HardLore: Stories from Tour – Episode Summary
Episode Title: The 2nd Annual HardLore Awards: Celebrating the Best Releases of 2024
Release Date: January 23, 2025
Hosts: Colin Young (God's Hate) & Bo Lueders (Harms Way)
Location: Live in Orlando, Florida at FYFS
Introduction
The second installment of the HardLore Awards kicked off with Colin Young and Bo Lueders welcoming a cozy audience of approximately 13-14 attendees. The atmosphere was electric, buzzing with anticipation as the hosts prepared to honor the standout releases in the hardcore punk, metal, and broader heavy music scenes for 2024.
Colin: “We are here to recognize greatness. The best of the year in hardcore punk, metal and beyond.” [00:38]
Bo: “There's a buzz in the air. I'm really excited to get into this.” [00:36]
Best New Band
The inaugural category celebrated emerging talent in the scene. Five bands were nominated:
- About Face
- Lock Slip
- Fatal Realm
- Final Resting Place
- Haywire
Discussion Highlights:
- About Face was highlighted as the revival of Youth Crew, exuding early New York punk vibes.
- Lock Slip was praised as the best new metalcore band in decades, reminiscent of early Converge.
- Fatal Realm impressed with their three-piece death metal intensity.
- Final Resting Place delivered heavy death metal with relentless energy.
- Haywire stood out for their relentless output and dynamic presence over the past year.
Winner: Haywire
Bo: “They don't stop. New music constantly. Shows, constantly, tours constantly.” [03:41]
Colin: “The winner of the second annual HardLore Award for Best New Band is Haywire.” [04:05]
Best Guest Vocal
This category recognized outstanding collaborations featuring guest vocalists. Nominees included:
- Fire Starter featuring Mark Porter (Floor Punch)
- Whispers featuring Stephen (Kickback)
- Missing Link featuring Bruce Lepage (Eyes of the Lord and 100 Demons)
- Split Knuckle featuring Leah Massey (Pest Control)
- Missing Link featuring Gridiron Terraina (Taylor Young)
Discussion Highlights:
- Fire Starter marked the first Floor Punch collaboration in years, delivering standout vocal performances.
- Whispers transformed the track with Stephen from Kickback’s unmistakable style.
- Missing Link’s collaborations were lauded for fitting seamlessly and enhancing the tracks.
Winner: Whispers featuring Stephen (Kickback)
Stephen from Kickback:
"Thank you so much to Hard Lore Podcast for having us this time to be a winner of the Best Guest Vocal Song Award." [07:18]
Best Live Performance
Honoring impactful live shows, the nominees were:
- Demonstration of Power at Sound & Fury 2024 (Dying Fetus)
- FYA 2024 (Full of Hell and Nothing at Sound & Fury 2024)
- Haywire in Brooklyn, NY
- King 9 at Eldy Triple B 2024
- Knocked Loose, Jimmy Kimmel and Nails with Max Cavalera at the Belasco Theater
Discussion Highlights:
- Dying Fetus delivered an emotionally charged performance with intense mosh pits.
- Full of Hell and Nothing showcased their collaborative album live for the first time.
- Haywire impressed with their relentless energy and flawless execution.
- Knocked Loose made headlines with their appearance on national television alongside Max Cavalera of Sepultura.
Winner: Nails featuring Max Cavalera
Todd from Nails:
"It was the best performance in 2024. Max is a legend, and having him join us was surreal." [13:12]
Best Production
This category celebrated exceptional production quality in releases. Nominees included:
- Knock Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
- Apparition – Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State
- Reeks Tear Group – Full of Hell Coagulated
- Human Garbage Valley – Concrete Wins
- Blood Incantation – Absolute Elsewhere
- Nails – Every Bridge
Discussion Highlights:
- Knock Loose was commended for breaking worldwide records with their extreme sound.
- Apparition delivered a time-capsule death metal feel, echoing early about face vibes.
- Human Garbage Valley impressed with their controlled chaos and sonic aggression.
Winner: Concrete Wins by Concrete Wins
Colin: “The winner this year for Best Production is Concrete Wins by Concrete Wins.” [25:00]
Zuma from Concrete Wins:
"Thank you. I love working on this album because I love the band and their style." [25:03]
Best Artwork
Celebrating visual artistry accompanying music, nominees were:
- Bad Beat – Dennis Halilovic
- Upon Stone – Andreas Marshall
- Pest Control – Chris Wilson
- Speed – James Hartley
- Extinguish Wrestling – Nicola Strauger
- Nails – Jeff Whitehead
- Burning Lord – Tom Wicklin
Discussion Highlights:
- Bad Beat captured the essence of the band's sound through vivid artwork.
- Upon Stone featured work by renowned artist Andreas Marshall, known for Demi Lovato’s covers.
- Speed’s group photo vividly represented the band's collective energy.
Winner: Upon Stone by Andreas Marshall
Colin: “The winner this year for the best artwork award is Upon Stone by Andreas Marshall.” [29:45]
Paul from Upon Stone:
"Respect and praise to Andreas Marshall for creating the album cover for Dead Mother Moon. It captured the spirit and energy of our music perfectly." [29:48]
Best Skank Part
Focusing on standout danceable segments in tracks, nominees included:
- Bad Beat – Stomp
- Cosmic Joke – Throwing Stones
- Human Garbage – Chaos
- Life's Question – Light Me Up
- Haywire – It Is What It Is
Discussion Highlights:
- Bad Beat showcased their blend of punk and early 2000s Boston sounds, delivering infectious skank parts.
