I first caught Prague’s SCOOP while traveling through Spain, seeing them in Madrid before making a vacation sidequest to catch them again in Valencia. Sometimes you stumble across a band while traveling and end up remembering the people just as much as the music. That was certainly the case here.
I had an absolutely lovely time talking with the band, who found themselves playing an extra-long set in a tiny Valencia venue after every other band on the bill dropped off. Thankfully, they handled the unexpected situation gracefully, delivering riffs to a thrilled, moshing crowd in an intimate, dimly lit space.
SCOOP are a five-piece hardcore punk band from Prague, Czech Republic. They’ve been making a pretty convincing case for themselves since forming around 2022. Their sound pulls from the nastier, tastier corners of hardcore, mixing chain punk, d-beat, and crossover influences into short, frantic bursts of aggression. Think filthy caveman riffs and absolutely no interest in overstaying their welcome.
Their 2024 debut EP, Curb Justice, was released through Crocodile King, a sublabel of Czech DIY label Pushteek. The five-song 7-inch features a guest appearance from SPY vocalist Peter Pawlak. This is particularly fitting considering my plans to fly to Prague this November to see SCOOP, SPY, and Combut.
This September, SCOOP released their first full-length, Malicious Intensive Deformation, also through Crocodile King. As is standard for the genre, its ten songs clock in at just under 19 minutes. The exact flavor of no-frills punishment I appreciate.
The record touches on everything from alienation and personal struggle to institutional power, exploitation, and political disillusionment. An appropriately ugly soundtrack for a similarly ugly world. The band recorded the album at Prague’s Golden Hive Studio, with artwork by Lord Serus.
Beyond the records, SCOOP have been keeping busy on the road, building connections throughout the European underground and making appearances alongside bands like Turnstile, Power Trip, and others.
They’re not approaching this as a project that exists solely to put out records; there’s clearly a genuine investment in getting out, playing shows, and being part of the international hardcore community.
I’m looking forward to seeing them again on their home turf alongside American hardcore staples. If my experiences in Spain are any indication, it’ll be a good time. In the meantime, Malicious Intensive Deformation is well worth your attention. Get familiar.
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SCOOP on social media: Instagram
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