HardLore – Episode Recap: Walter Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Youth of Today & Producing Title Fight)

Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Colin Young, Bo Lueders
Guest: Walter Schreifels
Podcast: HardLore (Knotfest)

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep biographical conversation with Walter Schreifels—a foundational figure in hardcore, known for his work with Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, and Youth of Today, as well as his production work with bands like Title Fight. Over a sprawling, candid discussion, Walter explores his origins in the New York scene, stories from early band experiences, his evolution as a songwriter, the interwoven histories of genre-defining bands, and reflections on hardcore’s enduring value and changing community. The episode is rich with first-hand lore, musical insights, scene history, and personal philosophy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Early Life, Musical Upbringing, and Getting Into Punk/Hardcore

• Growing up in Queens and Rockaway Beach

  • Walter describes moving from Rockaway Beach to Astoria during high school.
  • Exposure to music began with his parents’ record collection—yacht rock from his dad (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers), folk from his mom (Bob Dylan, Neil Young).
  • Found his own taste through late-night TV performances and radio (WLIR), absorbing everything from R.E.M. and Velvet Underground to early UK post-punk (Depeche Mode, The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen).
  • Entry into punk came after seeing “Rock and Roll High School” (feat. Ramones); punk appeared tangible and achievable:

    “It looked tangible. I wanted to learn how to play guitar. It seemed like these guys didn’t really know how to play that good, so chances are the entry would be a quicker entry.” (06:03)

• Discovering Hardcore

  • More immersed via specialized radio shows like "The Midnight Riot" which exposed him to NYHC and UK punk.
  • The search for records involved physically exploring Manhattan for cool record stores.
  • Show discovery took longer; networking began through a grocery store job, meeting Arthur (future Gorilla Biscuits bassist), who introduced him to CBGB and the inner NYHC scene.

2. New York Hardcore Scene—Early to Mid-80s

• Scene Transitions & Band Crossovers (CoC, Leeway, Murphy’s Law, Urban Waste, GB, etc.)

  • The line between punk and metal was blurry—Walter notes early resistance to metal, but appreciation for bands like CoC (“cool version of crossover”), DRI and attitude-laden bands.
  • On Leeway:

    “You didn’t have to like metallic music to recognize that they were doing something really special. Especially if you saw them live, they were fucking way better, I thought.” (12:42)

  • Hardcore was in a “crossover period...in between things” as first-wave bands faded and new acts emerged.

• Community, Danger, and Social Navigation

  • Scene portrayed as mythically dangerous, but “figuring out how to make friends, build community, and being lucky” kept people in.
  • Memorable story about being attacked by skinheads saved by scene affiliation:

    “They realized they were beating up the wrong person because I was in Warzone.” (18:24)

  • The pit and surfing analogies—danger as rite of passage.

3. Bands: Formation Stories and Evolution

• First Bands & Early Scenes

  • Initial projects included tongue-in-cheek school bands (The Rodents, Not Quite).
  • Started Gorilla Biscuits after moving to Astoria and befriending Arthur and the Token Entry crew.

• Origins of Gorilla Biscuits

  • Name coined from an offhand remark by Siv about drugs (“Gorilla Biscuits” as a drug slang):

    “I go, 'there's the band name. Name. Let’s go.'” (24:50)

  • Influences spanned Descendents, Murphy’s Law, AF, 7 Seconds, and Bad Brains; wanted melody but also fun, energetic, and sometimes silly lyrics.

• Youth of Today Connections

  • Dream was to be on Revelation Records—being asked was “like going out with the prettiest girl at school.”
  • Joined Youth of Today (replacing Craig Setari), toured on “Break Down the Walls,” and contributed significantly to “We’re Not In This Alone” (songwriting for key tracks like “Keep It Up,” “Disengage”).

4. Musical Approach, Songwriting & Scene Dynamics

• Hardcore’s “Loud vs. Not Loud,” Positivity, and Scene Satire

  • Gorilla Biscuits’ songs intentionally had a sense of fun and tongue-in-cheek earnestness; while not a joke band, they parodied the hyper-seriousness of the scene but meant the positivity.
  • On “Start Today’s” positivity:

    “I wanted to make like 7 Seconds sound pessimistic. I just wanted it to be like the most positive album.” (56:05)

  • Youth crew fashion as subversion of punk anti-jock ideals; blending suburban athletic styles with hip-hop influences and sneaker culture.

• On Thanks Lists and Scene-Building

  • Inclusion of other bands in liner notes was “totally intentional” as a way to “breadcrumb” people into the scene.

5. Reflections on Scene Shifts: From Youth Crew to Post-Hardcore

• Transition Out of Hardcore and Birth of Quicksand

  • As Gorilla Biscuits wound down (people aging out, shifting interests, internal musical differences), Walter began experimenting (“Moondog” project with future Quicksand members).
  • Quicksand deliberately aimed outside of the hardcore scene and drew on heavier alt-rock influences (Jane’s Addiction, Soundgarden, Fugazi).

