Baltimore trio Muscle aren’t interested in playing it straight. Their debut LP, Arrest God, arrives as a jagged, unpredictable listen—hardcore-adjacent but constantly veering into stranger, more unstable territory. Self-described (half-jokingly) as the “ABBA of no wave,” the band thrives on tension, movement, and a refusal to settle into anything too comfortable.
The group—Quintin Gibeau (bass), Adam Farkas (drums), and Madison Coan (vocals)—came together through overlapping circles in the DIY and hardcore scenes, though even they can’t fully agree on how it happened. “Our memories of how we started are different,” they admit. What’s clear is that once it clicked, it clicked fast. “It was that feeling that you get when you realize someone is exactly about your specific shit… then it was like we had done it forever.”
That chemistry shows up immediately in Muscle’s sound, which resists easy categorization. Built on a bass-and-drums foundation with no guitarist, the band leans into abrasion, groove, and unpredictability. “Our sound is hard to pin down—it’s fast and hard and noisy and aggressive and a little bitchy,” they say. Quentin’s bass tone has been memorably described as a “trash can that fucks,” while the band as a whole is less concerned with influences and more focused on reaction—how the music feels in the body.
That intent carries into their songwriting process. Rather than locking into a single vision, each member develops ideas independently before bringing them together. The result is something volatile and physical—music designed to provoke.
“We’re trying to make people excited and nervous and surprised and angry,” they explain, adding that the experience should feel like “the most fun you’ve ever had getting punched in the stomach… and then getting a little kiss on the cheek.”
While Arrest God delivers that chaos in a studio setting—recorded by Chris Freeland—the band has also leaned into capturing their live energy more literally. Their Romantic Living release, recorded at a Maryland abortion fund benefit show, exists only as a physical artifact. “It feels really good to have something that just lives in the tangible world,” they say, emphasizing the importance of moments that can’t be endlessly reproduced or streamed.
Muscle’s partnership with Vicious Circle Records came about in a similarly organic fashion. After catching the band live, label head Dave Brown reached out—initially about reissuing older material, but quickly pivoting to helping bring new recordings into the world. “It feels amazing to have collaborators who are actively excited about what you’re doing,” the band says.
They’re also quick to point out that what they’re doing doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Baltimore’s current wave of hardcore and punk—both traditional and experimental—has created a space where bands like Muscle can thrive. “We are a city that is really supportive and open to experimentation,” they explain, shouting out venues like Ottobar, Metro Gallery, and Holy Frijoles, as well as bands like Pearl, Doubt, Grudge, and Gasket.
And then there’s the live show. Coan’s confrontational stage presence—often performing shirtless—adds another layer to the band’s already volatile dynamic. What started as a tongue-in-cheek nod to hardcore frontperson tropes has evolved into something more intentional. “Nudity has an effect on the audience… it really changes the power dynamic,” Coan tells No Echo, describing reactions that range from discomfort to excitement.
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Arrest God is available on vinyl via Vicious Circle Records (order here). The label also has a bundle option that includes both the album and Romantic Living live cassette for just $25.
Muscle on social media: Instagram
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