War Bond – An Act of Treason
Politically-charged Buffalo hardcore recruits, War Bond, take your ass to boot camp with their irreverently outspoken debut, An Act of Treason.
Born from the scene in February 2025, War Bond is vocalist Ky Reynolds (Brain Dead, Raggedy Anne), bassist Richard Bertucca, guitarists Shanahan Roach (Immolated) and Cole Blasz (Havana Syndrome, Monomaniac) and drummer Nick Haring (Detemps/Entemps). In its short existence, the band has been busy grinding out gigs and boosting its profile thanks to an angry artillery of crossover hardcore punk calloused with political animosity. The headstrong five-piece stands up for basic human rights and staying true to yourself while standing against ICE goons and the continued assault on Palestine. On An Act of Treason, the band channels this ideological rage and more into ten bombastic tracks of old school melodic hardcore that will leave you shell shocked.
The record begins with the groovy, mid-tempo warm-up track “March On.” Bertucca’s bass rumbles like a tank through distorted, feedback-heavy chords before Reynolds fires his first shot, a message of anger, resilience and hope:
“I know, how you all feel
Like the weight of life itself
Is crushing down upon you.
But I need you to know
That I’m here for you.
That every fucking person here
is here for you.
But you have to find it within yourself
to keep fucking moving.”
It’s an inspiring, supportive pep talk and instantly hooks you as a listener with this added emotional weight. The song’s strategic pacing also allows you to focus and relate to Reynolds’ distinctly hoarse words as tension and indignation simmers underneath the surface just waiting to spill over.
War Bond pops off on the following track “Scum,” a belligerent dragging of the political class set against exciting D.R.I-inspired riffs and 80’s New York hardcore tough guy attitudes. Reynolds gives you a mouthful as he throttles through verses; hitting pressure points including Punchbowl lies, corruption, and hypocrisy out of our nation’s capital. The song’s musicality is pure crossover thrash heaven with Roach and Blasz trading fun “skate or die” chords that you can’t help but pump your first to. Each member is in lockstep with well-placed, hard-hitting accents that chops up the rhythm of the song and adds to the track’s excitement and intensity.
Up next is “Infiltrator.” This bruiser starts with a heavy, simmering intro before the band turns up the heat and launches into a full-blown two-step, smash-mouth anthem. Ride this melodic adrenaline rush and square up as Reynolds puffs his chest with gruff threats against the scene’s enemy actors. Backing him up are Haring’s fat, bouncy punk beat and Bertucca, Roach and Blasz’s catchy, mean-mugging fretwork for a knockout, one-two combo that will leave you punching the ground. Just when you think the musical beatdown is over, Haring counts us back in and the War boys run it back one more time.
“This next song’s called: “Be Heard!” It’s about: being heard!” screams Reynolds on the call-and-response opening bars of “Be Heard.” One of the biggest appeals of the hardcore genre is it’s an open forum for the marginalized, giving people the space and validation to speak their unfiltered truths and be truly seen. This track reinforces that appeal with the brute force and conviction of a Minor Threat song. You won’t find many harmonies here as heavy guitars circle a manic, fast-cracking snare and Reynolds who screams until he’s blue in the face.
One of the strongest tracks off the record that perfectly encapsulates War Bond’s sound is the banger, “Embrace.” This rebellious call to arms is stuffed with crunchy dirnt riffs, bright cymbal crashes, and shouting backup vocals. Reynolds leads the charge with his infinite energy and defiance; trading off vocal sections with backup screamers like a sergeant addressing his troops. The song’s cadence thrills with twists and turns as the vocals and instruments punctuate each other in perfect formation. While guitars squeal and drums crash, “Embrace” hits its breaking point with the conjoined screams of “Bonded, through war!”
With the release of An Act of Treason, War Bond firmly plants their flag in the Buffalo hardcore scene. It’s a solid and timely record from a promising up-and-coming crew that feels cohesively thought out and sharply executed. The band’s image, themes, and music work in perfect unison with one another, but what’s done exceptionally well are the rhythms and textures behind each track. War Bond knows how to ride these choppy, exhilarating sonic waves that flow together so well and are an absolute blast to listen to. John Angelo, who recorded and produced the project, effectively captures the pandemonium and grittiness by squeezing the richest tones and intensities out of each band member. War may be hell, but An Act of Treason is a hell of a listen that can’t be recommended enough.
War Bond’s An Act of Treason is available on all streaming platforms including Bandcamp, Apple Music and Spotify.
Categorised in: Album of the Week
This post was written by Matt Burgerhoff