• Views on Later Scene Trends

  • Noted frustration as youth crew style became formulaic and as violence in late-80s/early-90s scenes escalated:

    “When you’re a young 20-year-old...you’ll knife somebody. The violence was like out of hand. So I didn’t want to be a part of either scene.” (78:16)

6. Songwriting, Band Roles, and Production

• On “Start Today” and Lasting Impact

  • Start Today was written at 18–19, a record Walter still sees as “absolutely perfect.”
  • Experiences in bands (and in filling multiple instrumental/lyrical roles) informed songcraft; feedback loop with audiences taught him what worked on stage and on record.

• Instrument Choices and Gear Tales

  • Played a Fender Stratocaster (with EMG pickup) in Gorilla Biscuits era—sold it later on; relayed stories of lost, swapped, and recovered gear, with some original gear now in the hands of new-generation musicians (e.g., members of Candy).

7. Production, Influence, and Modern Reflections

• Producing Title Fight’s “Shed” (with Will Yip)

  • Recalls being approached via MySpace and working with a new generation inspired by his work, highlighting the cyclical nature of hardcore’s influence.
  • Noted how Internet-age bands receive scene influences in a non-linear, all-at-once way.

• Legacy and Influence

  • Recognizes Quicksand’s influence on bands from Deftones to Chevelle, and even jokes about feeling ripped off by LCD Soundsystem:

    “I think that 'Daft Punk is Playing at My House’ is a Gorilla Biscuit ripoff.” (81:52)

8. Philosophy: Hardcore’s Enduring Value

• Community as the Core of Hardcore

  • Emphasizes the scene’s people-based, participatory nature:

    “I think I’m so lucky...that the hardcore scene continues to keep re-energizing itself... it’s more valuable now than ever because there’s so few things that are people based. Like this is...” (00:43/58:59/59:40)

  • Hardcore equips people with life skills: networking, self-starting, hustling, and community-building; these skills translate to the “real” world.

• Streaming, Ownership, and Meaning

  • Expresses ambivalence toward streaming—enjoys access to rare music but laments the loss of gatekeeping and investment that made records feel more meaningful. Advocates for more tangible community and releases (“big beautiful party, put our computers in a ditch”). (87:00)

9. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hardcore’s Value:

  “Hardcore is about community... I think people are so isolated now. If you’re gonna be a hardcore, you’re dealing with people. You’re gonna be meeting physical humans.” (59:40–60:17)

• On Songwriting & Positivity:

  “I wanted to make 7 Seconds sound like pessimists. I just wanted [Start Today] to be the most positive album.” (56:05)

• On Scene Fashion & Identity:

  “That subversion of the jock look... rather than being the circle jerk man... you’re gonna dress like you’re a jock from the suburbs. We were also attuned to hip hop—buying fancy sportwear, nice sneakers...” (47:05–49:14)

• On Gear and Loss:

  “I don’t sweat the small stuff, really.” (67:19)

• Closing Advice:

  “Take care of yourselves. Be healthy. Try to make good choices and be good to one another.” (96:09)

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Discussion | | --- | --- | | 00:29–06:03 | Walter’s musical roots, old NYC, first exposure to punk/hardcore | | 06:26–13:47 | Discovering NYHC, early scene lore, finding bands/the scene | | 15:39–19:56 | Scene dangers, acceptance, violence, surviving the pit | | 20:10–22:50 | Band origins: The Rodents, Not Quite, forming Gorilla Biscuits | | 22:50–30:57 | GB and Youth of Today formation, Revelation Records lore | | 33:37–42:47 | Touring with Youth of Today, scene structure, rivalries, and stories | | 46:38–56:57 | Scene fashion, youth crew look, songwriting philosophy | | 56:57–62:23 | “Start Today” details, scene positivity, GB’s legacy | | 62:23–66:02 | Thanks lists as scene maps, integrity-victory label anecdote | | 70:33–76:41 | Transition from Gorilla Biscuits to Quicksand | | 79:40–83:56 | Reflections on Start Today & Slip, recording philosophies | | 84:06–87:51 | Streaming, meaning of records, music economy today | | 88:13–93:28 | Producing Title Fight/Shed, intergenerational scene linkage | | 94:58–96:09 | Walter’s top hardcore records, final thoughts |

Final Section: Walter’s Four Essential Hardcore Albums

• Suicidal Tendencies – Suicidal Tendencies
• Dead Kennedys – Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables
• Minor Threat – All EPs lumped as one
• Youth of Today – Break Down the Walls

“It’s kind of like a blueprint for something.” (95:28)

Honorable mentions:
Negative Approach – "Tied Down," Bad Brains – "I Against I," more.

Closing Words

Walter Schreifels closes with characteristic humility and care:

“Take care of yourselves. Be healthy. Try to make good choices and be good to one another.” (96:09)

Quick Reference: Notable Quotes

• “I wanted to learn how to play guitar. It seemed like these guys didn’t really know how to play that good, so chances are the entry would be a quicker entry.” (06:03)
• “You didn’t have to like metallic music to recognize that [Leeway] were doing something really special. Especially if you saw them live...” (12:42)
• “Hardcore is about community...I think people are so isolated now.” (59:40)
• “I don’t sweat the small stuff, really.” (67:19)
• “Take care of yourselves...and be good to one another.” (96:09)

This summary captures the core themes, stories, and insights of the Walter Schreifels HardLore episode—a must-listen for fans of hardcore history, band lore, and scene wisdom.