Maine’s hardcore and extreme music scene is still going strong in 2026. So many great bands have emerged from this Northeastern state over the last five years, and there’s no sign of things slowing down. Even after a couple of heavy-hitting bands called it quits last year, their members kept the momentum going—dishing out new music for the love of the scene and all things heavy.
Satiate, founded by former Gumskab members Ethan, Ryan (both on guitar), and Trevor (bass), builds on the blueprint of their previous band and channels it into a heavier, more metalcore-oriented sound. With lyrics focused on the crumbling society we live in and a sonic palette drawing from Norma Jean, Vein.fm, and Converge, Satiate’s sound feels like a manic spirit lurking in the deep woods, finally emerging to wreak havoc on the world.
Formed in the summer of 2025, the founding members brought in Nick and Max on drums and vocals and set out to write tracks that gave them a wide berth in terms of sound and style. “We began writing songs with the idea that we could take this project in any direction we wanted. Over the summer, we demoed a bunch of songs and ended up scrapping them all because we weren’t happy with them. After that, we wrote the five songs on our first EP,” Ethan explained.
The first few seconds of Satiate’s EP dash any expectations. Opener “HLWIO” kicks off with a guitar bang, interrupted by feedback-drenched dissonance, before the drums build into harsh blasts of speedy, crushing riffs—bringing to mind Code Orange’s manic sound on I Am King.
On the EP’s influences, Ethan said, “Musically, we drew heavily from darker, noisier metalcore that we all grew up loving. I took a lot of inspiration from O’ God the Aftermath-era Norma Jean, Converge, and Vein.fm when working on these songs. I’ve always loved scary-sounding music that’s riddled with dissonance and fast as fuck.” The band clearly studied these influences and found a perfect medium—mixing them into what they’d already established in their careers. It sounds like they discovered a new, heavier path, and to me, that’s what hardcore is all about.
Beyond the music, Satiate’s aesthetic is a crucial part of their identity. Artwork, photos, and the overall vibe are just as important as the sound. “Our collective love for horror movies and all things creepy or supernatural absolutely influences what we want to express, sonically and visually,” Ethan said.
“The idea of making people feel general discomfort or uneasiness was a big discussion point as we built this project.” When I think of Satiate, I picture movies like The Ritual, Robert Eggers’ The VVitch, and It Comes At Night—films that use folktales and the fear of the woods to unsettle you. It fits Satiate’s identity like a glove.
The second track, “Red Pill (Blue Still),” focuses—according to Max—on “the constant reminder of how challenging it’s become to survive in the current economic state, especially based on my experiences living in Portland. The people who’ve been here since I was a kid are being pushed out and outbid by a steadily declining world. It’s becoming more and more prevalent every day, and all we can do is watch it happen.” The track is a prime example of Satiate at full power, proving metalcore can still be done right when hardcore minds take a swing at it. It’s manic, heavy, and exactly what I want from that side of metal.
The band shot a video for the track with Evan Warren of Alley Trash, filmed in a location that could easily pass for the basement from The Blair Witch Project. The video flashes between shots of the band playing in this static, cold, and unforgiving space—a perfect match for the song’s destructive sound, with blasted-out Helmet-inspired breakdowns and blistering speed:
The rest of 2026 looks busy for Satiate—they want to play as many shows as possible, and they’ve already started writing for the follow-up EP, set to drop in the spring. Their first show was opening for Mortar on January 9 at the “Betrayal Is Forever” release show with Uponbrokenapologies, Sue, and A Home Beneath.
They’re playing a weekender in New Hampshire, Maine, and Rhode Island from January 16–18 with The Greying, Alchemy, and Crime of Passion. Ethan adds, “We’ve got a weekend lined up with Mortar for the last weekend of February and a ton more shows still to announce.”
Satiate also has tapes of their EP available through SVU Records, their home base, which has supported multiple New England bands. “You can check out one of the variants on the SVU Bandcamp here, and we have the other variant available at all upcoming shows.” There’s plenty to be excited about with Satiate—they’re seasoned scene vets with major momentum. Check out their self-titled debut EP and catch them live as soon as you can.
Satiate would like to shout out: Saco Valley United and everyone who’s helped make Biddeford such a beautiful place for aggressive music; Mortar, Voices In Vain, Cranked, Shawn mothafuckin Robbins, and the dopest young bloods in Maine right now—Floor 13.
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Satiate on social media: Instagram
