Bondage & Discipline: From Guns To Porn.

Text and image by Rachel Barrish.

The National Rifle was a band for seven years but this past January, they  announced they were turning over a new leaf.

Bondage & Discipline is the new moniker for Lynna Stancato, Hugh Moretta, Buddy Mazzenga and bassist Alex Baranowski. With an advanced, revamped sound that began creeping into their songwriting last year after releasing their last album as TNR, the band decided to make a big change. The departure of previous bassist Jeremiah Sweeney last August solidified the transition.

“Some people were starting to say, ‘You should change your name because you’re not the same band anymore,’” recalls vocalist and keyboard player Stancato. “With new sound and losing our bass player, it was best to start clean and leave TNR behind us.”

And they’re doing it in an awesome way. The new sound from B&D is reminiscent of CHVRCHES or Phantogram, using samplers and more electronic melodies to create a dark, romantic sound. The band released its first single, “Only Your Love,” in March and is planning to release another this summer. A full-length album is in the works for 2015.

“We actually had more than half the songs written when we announced the name change,” says Moretta, the vocalist, guitarist and lead songwriter. “I think we’re at the best we’ve ever been.”

The new stuff has a matured sound to it after a long progression from being in college and partying on the road to now getting married and working day jobs. The band jokes that the change in sound happened when they purchased a new synthesizer, a Juno 60.

“That thing is incredible,” says Stancato.

But the truth is that as the members of B&D aged, they became more influenced by different types of music, opening their minds to new sounds that had an effect on their own music writing as well. Sometimes the members of B&D miss the old times and the care-free lifestyle but they are much happier with the route they’re on now.

“We grew up,” says drummer Marrenzo, “and so did our taste.”

The sexual reference of the new band name is intended create shock value, similar to that of Syracuse-based punk band Perfect Pussy.

“It’s very thought provoking and makes you feel uncomfortable at first,” Stancato says of their name choice.

“By starting over and doing a different name, we’re trying to change the concept of the band and change our goals,” adds Moretta. “So, I was trying to think about things I was excited about when I was younger.”

That’s not to say that Moretta was into S&M as a kid or anything. He just liked the imagery, intensity and connotation that the words evoke.

“It’s kind of funny because we went from guns to porn,” says Stancato.

The song “Only Your Love” is the only song out right now from B&D but Philly folks seem anxious to hear more.

“You might be surprised by the other stuff,” says Moretta. “Right now it’s like you saw the first 3 minutes of a half-hour long TV show.”

Can’t wait to hear the other 27 minutes.