Earlier this month - the first to third to be exact - Seattle hardcore band Champion became the first Western, independent hardcore band to visit Korea since Kill Your Idols and Ensign ventured there in 2001, and the first to ever tour outside the capital city of Seoul.

The band played three shows in Anyang, Seoul, and Chungju with locals The Geeks, 13 Steps, Things We Say, and Rux. A photo journal of the event is available at this website: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3.

The hardcore band released Promises Kept last year and will be releasing Time Slips Away this year. The disc will include both the Come Out Swinging and Count Our Numbers EPs which were released in 2001 and 2002.