Pool Scum is a hardcore band from South Jersey made up of young players that recently landed on my radar via their 2026 self-titled EP. “It really started with my brother and me jamming together all the time,” says guitarist Cruz about their formation. “One day, some friends came over, and we started playing music together, then my brother came downstairs and jumped on vocals. From there, everything just naturally came together and turned into the band.”
Regarding their stylistic direction, vocalist Cole says, “I’d describe our sound as raw hardcore,” pointing to influences such as E.Town Concrete, Drain, Madball, and Hatebreed.
Their connection to hardcore didn’t come out of nowhere. Pool Scum were raised in an environment where it thrived. “We grew up skating, surfing, and racing BMX bikes,” Cruz says.
“We spent a lot of time at skateparks, especially Back Sov Skatepark, where they’d sometimes host punk and hardcore shows. Being around that environment definitely helped introduce us to hardcore."
Despite their age, the band hasn’t faced much pushback as they step into the scene. “Everybody’s been super welcoming to us so far,” Cole says. “We haven’t had many issues playing shows because of our age.” That support has helped them quickly find their footing, linking up with bands like Not One Truth, Denial, Total Knock In, and Coming Up Roses as they continue to build within the Jersey scene.
The self-titled EP features Ant of E.Town Concrete and members of Bulldoze, bridging multiple generations of East Coast hardcore. Ant even manages the band—early co-signs that speak volumes.
As for the near future, Pool Scum are ramping up their plans. “Right now we’re talking about touring this summer, and we’ve also been in contact with a few labels,” Cruz says. “Just be ready for this upcoming release—we’ve got a lot more coming soon," Cole adds.
***
Pool Scum on social media: Instagram
Tagged: pool scum
