Hardcore punk thrives on speed. It’s at its best when it moves fast, hits hard, and leaves no room for hesitation. Krime, a newly formed hardcore punk band from the Netherlands, understands this perfectly. Their debut 7″ demo EP is a powerful, abrasive, and compact declaration of purpose. It’s a loud, fast, and raw collection of just four songs, but more than enough to jolt the listener awake and remind them that hardcore punk, when done right, still has teeth. Krime features ex-members of the revered Dutch acts Citizens Patrol and Brat Pack, both bands known for their speed and bite. But this is more than just another side project. This is a new chapter. And from the first note, this demo recording feels essential. It’s not nostalgic, though it nods to the past. It doesn’t mimic the sound of others, though it will thrill fans of Poison Idea, RKL, or Government Warning. Krime sounds like a band with their own haste, direction, and a firm grip on what makes hardcore punk so permanent.
The sound is fast and raw, but not sloppy. Every track is packed with energy and delivered with confidence. The guitars are mean, the vocals even meaner, and the drums are relentless. But within the aggression, there’s structure and articulate songwriting. Krime doesn’t just play fast to play fast, they play it like that because they mean it. And they know when to pull back, even slightly, to let the groove hit. Beneath the fury lies a subtle rock ‘n’ roll undercurrent. Not enough to soften the edges, but just enough to give the music a swagger and a sense of danger. It’s reminiscent of Portland bands like Long Knife or P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S., who know that style can be just as essential as speed. But Krime are not here to imitate. They’re here to burn their path and they’ve already started laying it down. The production on Demo serves these songs well. It’s raw, but not muddy. You hear everything, the sharp guitars, the furious drum fills, the gritty vocals, and the driving bass. The bass, in fact, deserves special mention. It’s not buried beneath. Quite the contrary, it’s active, aggressive, and constantly in motion. It connects the rhythm section to the riffs in a way that adds power without being overwhelming. It gives more than necessary muscle to these songs.
The vocals come in hot. Barked, sneered, and shouted, they unquestionably mean serious business. But clarity of intent is what stands out. There’s no mumbling, no hiding behind distortion. It’s all out in the open. These songs are confrontational, but not performative. They feel rooted in the world, not just the scene. In just four tracks, Krime shows a full range of what they can do within the tight borders of hardcore punk. Each song is direct and tightly wound. There’s no filler or indulgence. Just riff, beat, voice, and conviction. Most bands take time to sound confident. Krime, somehow, arrived fully formed. There’s chemistry in the playing and unity in the sound. It doesn’t feel like a group of musicians trying something out, it feels like a band. The visual presentation, like the music itself, is stripped down and effective. The layout is minimal, with the black, red, and white aesthetic fitting the sharp, classic, and unpolished sound. It feels underground in the best way. It invites you in without trying to impress you. Because it doesn’t need to. The music speaks for itself.
Hardcore punk today often falls into two camps, those chasing the past and those forgetting it entirely. Krime doesn’t fall into either. They remember what made the genre powerful, but they play it like it matters now. It’s more than vividly hearable that they’re not aiming for the retro, but are not interested in a new sound either. The Netherlands has long had a lively punk scene, and Krime feels like its next great export. They’re not just continuing a tradition, they’re adding to it. And if Demo is what they can do in a debut 7″, the future should be watched closely. This release may be short, but it leaves a lasting mark. That’s what punk is supposed to do, and Krime does it better than most. Head to Shield Recordings for more information about ordering.
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