12" EP - $17.25
STREET DATE: February 14, 2025
CAT#: PRO-101
LABEL: Protagonist Music

One-sided LP with B-side etching

Coming together in late 2022, Albany, NY based hardcore band Spiritkiller quickly became known locally for their infectious, groove laden riffs and energetic live performances. Weaving together the razor sharp aggression of bands like 108 and Unbroken with flourishes of post hardcore by way of acts like Quicksand and Orange 9mm, Spiritkiller updates this sound in a way that still preserves the passion and impact of that source material.

At the helm, SK guitarist and veteran NJ hardcore/screamo practitioner Tom Schlatter (ex You and I/The Assistant, current Saetia/Hundreds of AU) riffs his way through fresh takes on the sound that dominated hardcore throughout the latter half of the 1990s. The rhythm section of the band is rounded out by bassist Byron Wheeler and drummer Mike Putz who both did time in Albany based crust/dbeat unit Scavengers, which Schlatter had also played drums in after moving to upstate NY several years before. Thick, gritty baselines and agile, inventive drumming hold down the low end and provide the signature punch underpinning the band’s sound. The band’s frontperson Charles Cure (ex Endicott, current HUSH) completes the sound with a vocal style that brings to mind the recalcitrant urgency of Refused and Snapcase inflected with a hint of melody.

A little over a year after their debut, Spiritkiller completed writing and recording their 8 song self-titled LP, which will see the light of day via Protagonist Music and Immigrant Sun records. This release showcases the band’s signature sound with songs that harken back to the heyday of innovation and experimentation in the hardcore sound, while reifying the ethics and message of personal empowerment notable in the subculture of that era. For fans new and old, Spiritkiller is here to bridge the gap between past and present and add their voice to the chorus of others helping to redefine hardcore in the current moment.

TRACK LISTING:
01. Prana
02. Burning Wheel
03. No Interior
04. Falling Man
05. Animal Resistance
06. Epitaph
07. In The Red
08. Struggle To Exist

MARKETING POINTS:

• One-sided LP with special etched B-side
• Members of Endicott, Hundreds of AU, Saetia

FOR FANS OF:
One King Down, Snapcase, 108, Unbroken, Refused