Hardcore band Trail of Lies initially formed in 2011 with a vision – “play hard and heavy music that evokes the most primal of feelings in its listeners”. Over time line-ups changed, commitments changed, but they are back relentless as ever with their new album Only The Strong out today on through Triple B Records. You can stream it HERE and purchase it HERE.
On Only The Strong, Trail Of Lies collaborated with producer Andy Nelson of Bricktop Recording in Chicago, IL living and recording in the studio for a week before sending the completed album to Brad Boatright at Audiosiege for mastering. The band already shares members with the likes of Regulate, Candy and Naysayer but has expanded their formidable lineup even further on the new album with guest features from Pat Flynn, Scott Vogel, Danny Diablo, Sebastian Paba and Aldo Felix. Throughout eleven visceral songs, the band elevates their NYHC meets metallic hardcore sound to entirely new heights of aggression. Not content to rest on their laurels, the band continues to push the boundaries of heavy music, while remaining true to their roots. With the release of Only The Strong, Trail of Lies are entering a new era while carrying on the past legacy they built.
Speaking on the album expansive themes and lyrics, vocalist Tom Damiano shares:
“Only The Strong is an album that is meant to be an exploration of what it means to be strong. In both our world and music, we are constantly bombarded with images and expectations of success that are pre-defined and pre-determined by institutions that don’t give a fuck about you or your well-being. Each member of the band, in their own unique way, have spent the last 5 years cultivating our respective ‘strongest’ selves, and I think that shines through on this record – it’s still us, just stronger. Being strong is so much more than the physical manifestation of someone’s body – real strength is a mindset that allows a person to constantly adapt and evolve into newer and better versions of yourself.
Each song on the record is a testament to different forms of strength. Some songs are about how being strong means not giving up despite everyone trying to tell you you can’t do something – while others are about how strength is an investment in rejecting institutions and people who profit off of the destruction of our earth and humanity. In any context, the record is ultimately about improvement, and that as a band, but more importantly human beings, we want to associate with people who feel and act the same.”
Trail of Lies is Tom Damiano (vocals), Joseph Davis (JD) (guitar), Harry Corrigan (drums), Tom Harris (bass), and Andrew Stark (guitar).
