It was a big night for Twin Cities Hardcore with the release of At The Stem, the sophomore album by Minnesota’s own, Rot. Minneapolis turnt up at Underground Music Cafe on Sept. 23 for the release show, featuring local “sock yer face off” hardcore bands Out4Blood, killusonline, andthecanaryfell., WHY NOT and a secret guest, Identity Crisis.
The show was 16+ but featured guests both young and old; long-time attendees to the scene as well as newcomers. Additionally, there was coverage of the event by music archivist Sunny Singh, known as Hate5six online, an important figure in the punk and hardcore scene. The Cities made sure to stir up a lot of noise for Singh, as it was his first time in Minnesota.
Out4Blood ripped, bringing a next-level performance and energy to the crowd. Putting them first on the lineup is a smart move if they want everyone to show up early and get right into it, and that’s exactly what happened. Vigor was at an all time high: there were people cartwheeling and windmilling their arms wildly. Many crowd members smashed into the band’s lead vocalist and screamed into the microphone alongside him, closing the gap between band and audience. The set was fast and loud, speeding through with an undeniable force. Out4Blood was an electrifying start to what would be a crazy night, setting the bar high for the acts to follow.
After the set change and a small break for the moshers, the secret guests were revealed to be Identity Crisis, whohad released a new EP, My Own Path, on Aug. 19. They kept the energy going strong with their guitar riffs and shouts.
andthecanaryfell. fit right into this fast lineup, slowing down the pace a bit with their blackened emo sound that swells up and down in waves of intensity and gloom. The tunes are raw in their reflections on longing and death. The band’s scramz-inspired vocals and heavy instrumentals had the crowd going nuts and the moments of hushful tranquility had everyone waiting with baited breath for utter calamity to return.
killusonline had the crowd pull in and get a little more personal with one another. Their hardcore hip-hip fusion project is known for its distinctive sound and performances. Frontman Mory captured the whole audience in the palm of his hand with his vocals, alongside bassist Sean Clements’ stage antics. Clements hypes up the crowd by jumping off his amp or shoving his bandmates on stage. killusonline is a band that feeds off of each other’s energies and can make special moments happen.
WHY NOT calmed the place down after several sets of mayhem. They’re described as “not your daddy’s pop” with their intricate guitar lines influenced by math rock and catchy pop punk hooks. Some took a seat for this one to just simply listen and enjoy, while others danced with friends and lovers.
Rot played last, coming out with a commotion to finish the night strong. The room delved into chaos, just as the crowd liked it, everyone pushing and kicking each other as vocalist Arrold Walton unleashed his shouts onto listening ears. The excitement is there, buzzing around the room. It is felt in the air. The night is special.
The lineup at this show couldn’t have been better to show Singh what the Twin Cities scene is all about. The featured bands encapsulate the sheer liveliness and spark within the Minneapolis hardcore scene, from spine-chilling screams, to moments of social entertainment and breaking down the barriers of band versus audience. The night demonstrated a sensational paradigm of community within Minnesota and its music scene.
This show has been documented and can be found on the Youtube channel, Hate5six.