When you talk about Detroit hardcore, you're really talking about a specific kind of grit. It isn't just about fast drums or heavy riffs; it’s about a certain tension that feels like it’s going to snap at any second. Walls of Jericho have been the masters of that tension for over two decades. But if you look at the Walls of Jericho band members over the years, you’ll notice something pretty rare for a band that’s been around since the late nineties: stability. Mostly.
They didn't just appear out of nowhere. The band crawled out of the ashes of two other local outfits, Aphasia and Earthmover. In 1998, the chemistry just clicked. You had Mike Hasty, Chris Rawson, and Aaron Ruby looking for something new. Then they found Candace Kucsulain. Honestly, that changed everything. At a time when the scene was overwhelmingly male-dominated, Candace didn't just "fit in"—she took over.
The Core Lineup: The Faces of Detroit Hardcore
Most people recognize the "classic" quintet. It’s the lineup that gave us With Devils Amongst Us All and The American Dream.
Candace Kucsulain is the obvious starting point. She’s one of the most recognizable vocalists in the entire genre. It’s not just the scream, which is legendary, but the presence. She took a hiatus around 2013 to focus on her family and her career as a competitive powerlifter—which, if you’ve seen her on stage, makes total sense. She’s pure power.
Then you have the guitar duo: Mike Hasty and Chris Rawson.
These two are the architects of that signature metallic hardcore sound. Mike Hasty is often the guy behind the scenes too, working as a producer and engineer. He has a massive hand in how those records actually sound. Chris Rawson, meanwhile, has pulled double duty over the years, also playing in Stick to Your Guns. It’s a lot of touring. A lot of riffs.
💡 You might also like: Actor Most Academy Awards: The Record Nobody Is Breaking Anytime Soon
Aaron Ruby on bass is the glue. He’s been there since day one. Hardcore bassists often get buried in the mix, but in Walls of Jericho, the rhythm section has to be punishingly loud to keep up with the tempo shifts. Ruby’s style is thick, distorted, and relentless.
The Drummer Seat: A Bit of a Revolving Door
While the front four have been remarkably consistent, the guy behind the kit has changed a few times.
- Wes Keely: He was the original drummer and played on the early stuff like The Bound Feed the Gilded Ones. When he left in 2001, it was a big deal. He ended up playing with Throwdown and Until the End.
- Derek Grant: Most people know him from Alkali Trio, but he actually stepped in for a minute after Wes left.
- Alexi Rodriguez: He came in for the All Hail the Dead era. He brought a more technical, almost chaotic energy that helped bridge the gap between their punk roots and their more metal-leaning later work.
- Dustin Schoenhofer: He joined around 2004 and has been the backbone ever since. Dustin is a monster on the shells. He’s also played with Bury Your Dead and Devildriver. His style is much more "metal" than the early drummers, which is why the band’s sound got so much heavier in the mid-2000s.
Why the Lineup Shifts Mattered
You can't talk about Walls of Jericho band members without talking about the 2001-2003 hiatus. It was a weird time. Wes Keely left, and the band kind of stalled. A lot of groups would have just folded then. Instead, they spent those years refining what they wanted to be. When they came back with All Hail the Dead in 2004, they weren't just a local Detroit band anymore. They were global.
The addition of Dustin Schoenhofer was arguably the most significant "member" change in their history. If you listen to the drumming on The Bound Feed the Gilded Ones versus The American Dream, the difference is staggering. It went from straight-ahead hardcore punk to this precise, double-bass-heavy onslaught. It allowed Hasty and Rawson to write more complex, thrash-influenced parts.
Beyond the Music: Side Projects and Personal Lives
These guys don't just exist in a vacuum when they aren't on tour.
📖 Related: Ace of Base All That She Wants: Why This Dark Reggae-Pop Hit Still Haunts Us
Mike Hasty is a fixture at Cloud City Studios. He’s produced or engineered for a ton of bands. If you like the way a modern hardcore record sounds, there's a decent chance Hasty had something to do with it.
Candace’s life outside the band is arguably just as intense as her life inside it. She’s a mother, a powerlifter, and an inspiration to a whole generation of women in the heavy music scene. She’s been very open about the struggles of balancing motherhood with being in a touring metal band. It’s not glamorous. It’s hard work.
And then there's The Iron Curtain. This was a side project featuring several members of the band that leaned much more into the 80s synth-pop and darkwave sound. It catches people off guard. You expect these guys to only listen to Slayer or Sick of It All, but their musical tastes are actually pretty broad. It shows in the songwriting—they know how to use melody, even when they’re trying to rip your head off.
The Legacy of the "Current" Lineup
As of 2024 and 2025, the lineup is as solid as it’s ever been.
- Candace Kucsulain (Vocals)
- Mike Hasty (Lead Guitar)
- Chris Rawson (Rhythm Guitar)
- Aaron Ruby (Bass)
- Dustin Schoenhofer (Drums)
They aren't a band that puts out a new record every two years anymore. They take their time. No Help Can Come was a long wait after the Redemption EP and The American Dream. But when they do release something, you know it’s because they actually have something to say.
👉 See also: '03 Bonnie and Clyde: What Most People Get Wrong About Jay-Z and Beyoncé
The longevity of the Walls of Jericho band members is a testament to the Detroit scene's loyalty. They grew up together. They survived the collapse of the record industry, the rise and fall of "metalcore" as a trend, and the personal shifts that come with getting older. Most bands from that 1998-2002 era are long gone or touring with zero original members. Walls of Jericho still feels like a gang.
What to Expect Next
If you're looking to dive deeper into the band's history, don't just stick to the Spotify "This Is" playlist. You need to hear the progression.
First, go back to the A Day and a Thousand Years EP. It’s raw. It’s messy. You can hear the Earthmover influence bleeding through. Then, jump straight to All Hail the Dead. That is the moment they figured out exactly who they were.
The band is still active, still playing festivals, and still reminding everyone why they were one of the first bands to successfully bridge the gap between the mosh pit and the metal stage. They didn't sell out, they didn't go "radio friendly," and they didn't replace their core members with session musicians.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Musicians:
- Study the Producer’s Ear: If you’re a guitarist, look into Mike Hasty’s production work. Understanding how he layers the guitars in Walls of Jericho gives you a masterclass in achieving "thickness" without losing clarity.
- Vocal Longevity: Candace is a prime example of how to maintain a "harsh" vocal style for 25 years without destroying your vocal cords. It’s about technique and physical fitness.
- Support Local Scenes: The band's identity is inseparable from Detroit. Their story proves that a strong local foundation can sustain a career for decades, even during long hiatuses.
- Watch the Live Footage: To truly understand the chemistry between these specific members, find high-quality live sets from Hellfest or With Full Force. The way Dustin and Aaron lock in during the breakdowns is something you can’t fully appreciate on the studio albums.
The story of Walls of Jericho is ultimately a story of endurance. They are the blue-collar workers of the hardcore world. No gimmicks, just a lot of volume and a lot of heart.