Thousand Below is a San Diego-based post-hardcore band blending emotionally charged lyrics with heavy, melodic instrumentals. Since forming in 2016, they’ve steadily built a name through heartfelt records and constant touring.
1. A Quiet Start With Big Ambitions
Vocalist James Deberg founded Thousand Below in 2016 after his previous band, Outlands, ended. Teaming up with guitarist Josh Thomas and later bassist Josh Billimoria, guitarist Devin Chance, and drummer Garrett Halvax, they recorded their debut album ‘The Love You Let Too Close’ (2017).
2. First Releases And Rise Records Deal
The band signed with Rise Records and debuted with the single ‘Tradition’ in January 2017. ‘The Love You Let Too Close’ was released that October and charted on the Billboard Independent Albums Chart. They toured with acts like Dance Gavin Dance, Blessthefall, and The Devil Wears Prada.
3. New Era With ‘Gone In Your Wake’
After lineup changes in 2018, Deberg, Thomas, and Billimoria returned to the studio in 2019 with Max Santoro (ex-Vesta Collide) on drums. Their sophomore album ‘Gone In Your Wake’ arrived in October 2019. According to Broadway World, the lead single ‘Chemical’ premiered on SiriusXM Octane, where it stayed in rotation for weeks. The band hit the road with Of Mice & Men and Miss May I during the album cycle.
4. Sound And Style
AllMusic describes Thousand Below as post-hardcore with “melodic riffage, emotionally charged lyrics, and combustible breakdowns,” blended with post-rock atmospheres. Their style often resonates with fans of groups like Being As An Ocean and Holding Absence.
5. Nonstop Touring
In 2023, to support ‘Hell Finds You Everywhere,’ they joined Nothing More, Crown The Empire, Senses Fail, and Holding Absence on tour across North America. They also played major U.S. festivals like Aftershock and Blue Ridge Rock Festival, ending the year with an Australian run alongside Thornhill and Bloom.
The band is currently touring the United States, according to their official website. Their last show is scheduled for May 23 in Wichita, Kansas. Lambgoat reported that the band completed working on their new album in December 2024.
