Claymore are proud of their Texas hardcore scene roots, so they made sure they were firing on all cylinders before they hit the live circuit there. The band spent about a year working on material before even having a full lineup in place. “We’re all longtime close friends who love music and have been in multiple bands together,” they explain. “We were working on music for about a year before the first release, but didn’t have a drummer yet.” Instead of waiting, they dropped their first material in May 2024, hoping it would bring the right person into the fold. It worked. “Chris moved to Houston shortly after the release, and we were able to hit the ground running.”
Musically, Claymore keep their stylistic options open. “We really do whatever we can produce that rips,” they say. “If it goes hard and fits within metallic hardcore/metalcore, we’ll use it.” Lyrically, the band leans into real-life experiences—loss, anxiety, and the need to get things out. “A lot of our stuff reflects our lives, from losing friends to death to just releasing emotions,” they explain. “It’s written in a way that can be open to interpretation for the listener.”
Claymore recently dropped “WMD,” a 7-song collection that continues to expand their sound while keeping things rooted in heaviness. The release features a stacked lineup of collaborators, including Zach from Freeze Out, members of Tornado, and Carl from First Blood on “Weaponized Revenge.” “We’re so pleased and stoked on how it came out,” they say.
That intensity translates directly to their live show, which has quickly become their calling card. Their debut gig in August of 2024 set the tone early.
“Stay True Productions put us on an insane lineup and really gave us the opportunities to be where we are today,” they say. From there, things escalated fast—early out-of-town shows, packed rooms, and increasingly chaotic sets.
With an extensive US tour starting in early June, Claymore aren’t slowing down. When asked about other bands, they don’t hesitate—naming everyone from new faces to veterans like Will to Live and First Blood. Back in December, they were part of No Sleep fest, a 3-day event that also featured such bands as Fatal Realm, Balmore, Big Boy, and Contention.
Stay tuned.
***
Claymore on social media: Instagram
Tour dates:
6/5/2026 — New Orleans, LA — TBA
6/6/2026 — Mobile, AL — Serda’s
6/7/2026 — Tampa, FL — Skate Park of Tampa
6/8/2026 — Warner Robins, GA — Reverb
6/9/2026 — Augusta, GA — Joe’s
6/10/2026 — Myrtle Beach, SC — TBA
6/11/2026 — Raleigh, NC — Chapel of Bones
6/12/2026 — Harrisonburg, VA — Coffee Hound
6/13/2026 — Reading, PA — Reverb Pizza
6/14/2026 — Wallingford, CT — Cherry Street Station
6/16/2026 — Providence, RI — Alchemy
6/18/2026 — Cleveland, OH — Foundry
6/19/2026 — Morgantown, WV — Declan’s Room
6/20/2026 — Richmond, KY — Mad Axe
6/21/2026 — Evansville, IN — Six Strings
6/22/2026 — Dayton, OH — Hidden Gem
6/24/2026 — Gary, IN — Joybomb
6/26/2026 — Minneapolis, MN — TBA
6/27/2026 — Fargo, ND — TBA
6/28/2026 — Bozeman, MT — Gallatin Labor Temple
6/30/2026 — Yakima, WA — Big Dipper
7/1/2026 — Tacoma, WA — Real Art
7/3/2026 — Portland, OR — Off Beat
7/7/2026 — Reno, NV — 4th St Coffee House
7/8/2026 — Oakland, CA — Victory Stables
7/9/2026 — San Luis Obispo, CA — Humdinger
7/10/2026 — Pomona, CA — The Haven
7/11/2026 — Phoenix, AZ — TBA
7/12/2026 — Las Vegas, NV — Battle Born Books
7/15/2026 — Denver, CO — D3
7/16/2026 — Albuquerque, NM — Ren’s
7/17/2026 — Tucson, AZ — PUES Collective
7/18/2026 — El Paso, TX — The Underground
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