Long Island hardcore band Last Laugh spent the past year stepping back from a busy run of shows behind 2023's Bite the Apple. Instead of pressing forward, they slowed down to lock in their lineup, focus on writing, and decide what direction to take next.
Unrest, the new EP, finds the band in fighting shape and focused on waving the flag for LIHC.
"It has been a minute, and we appreciate you having us back on the website," vocalist Jason tells No Echo. "Right after Bite the Apple, we added our brother Dan Y on second guitar. We played a bunch of really sick shows with bands like Pain of Truth, Haywire, Show Me the Body, and Weekend Nachos leading up to our last show in September 2025, then took the past nine months to really lock in as a band."
Last Laugh added bassist Gabe during that time and concentrated on writing what Jason considers their strongest material so far:
Jason points to a clear shift between the band's early days and their current approach. "When we started this band, we wrote very quickly and effortlessly off ideas Charlie recorded when he was sick," Jason says. "Our mission statement was to release the emotions we had individually locked away, play shows around the country, and contribute something to our local scene."
Early on, the band leaned heavily on instinct. "We just went full send and didn't really take the time we needed to fully dial in with each other," he says. "Now that we've had a couple of years together, our chemistry is much stronger, the writing process is way more focused, and this band, while it's for us, has become a tool to help others."
That growth comes through on Unrest, recorded with Dan Alivio, an early supporter who runs Long Island's Heaven Records. "Going into this EP, we knew we wanted to work closer to home with someone we can trust," Jason explains. "Dan has always believed in this band, so it was only right that we went in this direction."
Alivio and Heaven Records have become central to the new wave of Long Island Hardcore. "I think Dan and Heaven are extremely important to our local scene," Jason says. "They're focusing more on the music and community rather than popularity and aesthetics in an age where hardcore is viewed in many different forms by many different walks of life."
Last Laugh has often come from a positive place, but Unrest marks a darker, more personal turn for Jason. "This record was very hard for me to write," he says. "I've always made a point to write Last Laugh from a positive point of view, but I've had a lot go on, so I let my emotions fully take over this time."
The title track deals with anxiety and persistence. Jason wrote "Face to Face" after losing a close friend. "This is probably the darkest this band would ever go lyrically," he says.
"Parasite" stands out for its focus on betrayal and false loyalty. "It's about a friend who completely abandoned morals and loyalty, something I think we all can relate to," Jason says. "A lot of people put on a mask and hide their true face, so 'Parasite' is about disposing of these individuals."
"Distance" takes a personal look at similar themes. The record closes with "Street Love II," ending on a hopeful note. "It's really about taking the cards you were dealt and making the best out of it," Jason explains. "The world is a dark place, and we are all fighting a battle in one way or another, but we will always overcome if we show up for ourselves."
Jason cites Outcome, Pushback, Boots on the Sand, Grael, Fröthing, Liberate, Engine, Love Sick, Wits End, and Bloodshed as influences from the new wave of hardcore.
Last Laugh will play their first show of 2026 on July 18 at Shakers Pub in their homebase of Long Island to mark the release of Unrest. Physical copies are coming soon, with touring planned for later this year or early next. "We do not want to wait two years between releases again," Jason laughs. "We've got more ideas we're working on, so we'll definitely have more to deliver shortly."
For Jason, the values that first drew him to hardcore remain as important as the music itself. "I think the mission statement of our genre gets lost in translation because we now have social media as a factor, which welcomes outsiders who are unfamiliar with the key values of hardcore," he says. "Hardcore is not a popularity contest. This genre was made by the people, for the people."
He wants to see more Long Island bands recognized and credits Pain of Truth and Koyo for pushing the scene forward.
"Last Laugh represents survival," Jason says. "There is something coded in this band that is made to help you push through. I hope that people read the lyrics and use them to their advantage. Come to a show, hit the dancefloor, take the mic, and come have a conversation with us. Let's protect this thing of ours."
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Unrest is out now via Heaven Records.
Last Laugh on social media: Instagram
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