Direct Measure are not new around these parts. The St. Louis hardcore quintet was first featured on No Echo back in 2020 when they were still operating under their original name, Brute Force. Since then, the band has been hustling hard, releasing three EPs—Road to Nowhere (2018), The Worst of Us (2019), and Direct Measure (2021), and sharing stages with such heavy-hitters as Power Trip, Mindforce, and Terror along the way.
"It’s been a very interesting progression since we first started this band under the name 'Brute Force' as you already know from previous stuff," says guitarist Jake Meyer. "We’ve slowly over the course of our ep’s and releases shifted from a more grassroots-sounding hardcore band, to a very heavily crossover-influenced sounding band.
"We all love hardcore, and we also love swords, and dragons, and castles and shit like that [laughs]. Also, [vocalist] Jack [Zempel] and I are the two original members of the band and our lineup has changed a few times over the years so naturally we sort of just decided to shift our sound as well."
Direct Measure are currently gearing up for the release of their debut full-length album, Might, And Might Alone, which will also be the first release through their new deal with WAR Records. "So, whenever we initially were recording the LP, we were discussing what labels we wanted to reach out to," Jake reveals. "We were talking to a few who had expressed interest (including WAR) and ultimately landed on that. Some great great friends of ours are on the label as well, i.e. Last Gasp, as well as a great roster of bands that we’ve played with over the years."
Though the album won't be out till early next year, Direct Measure just dropped a track from Might, And Might Alone called "Hour of Siege" to set the mood off. This is some tasty stuff:
I was curious about Jake's take on the current state of Direct Measure's local hardcore community. "I am very proud of the St. Louis hardcore scene. I’ve watched it grow over the last couple years, and I feel like it’s becoming a regular stop for touring bands, which is very gratifying, considering that St. Louis has a tendency to get looked over on most bands routes.
"I run a booking page under the handle IVth Crusade Collective, and there’s been a surplus of young kids starting bands who’s first shows have been some that I have booked, or that Direct Measure was the first hardcore band they saw, which is just very wild to me, but very cool at the same time. The final track on our full-length LP is a love letter to STLHC and features like 6 different singers all from St. Louis bands."
Might, And Might Alone will be out in early 2025 via WAR Records.
Direct Measure on social media: Twitter | Instagram
Upcoming Direct Measure shows:
11/12 - Memphis, TN @ Hi Tone Cafe
11/13 - Baton Rouge, LA @ Mid City Ballroom
11/15 - Springfield, MO @ Lindbergh's Tavern
11/17 - Tulsa, OK @ Flyover Fest
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