Four of the members of Grade previously played in the band Incision, with a different bassist, from 1992 to 1993, releasing two demo tapes. In late 1993, the band briefly broke up but reformed under the name Rebirth. Grade released their debut three-song demo tape in February 1994 through Workshop Records. Though
And Such Is Progress would eventually be hailed as a "landmark album," it was not until 1997, when Grade released
Separate the Magnets and toured with
Hot Water Music, that they began to develop a following. In 1999, Grade signed with
Victory Records and released
Under the Radar, the album for which they had become best known.
Under the Radar spawned two singles, the videos for which received some play on
MTV2 in 1999 and 2000. In 2000, the band toured Europe and the United Kingdom, meeting up with American melodic hardcore band
As Friends Rust for several cross-over shows. In 2001, Grade released their fourth and final full-length album,
Headfirst Straight to Hell, before disbanding approximately one year later. Jones, Magill, Danner and Casarin all went on to play in To the Lions. Since their break-up, Grade have reunited several times, beginning with a 2006 show in Toronto. In 2010, they wrote and recorded two new songs for a split 7-inch with
Bane. In 2013, Grade performed at Pouzza Fest in Montreal. In 2014, they toured the northeastern U.S. with
Ensign. == Legacy ==