North Jersey’s Scary Hours doesn’t just create music; they weaponize it. With their latest EP, Can’t Contend, which will be released on January 15, 2025, via Pyrrhic Victory Recordings, showcases the band doubling down on their brand of politically charged, class-conscious hardcore punk while adding layers of sonic sophistication and emotional weight. Clocking in at just over twenty minutes, the eight-track record is a ferocious mix of rapid-fire riffs, guttural vocals, and lyrics that aim straight for the jugular of societal injustices.
The band's new EP opens with the track, “Intro” which sets the tone with a swaggering groove and a RZA-inspired sample from an old kung-fu film, paying homage to vocalist Ryan Struck's love for Wu-Tang Clan. It’s an unorthodox opener that immediately establishes the EP’s balance of aggression and intellect.
Following is “Reach For Me” which explores the scars of growing up fatherless, delivering one of the most emotionally raw moments on the record. Musically, the track leans into a blend of metalcore and mathcore, with nods to bands like Converge and The Black Dahlia Murder, showcasing the band’s versatility.
The title track, “Can’t Contend,” is an unrelenting thrash-punk banger featuring guest vocals from Brandon of Philly hardcore outfit PUSCH. It’s pure catharsis, filled with horror-themed vignettes that convey desperation with cinematic flair.
“Muted Mass” and “Erase” stand out as the EP’s most overtly political tracks. The former dissects the illusion of freedom under capitalism, with a Noam Chomsky-inspired critique of media manipulation. The latter, driven by Rage Against the Machine-style grooves and a haunting Ghassan Kanafani sample, delivers a searing condemnation of the ongoing genocide in Palestine. Both tracks are as thought-provoking as they are sonically punishing.
“Fever Dream Dossier” tackles the hypocrisy of organized religion with biting lyrical cadences that nod to hip-hop influences, while “Sturdy Beggars” targets systemic oppression, taking aim at New York City’s criminalization of poverty under Mayor Eric Adams. Both tracks showcase Scary Hours’ ability to merge personal fury with pointed political commentary.
Whereas the penultimate track, “Pale Moonlight,” is a track inspired by Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, the EP takes a reflective turn. What begins as a nerdy homage to the Joker-Batman dynamic transforms into a profound meditation on the dualities that drive both human relationships and societal conflict.
Produced by Pete Zengerle, Can’t Contend captures the visceral energy of Scary Hours’ live shows while refining their sound. The EP blends the ferocity of ‘80s hardcore with the groove of modern post-hardcore, peppered with moments of thrash and metalcore. Fans of Minor Threat, Dead Kennedys, and Kublai Khan will find plenty to love here, but the band’s intellectual depth and genre-blurring approach also recall the best of Propagandhi and Glassjaw.
Can’t Contend is more than an EP; it’s a manifesto. Scary Hours channel their fury into a collection of tracks that are as brutally honest as they are brutally heavy. Each song feels like a rallying cry, urging listeners to confront the injustices around them while offering a cathartic outlet for collective rage. With this release, Scary Hours solidify their place as one of hardcore’s most vital voices in 2025.
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