This week we’re joined by Will Anderson, songwriter, guitarist, and driving force behind Hotline TNT. Will traces his path from the Midwest DIY circuit to building one of the most emotionally direct guitar bands of the last decade, including a surreal early moment where a young Justin Vernon was his camp counselor—long before Bon Iver became a household name. We talk about creative whiplash: jumping from obscurity to wider attention, from solo control to full-band collaboration, and how that shift reshaped his relationship to music. Will also reflects on how songs risk becoming cultural wallpaper in the streaming era—and why loud guitars, intention, and community still matter.

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On this episode, we’re joined by Mercedes Arn-Horn of Softcult for a wide-ranging, laid-back conversation ahead of the band’s new record arriving this January. We talk about finding a creative “zen” state in writing and production, the importance of ownership—of songs, ideas, and identity—and why subtlety can often be more powerful than being loud or explicit. Mercedes reflects on building something sustainable and intentional, navigating art with purpose, and how Softcult continues to evolve without losing its core.

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This mailbag episode pulls back the curtain on the podcast, reflecting on the most-listened-to conversations of the year—featuring Brenden Murphy, Dwid & Aaron Melnick, George (Blacklisted / Staticlone), Brian from Incendiary, and Josh James (STYG). We also spotlight “new” bands shaping the present and future with guests from End It, Home Front, Restraining Order, and Saturdays At Your Place. Listener questions drive the rest: day jobs outside the mic, whether episodes ever get scrapped, how guests are chosen, why the show spans so many genres, and the hard-earned lessons learned along the way—including the interviews that changed how these conversations are approached altogether.

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On this episode, we break down our favorite records of 2025 with two trusted voices in punk and hardcore: Jeremy Bolm (singer of Touché Amoré, founder of Secret Voice) and Joey Cahill (Wanna Hear It Records). We talk standout releases, unexpected favorites, and what made this year hit harder than most. It’s a wide-ranging, opinionated conversation about the music that defined 2025 for us.

Best Of 2025 Playlists

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On this episode, we talk with The Unraveling co-authors Karl Buechner and Jeremy Mueller. Karl, best known as the voice of Earth Crisis, brings decades of perspective from a life deeply rooted in hardcore, while Jeremy offers the complementary lens that helped shape the book’s broader narrative.

Together they dig into what it means to be taken seriously—both as writers and as people coming from subcultures that outsiders don’t always understand. They break down the unique challenge of writing a book with three authors: how to balance tone, divvy up responsibilities, and merge individual viewpoints into one cohesive story.

Karl and Jeremy also explore the parallels between assembling a book and building a band: finding the chemistry, negotiating differences, and letting the collective vision rise above any single contributor.

A candid, thoughtful conversation about collaboration, identity, and the creative process behind The Unraveling.

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This week on the show, we sit down with Graeme McKinnon, vocalist, songwriter, and driving force behind Canadian post-punk powerhouse Home Front. Before blending icy synths with punk grit, Graeme cut his teeth in the world of hardcore—shaped early on by the tough, street-level bite of Blitz and the chaotic, uniquely Canadian spirit of SNFU. Those bands didn’t just influence his taste; they rewired the way he understood energy, melody, and attitude.

Graeme talks about coming up through Edmonton’s underground, including the kinds of shows that make you who you are—like the time he ended up performing in what could generously be described as a “crack den,” a night that somehow captured the danger, charm, and resilience of DIY culture all at once.

We dive into how those experiences pushed him to embrace new sounds and new creative risks, leading to the sharp, dance-floor-ready tension that defines Home Front today. From punk basements to synth-soaked anthems, Graeme traces the winding path that brought him here—and how staying open to new things has kept the fire burning after all these years.

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In this episode, I talk with Dan Gump, founder of Life Sentence Records and vocalist of Excessive Force, about his unique path through hardcore. We get into his upbringing, discovering punk, and how serving in the Marine Corps shaped his perspective once he became part of the OC and Midwest hardcore scenes.

Dan reflects on what it means to be a straight edge adult, how that identity evolves over time, and how it connected to his work running Life Sentence and fronting Excessive Force. We also dive into stories behind the label, early Orange County hardcore, writing music while deployed, and how he sees the scene—and himself—now.

A focused look at a key figure from a powerful era of hardcore, told with honesty, history, and perspective.

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In this episode, we sit down with Scott Angelacos—the unmistakable voice behind Bloodlet, Hope & Suicide, and Hollow Leg—to dig into the history, mythology, and lived reality of one of Florida’s heaviest and most influential frontmen. Scott walks us through the early days of Bloodlet, the unique darkness that shaped their sound, and the gritty Florida scene that helped forge so many boundary-pushing bands.

We get into his close relationship with Hatebreed, from early shows and mutual support to the long-standing friendships that grew out of that era. Scott shares stories about practicing in the same building below Death, giving us a rare glimpse into the strange, stacked musical ecosystem of ‘90s Florida—where legendary bands casually crossed paths and influenced each other just by proximity.

And yes, we go there: the wild memories of partying at Tony Brummel’s house, a snapshot of the weird, chaotic, and formative moments that floated around the Victory Records universe at the time.

Along the way, Scott reflects on his creative evolution across projects, the lasting impact of Bloodlet, and what heavy music still means to him today.

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New episode featuring Petey USA — the musician, comedian, and all-around creative dude known for blending vulnerable songwriting with offbeat humor and viral sketches.

We talk about how collaboration has shaped his approach to both music and comedy, what it felt like to throw the first pitch at a Cubs game, and the balance between sincerity and absurdity that’s become his signature.

From recording sessions to sketch ideas, Petey opens up about finding inspiration in community, staying grounded as his audience grows, and how laughter and honesty often come from the same place.

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This week, we sit down with Brett Burnham, vocalist of Torn Apart and longtime tattoo artist, for a deep dive into the roots of Baltimore hardcore and the winding path that’s carried him from stages to tattoo shops. Torn Apart was one of the most intense and influential bands to come out of Baltimore 90s scene — a bridge between metalcore’s early chaos and hardcore’s emotional core — and their releases on Life Sentence Records captured that moment perfectly.

Brett reflects on growing up immersed in DIY music, how the Baltimore and Erie, PA scenes helped shape his creative worldview, and how tattooing became both a continuation and an evolution of the same spirit that drove Torn Apart. The conversation moves through stories of late-night shows, long drives, and building a life rooted in creativity and community.

If you’re into the intersection of music, art, and identity — or if Torn Apart was ever part of your soundtrack — this one’s for you.

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See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.