GOLD is one of the newest bands in Bakersfield, California. Surrounded by the economic sacrifice of the Kern River Valley and bombarded with news of genocide, the band was conceived as an outlet for the messages they feel are intrinsic to punk and hardcore, but are often lost in the modern scene. The band is a response towards the imperial state and the human and economic devastation left in its wake.
Leading the charge of the scene’s revitalization, GOLD’s presence has been essential to the rapid growth of shows in the city. Their demo was written in April 2024 and aims to fill the void of hardcore that is still unabashedly punk and express dissatisfaction with the shape of the world around them.
Their latest release, 14 Karats, was released via cassette (and is now sold out!) by Extinction Burst Records out of Victorville, California. Raymon from Extinction Burst saw the band and his label as kindred spirits, both being from overlooked and under-resourced parts of the Golden State. Their partnership is truly intrinsic.
GOLD guitarist Nate and vocalist Taylor answered some questions about their version of “the sound of something better."
How would you describe GOLD’s sound?
We’re a hardcore punk band blending d-beat with early '90s New York Hardcore. Equally inspired by Judge, Breakdown, and Painkiller Records as we are by Discharge, Framtid, and Disclose–we’re not afraid to wear our influences on our sleeve, but are always trying to push the boundaries and fill blank spaces with our sound.
READ MORE: The Bakersfield Sound, Part 1: A Look at the Hardcore Scene in California’s Central Valley
Tell us about your latest release.
Our most recent release is our first EP, 14 Karats, which features 6 tracks that deal with the struggle of growing up in the economic sacrifice zone Kern County, as well as the struggles of life in the late stages of global empire.
What are y’all up to in the near future?
We are in the process of writing an LP in between trying to play as many shows in as many places as we can. If you want us in your city, hit us up. From the jump, this band has been about making music with a message at a breakneck pace, and putting those songs in front of as many new faces as possible and we don't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
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Stay tuned for part two of this article where Nate gives No Echo a Bakersfield 2025 Scene Report.
GOLD on social media: Instagram
Tagged: gold, the bakersfield sound
