Short Leash is a new band comprised of Anthony Corallo (Kill Your Idols, Sheer Terror, Sick of Talk), lead guitarist Zach Amster (Shark Attack, Violent Minds, No Warning), vocalist Adam Thomas (Concealed Blade, No Time, Blood Pressure), bassist Chris Margarite (Time, Shark Attack), and guitarist Matt Smith (Shark Attack, Rain on the Parade).
With that murderers' row of players, my expectations were high when Anthony hit me up about the project. I wasn't disappointed.
Short Leash's self-titled EP just dropped and it's a must-hear for anyone fiending for straight-up, no-bullshit hardcore punk. It's catchy. It's got rocking guitar solos. It's got gang vocals. It's recorded well. What more can you want?
Anthony connected me with Zach to get the story behind Short Leash and their record.
How did Short Leash go from idea to reality? I'm sure it hasn't been easy with members living in separate states, etc. Also, how did you all come to be friends?
Initially, I wrote the Short Leash songs with the intention of releasing a new Violent Minds record. I flew out and tracked the EP with Anthony in his studio in New York over the course of a weekend.
When it came time to record the vocals, I was having some issues with my throat and wasn’t satisfied with how it was turning out. I was never super into singing in Violent Minds to begin with and have always preferred playing guitar so rather than scrap the recording we decided to get someone else to sing on it.
Anthony knew Adam from No Time, Heavy Discipline, Concealed Blade, etc., and reached out. He seemed stoked on the project and his vocals were a perfect fit. Once we had everything recorded, I recruited Matt and Chris from Shark Attack to play second guitar and bass. Living in different states is somewhat challenging but we’re making it work.
Adam suggested the name Short Leash, which seemed to really fit the vibe, so here we are.
How would you describe Short Leash's sound, and what were some of the influences that were brought into the project?
Definitely inspired by all the classics: Negative Approach, Poison Idea, Agnostic Front, The Abused, Minor Threat, Antidote, SOA, Bad Brains, Circle Jerks, etc. Early '80s hardcore punk, raw, fast, in your face… with a pinch of Motörhead in the mix for good measure.
In terms of lyrics, what are some themes explored on the record?
"MK Ultra’d" was a reference to the mass brain washing campaign the media / political establishment has waged on the masses. I grew up loving punk and hardcore because it was a reflection of how I felt inside… my distrust in the system, and my innate ability to see through the lies and deception that have been programmed and indoctrinated into us.
I felt at home in the punk world because the scene around me was very likeminded. I don’t necessarily feel that way anymore. Much of the hardcore and punk scenes have become "group-think" oriented and there seems to be a lack of critical thinking skills.
The other tracks are a bit more self explanatory. "Pure Scum" is about clout chasers and elitists. "Wet Work" is about smashing Nazis and racists.
What is the plan for Short Leash beyond releasing this record? Will you be able to play some shows in the near future?
We’ll be doing some shows on the East Coast this spring / summer. We are definitely planning to release an LP at some point in the near future as well. I think we’d tour a bit once the LP is released.
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The Short Leash EP is available on 7" via Chronic Death Records.
Tagged: blood pressure, concealed blade, kill your idols, no time, no warning, shark attack, sheer terror, short leash, violent minds
