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Once, long ago, there was hardcore, and it was good. Since then, we’ve largely had to settle for pale imitation. But at occasional intervals, in different places around the world, small groups of attentive, motivated people have come together and made music that does justice to hardcore as it was when it mattered. Grand Scheme out of Washington, DC, is the real deal. You take the breakneck speed of The Abused and the general aural violence of Negative Approach, and you add plainspoken lyrics that express genuine anger and alienation with nuance and humor. Sounds simple. It’s not. Listen to the competition from the past couple of decades. It’s terrible. But in early 2025, at last, we have a good one. Grand Scheme isn’t aiming for posterity or eminence; the band members don’t need plaudits or acclaim. But they deserve to be heard for being the rarest thing: a real hardcore band — driven with real urgency and by real emotion — that exists today, right now, when we need it. Listen to the new record and go see them live, while you can.

Hobby hardcore, punk, etc. label from city stadium in Richmond, Virginia.

1. 11pmrecords.com