support of Leaves Turn Inside You, Unwound announced their disbandment in 2002, citing the bandmembers' geographical differences and Vern Rumsey's worsening alcoholism, caused by the stress of touring.^[5] Plans for a reunion were repeatedly brought up and shot down throughout the 2010s due to Rumsey's continuous health struggles, and ultimately never occurred before his death in August 2020. In July 2022, Trosper and Lund reformed Unwound for a 2023 tour in Rumsey's memory, with Jared Warren filing in on bass and Scott Seckington on guitar.^[6]

Well regarded during their initial existence,^[7] Unwound has frequently been seen as one of the most influential bands of the 1990s and has garnered a dedicated cult following since their 2002 disbandment. In 2013, The A.V. Club called Unwound "the best band of the 90s".^[8][9] Unwound spawned numerous side projects in the wake of their disbandment.