undying spirit
they pull the strings as existence burns ...
Yoooooo… damn time flies.. so much shit goin on in the SOH universe so here’s a quick recap of what been up and what’s to come
Forced Order - Undying Spirit : The return EP from the Evil Hardcore gods from California.. 4 new tracks and many are saying these are the best FO songs since their demo … Both Label exclusive variants are sold out but you can get the Red Vinyl colorway from both BBB & SOH while supplies last.
Division Of Mind - Exoterror : The wait is over… 2nd LP from DOM and they knocked it out of the park.. the first LP and demos are classic for this era of hardcore and this is right up there with it. It’s rare for a second LP to give you chills like the first LP did but DOM has done it. Expect to see DOM in many new places later this year & next..
Die Trying - Demo 2026 : Nashville Hardcore Demo from Austin Evans & company… DT did the rare approach of playing shows for a year before the demo comes out and having it still pop off. Proof that this is not a thing of the past and should probably be done more often… but this demo is awesome and excited to see this band one day
No Truth - Beyond The Confines Of Morality : New school SFLHC.. for fans of All Out War.. Kickback.. you know the deal. we’ve had a connection with the SFL scene for a long time via Day By Day / All of Lennon’s band over the years etc etc.. and to be able to reconnect with the newer generation of kids that are carrying the torch has been dope. No Truth & Exit Life played up in Poughkeepsie like a week or two after the record came out and they were both awesome. Tour Diary will be coming soon … and more new No Truth tracks coming soon too..
Killing Me Softly - Spring Promo 2026 : 2 New Tracks from KMS just in time for Northern Unfest & their upcoming East Coast U.S. tour with Sin Against Sin & Impunity.. the band did CDs and tapes themselves for Unfest, maybe a repress will be in the near future…
Gridiron - Lights Out Cassette : Cassette version of some new & some remixed Grid tracks.. Excited to be working with Gridiron still after all these years.. From the demo in 2020 til now. This was a split release with Blue Grape Music.
There was probably more but who cares.. here’s a quick list of whats coming soon …
King’s Command - Take Back The Throne : Deluxe Edition CD
Ethic - Demo 2026
Discontent - Processing Upheaval 12” Repress
Demonstration Of Power LP
New World Man LP
End Of Dayz LP
Representing Hardcore Compilation VOL. 2
UNDYING SPIRIT… Interview w/ Nic Samayoa
FORCED ORDER has always been an extended part of the SOH family. We met when Forced Order was on their first East Coast run with Fury & Soul Search back in like 2014? It was before the first LP.. we pulled up to a show of theirs in NYC or Long Island and hung out all night. They stayed at our house after the show, since they were heading up to Boston for America’s Hardcore Fest the next day… eventually they were just like “yo why dont you just roll with us to Boston” .. so I did which resulted in 10+ years of friendship, traveling with & seeing all 3 of these bands all over the fuckin world at this point.. all that being said once we heard they were going to be doing a new EP we jumped in and worked together with BBB to make it happen.. here’s a couple quick questions with Nic on the record, hardcore & other crap..
Q : How’d Forced Order start up?
A : Mike, Kyle, Dorian and Alfredo got together in 2013ish to write a “Cleveland hardcore” demo. They asked Justin Cuevas to sing on it first, but it didn’t work out. They asked me after and I was super down. I had spent a ton of time with them touring with Soul Search and Twitching Tongues so I was super hyped to do it.
Q: Before FO you were in a band called HARNESS… how does your experience with one compare to the other?
A : Both super fun and their own dynamic. I was just a kid in Harness, and the band showed me a lot about touring, playing out and writing music. Doing FO again has been fun and really low pressure. Been dope writing music with these dudes again
Q : FO just hit Concrete Jungle Fest in Bangkok a couple weeks back.. how was that trip for you? How was the show… how was the food. What else did you get into out there outside of the fest itself
A : It was awesome man. I spent the whole week with my 2 brothers which is rare these days, so it was really dope. The show was amazing - really awesome scene out there and in Southeast Asia in general. Lots of dope moshing and really genuine kids over there. Me and Alex mobbed Bangkok everyday and got to do and see a lot of cool shit. Ate amazing food everyday. Dope trip.
Q: UNDYING SPIRIT just dropped .. what was the writing and recording process like for this record compared to the past few FO records?
A : The music side probably wasn’t much different. Mike and Kyle are crazy with it, but I will say did make a lot of revisions and changes to these songs and really took their time to perfect them. For me I definitely approached it differently - in the past I would just lay down what first came naturally to me and it was very seamless, but with this record I took way more time with vocal patterns and hooks. The lyrics came naturally but I definitely changed up my approach with vocal delivery this time around.
Q : Give me a list of some shit you’ve been listening to lately … hardcore or not
A : Kinda all over the place lately but core wise been spinning Collateral Burning Lord split, been on a big Stop And Think kick… Hip hop it’s been Boldly James, Rome Streetz new record, Benny the Butcher, karbine, Daniel Son, G Perico & 03 Greedo. Driving or working at my desk it’s been a lot of Sundays and Mazzy Star but they’re always in rotation.
Q: Lakers are in the playoffs right now playing against the Thunder.. predictions for this series? Who do you think is the best Laker historically and do you think anyone on the current roster is really putting in work like the guys did in the past to maintain the teams legacy (THIS QUESTION WAS ASKED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO.. IT IS WHAT IT IS)
A : We gonna get swept probably if I’m being real. If Luka comes back soon and AR locks in we can maybe take a game or two but we ain’t winning this series. Kobe is the best Laker / basketball player ever. LeBron is definitely on some crazy shit in regard to work ethic and longevity. I kinda take it for granted that I’m watching LeBron in a lakers uniform. We have an exciting team right now
Q: Let’s book a FO show in New York this fall.. who you wanna put on it?
A : We need to. Illusion, King Nine, Frothing Mad and Sin Against Sin
Q: Give us a rundown on what’s good with Rose Running Divison and BLOOD & TEARS..
A : Rose has been really fun to work on and see grow. I started it toward the end of 2024 and didn’t expect it to take off like it did. It’s still a small side hustle for me but it’s growing and im really tryin to do push it. Just trying to bring something cool and fresh to the running space. Blood & Tears has a few shows lined up this year but it won’t be a band that does a ton. We just try to play every time the 3 of us and Isaac are in the same place or free to link up.
Q: What’re your top 5 favorite NYHC bands?
A : If YOT counts they’re the best band ever, if they don’t it’s: Killing time, Madball, Outburst, Cro mags… Underdog, Breakdown, Judge and AF all make the cut depending on what day you ask me