DYS was an American straight edge hardcore band from Boston, Massachusetts and part of the notorious "Boston Crew" along with contemporaries such as SSD and Negative FX. The group later expanded their sound, becoming one of the first hardcore bands to veer into heavy metal.
The band released two albums: Brotherhood, produced by legendary punk producer Lou Giordano - still held in high regard by fans of hardcore music, and DYS, an album that took more of a metal direction than their debut. DYS is considered by many to be one of the first crossover thrash albums released. During their later period, live sound was handled by nu metal producer Andrew Murdock, who works under the professional name "Mudrock."
Both albums have been re-issued together on CD and in digital formats by Taang! Records (titled Fire and Ice), and Brotherhood has also been reissued on CD and on iTunes in early 2005 by Taang! Records in its original format - with the addition of the Wolfpack demo tape, featuring Hüsker Dü singing back-up vocals.
DYS took its name from the Department of Youth Services, a Massachusetts governmental organization where deliquent youth were housed.
Guitarist Andy Strachan later co-founded the more rock-focused band Slaughter Shack. Slaughter Shack went on to win the Boston musical contest the "Rumble." After leaving music, Strachan has since converted to Sikhism. His new name is Mahan Atma Singh Khalsa, and he is active as an influential Kundalini yoga teacher in Amritsar, India. Added lead guitarist Ross Luongo is now playing in the re-formed line-up of Jerry's Kids.
Co-founder and singer Dave Smalley went on to sing for Dag Nasty, ALL and Down By Law before founding the Jam-influenced band The Sharpshooters. Dave is a noted newspaper editor and "Conservative Punk" columnist.
Co-founder and bassist Jonathan Anastas became a founding member of Slapshot, writing, recording and touring behind their debut album "Back on the Map." Prior to starting DYS, he also founded the short-lived band Decadence. Their song "Slam" was documented on the "This Is Boston, Not LA" compilation, and later adopted for a long-running MTV advertising campaign titled "Santa's Secret Life as a Slam Dancer." Anastas left the music business for a career in advertising and marketing.
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