I often get asked by readers of No Echo what my favorite type of hardcore is. While that's a tough question to answer since I listen to a broad stylistic spectrum of hardcore, if I had to choose one, it would be the melodic yet tough sound of bands like Leeway, Ekulu, and Best Wishes-era Cro-Mags.
With that in mind, I want to introduce you to Near Death Experience, a Melbourne, Australia-based band that feels the same way I do. Their 2023 demo impressed my old ass, and they've been on my radar ever since. "We started off the back of other bands wrapping up in mid 2023," guitarist Nathan wrote me via email. "We thought it was a good opportunity to try out a few ideas and got the ball rolling."
Like I told you, Near Death Experience (their band name is even an homage) lean into a very specific style bucket of hardcore. "We're a hardcore band taking influence from classic NYHC/crossover bands like Cro-Mags, Leeway, The Icemen, Crumbsuckers… Ozzy Osbourne." You might think to yourself, "Ozzy?" But the late great Leeway frontman Eddie Sutton's vocals were compared to the Black Sabbath legend's by many people throughout the decades.
Near Death Experience kicked off 2025 by dropping a banger of an EP called Absolution. "After a couple of hard years, we came up with Absolution," said Nathan. "It’s a tribute to those we have lost, to live in the moment and to celebrate life."
I know how tough it is for Australian bands to get over to the States to play shows, but I'll hold out hope that Near Death Experience can make it happen. "We'll hopefully lock in a tour to play these songs a bunch, work on an LP and have fun on the journey," Nathan said about the band's plans for this year.
The guitarist also wanted to urge No Echo readers to check out the bands Outsiders Code, AWOL, Threshold, Dizdain, Who’s to Blame, and Iron Mind from the Aussie hardcore scene.
In a time when beatdown is the flavor du jour in hardcore, Near Death Experience's melodic-minded approach brings a huge smile to my face.
***
Absolution is available digitally and on cassette via Burning Hammer Records.
Near Death Experience on social media: Instagram
Tagged: near dearth experience