- Cosmic Joke was praised for creating skank moments that felt earned and integral to the songs' structures.
Winner: Cosmic Joke – Throwing Stones
Todd from Cosmic Joke:
"It was incredible to create something that resonated so deeply with our fans. Thank you, Hard Lore." [37:09]
Hardcore Motherfuckers Playing Indie Type Shit
Recognizing hardcore bands experimenting with indie sounds, nominees were:
- Drug Church
- Prude
- Wishy
- 777Tarantula
- If You're Sideways, You're Upside Down
- Hi Vis
- Guided Tour
Discussion Highlights:
- Drug Church was lauded for maintaining hardcore intensity while exploring melodic structures.
- Guided Tour impressed with their sophomore LP, managing to evolve without losing their core essence.
Winner: Hi Vis – Guided Tour
Zuma from Hi Vis:
"Guided Tour was a challenging yet rewarding project that allowed us to expand our sound while staying true to our roots." [45:50]
Hardcore Motherfuckers Playing Death Metal Type Shit – Album of the Year
Celebrating the fusion of hardcore and death metal, nominees included:
- Upon Stone – Dead Mother Moon
- Undead – More Insane
- Nails – Every Bridge Burned
- Apparition – Disgraced Emanations from a Tranquil State
- From a Tranquil State – Greenwich Forced Out of Existence
Discussion Highlights:
- Upon Stone delivered a melodic death metal masterpiece with a raw edge.
- Nails continued to dominate the genre with their relentless energy and impeccable production.
- Apparition was celebrated for their intense and chaotic soundscapes.
Winner: Nails – Every Bridge Burned
Colin: “The winner for Hardcore Motherfuckers Playing Death Metal Type Shit Album of the Year is Nails – Every Bridge Burned.” [53:57]
Todd from Nails:
"Every Bridge Burned was our most hardcore record yet, pushing our limits and solidifying our place in the scene." [50:29]
EP of the Year
Highlighting impactful shorter releases, nominees included:
- Cruelty – Profane Usurpation
- Cosmic Joke – Cosmic Joke
- Whispers – Yomalo
- Pest Control – Year of the Pest Test
- Life's Question – I Found My Answer
Discussion Highlights:
- Cruelty was recognized for their debut EP, blending raw aggression with polished production.
- Whispers stood out with their international flair, bringing a fresh perspective to the hardcore scene.
Winner: Cruelty – Profane Usurpation
Zuma from Cruelty:
"Profane Usurpation represents our evolution as a band, and winning EP of the year is a testament to our hard work." [60:03]
Album of the Year
The pinnacle category featuring the strongest releases of the year. Nominees included:
- The Chisel – What a Fucking Nightmare
- Human Garbage Valley – Most Hated
- Knocked Loose – You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To
- *Haywire – Conditioned For Demolition
- Regional Justice Center – Freedom
- Sweet Green – Speed Only One Mode
- Split Knuckle – Breathing Through the Womb
- Missing Link – Watch Me Bleed
Discussion Highlights:
- The Chisel continued to impress with their melodic yet gritty approach.
- Knocked Loose’s groundbreaking record was hailed as a landmark in the genre.
- Missing Link was celebrated for their intentional and collaborative efforts, featuring veterans from iconic bands.
Winner: Missing Link – Watch Me Bleed
Colin: “The winner for the second annual HardLore Award for Album of the Year is Missing Link – Watch Me Bleed.” [67:32]
Paul from Missing Link:
"Watch Me Bleed is a culmination of our experiences and collaborations, and we’re honored to receive this recognition." [67:59]
Conclusion
Colin and Bo wrapped up the HardLore Awards by emphasizing that while awards are a fun way to recognize outstanding work, the true essence lies in the creation and passion behind the music. They encouraged all artists to continue making and sharing their art, celebrating the diverse and vibrant hardcore community.
Colin: “If you've made something, you have succeeded. Awards are bullshit, but making stuff is what matters.” [68:43]
Bo: “What a year it's been. We can't wait to see what 2025 has in store.” [68:05]
The episode concluded with a heartfelt send-off, looking forward to the next year's awards and the continued growth of the hardcore music scene.
Notable Quotes:
- Colin: “This is the most important aspect of hardcore music.” [07:40]
- Bo: “People who have made incredible music before making new incredible music.” [01:18]
- Todd (Nails): “Max is a legend, and having him join us was surreal.” [13:12]
- Zuma (Concrete Wins): “If you haven't checked out Concrete Wins yet, you should after listening to this podcast.” [25:04]
- Zuma (Cruelty): “Profane Usurpation was our most hardcore record yet.” [60:03]
- Paul (Missing Link): “Watch Me Bleed is a culmination of our experiences and collaborations.” [67:59]
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the second annual HardLore Awards, highlighting the passionate discussions, celebrated artists, and the vibrant energy that defines the hardcore and metal scenes in 2024.