Strike Anywhere emerged in 1999 from Richmond, Virginia. Vocalist Thomas Barnett, guitarists Matt Smith and Matt Sherwood, bassist Garth Petrie, and drummer Eric Kane took a staunchly political and activism–minded approach to hardcore and punk traditionalism, drawing comparisions in both sound and vision to such stalwart acts as Avail and 7 Seconds. After an initial EP Strike Anywhere joined up with Jade Tree, which issued Change is a Sound in August 2001. Exit English followed in 2003, and the rarities collection To Live in Discontent in January `05. The band signed to Fat Wreck Chords later that year.