Bound2Violence just opened a new chapter with Last Rites, a four-song EP that vocalist Bentley describes as a major turning point for the Inland Empire hardcore band. The EP's cover art, a bloody hockey fight, is fitting.
Since their last appearance on No Echo earlier this year, the group has expanded to a six-piece by adding Luis, guitarist for IE metalcore band Light Via Dark. They’ve also spent the summer playing throughout Southern California while putting the finishing touches on Last Rites.
The biggest difference this time around, Bentley says, is how the songs came together. “When we first started, it was just Birdo on guitar and me writing everything,” he explains. “We had an outside drummer, Kevin from Abominate, Aversions, Ishiki, and No Mourning, do the live drums. The structure of those songs was very basic and, for the most part, rushed. This time around, we spent time on everything.”
The title track itself has been developing for roughly a year. Bound2Violence began playing “Last Rites” live in October 2025, allowing the song to grow and change before the band committed it to the EP.
“This EP is a huge turning point for the band,” Bentley says. “We all collaborated on everything, from the lyrics and vocal patterns to the strings and drums. All six of us had a huge part in everything, whereas before it was more like, ‘Here’s this full song I wrote. Learn it. We have a show Saturday and record it Sunday.’ This was more of a slow burn.”
The collaborative approach meant the band had to avoid chasing records they were excited about. “When writing our music, we have to stop ourselves a lot from saying, ‘Man, this new No Cure LP is insane. Let’s write!’” Bentley says.
“It’s hard to listen to the amazing music that came out this year from bands like Big Ass Truck, No Cure, Combust, etc., and not want to do something similar. So we all agreed to listen to the inspirations that got us into hardcore, plus listen to their inspirations, and this is what came out.”
Lyrically, Last Rites turns inward more than the band’s previous material. “This EP was much more about internal conflict in my personal life than anything else, for the most part,” Bentley explains.
Not every track on the EP comes from such a heavy place. “‘Game Over’ is a hockey fight song,” Bentley says. “Birdo and I play hockey on the same team, and I’ve played since I was three years old, so that was a fun one.”
One of the EP’s most personal songs, “Beyond Repair,” originally dealt with Bentley’s struggles with sobriety. After being hospitalized twice this year with antibiotic-resistant infections, he rewrote the song from his hospital room in March. “Those events inspired my rewrite of that song,” he says. “Straight up, my wife is the reason I am still here. She is so strong and has helped me so much.”
With four members now living in the Inland Empire, Bound2Violence have become increasingly tied to the scene around them, and Bentley says the band’s recent shows have only reinforced that connection.
Back in August, they played a backyard show with Knuckle Sandwich, Desoectomy, and 100 Putasos that he remembers for its energy. More recently, the band played a charity show at Packinghouse Brewery in Riverside with Watch You Die and Get Your Gun. “It was by far our best show to date,” Bentley says. “Every show seems to be getting better and better.”
The vocalist is equally enthusiastic about what’s happening elsewhere in the Inland Empire right now, singling out Get Your Gun, Despair, Watch You Die, and IfTheShoeFits. “They’re kind of a supergroup of important bands from the scene playing some crazy, off-the-wall music,” he says of IfTheShoeFits. “It’s a blast.”
Bound2Violence will return to the stage November 12 at the new Rat King Studios in San Bernardino, opening for Marked for Death, Rust from Ottawa, and Locked Shut from Missouri. They also have an unannounced Pomona show planned to close out the year and are working on a Riverside charity show for January 2027.
Beyond that, the band are looking to play Fresno, Texas, Nevada, and anywhere else that will have them. They’re also recording a split EP with Bergota and plan to release a full-length sometime in early to mid-2027. “We plan on being very active, so if you want to see us, don’t be shy,” Bentley says. “We want to play anywhere and everywhere.”
Before wrapping up, Bentley has a message for newer bands and younger people just starting to attend shows.
“Please continue to go to shows and harbor a good attitude. Help out the venues and promoters any way you can. Even if it’s helping stack chairs and pick up trash after the show, or telling your friends not to burn the spot. Put your phone down and have fun. Stop posting mosh clips on social media. I promise no one cares. More stage dives and singalongs anyway!”
***
Bound2Violence on social media: Instagram
Tagged: bound2violence
