Boston hardcore’s proudest sons Street Power are gearing up to release My Time, the highly anticipated follow up to their first LP, 2023's Threads of Hate. After some lineup changes and relentless touring around the States, the band has grown beyond their own expectations when they debuted with their first demo in late 2021.
Street Power vocalist Chris Cesarini's street-oriented lyrics were always backed by the massive charging riffs that kept them in line with the heaving Boston hardcore sound, influences such as early Blood For Blood come to mind but also Death Before Dishonor and New Jersey’s The Mongoloids. Now with the lineup changes, Street Power’s sound keeps the concrete-slabbed guitar riffage intact while trimming some of the fat and leaning further into Chris’ more punk-leaning influences.
"When Street Power first started, I never wanted it to be as heavy as it was," Chris told me while discussing the band's sonic changes. "It ended up getting like that, which is fine, but now we are coming from a different angle, which, in my opinion, is much better. The songs are much more fun and definitely catchier. Threads of Hate was still a fun record, but this new one we’re putting out is more in my wheelhouse.” A particular influence I hear when listening to their new stuff is Rhode Island’s Product of Waste, who were always in your face with manic blasts of energy but also knew when to kick out the fight riff.
While this sound might be a bit lighter than before they still keep the formula they’ve always had, earning the crowds participation through choruses that are effective at getting people singing along and clamoring for the microphone. The first example they are giving of this is the single “Me Time” which also happens to be the title track for their previously mentioned sophomore album, their first for Triple B Records:
Featuring a guest apperance by comedian Ian Fidance, “Me Time” is a pretty brief affair, showing their development as songwriters and is filled with superb lyricism by Chris as he dwells on the pressures of life that weigh him down and never allow him his own peace of mind. “I have to give credit to my friend Al on this one," said the vocalist. "It was completely inspired by a term that he used a few times.
"He is someone who would bend over backwards for any of his friends at any time and did so a lot. He would always say that maybe when he’s dead, he’ll ‘Finally get some me time,’ and he wanted ‘Finally some me time’ inscribed on his headstone. I always found it extremely relatable, as I am someone who is very busy as well and often doing things for other people. A lot of times, people ask you for favors and are very unappreciative.
"Basically, the song is about giving up on all that shit and just saying fuck it. A lot of people get trapped in that cycle, and people will walk all over them forever."
Shot by Lee of Company Car Inc., Street Power just dropped the music video for "Me Time" which features the band jamming out in an old mill building in Fall River as well as live footage from their show at CC’s in Weymouth back in April. “We just wanted to have fun with the video, really. You can’t take yourself too seriously, or it’s going to be corny. The original idea was to have the Grim Reaper following me around for 'Time Is Coming for Us All,' but it translated well into this video also.”
The track's speed and agility feels more akin to the quick yet volatile tirades of Brockton hardcore’s flagship band, Colin of Arabia, where the mosh parts are kept brief to fuck with the moshers and keep the chaos going. “Me Time” shows Street Power is going for the much more agile yet their heaviness never falters.
Leading up to the release of Me Time, Street Power will be playing a series of shows opening for Conservative Military Image, with Chris doing double duty as he also plays guitar in that band. Those gigs will go down in Maine, Connecticut, and Rhode Island alongside a host of bands like Palehorse, Hard Ca$h, Search Warrant and newcomers, Neolithic.
Post release, they will be opening for Missing Link and Death Before Dishonor at Sonia in Cambridge, Massachusetts alongside metallic hardcore legends Shattered Realm and heavy hitters Soulless and Give Up Hope. They have also been announced for the lineup of this year's This Is Hardcore Fest, which will mark as their first time playing the festival.
It’s lining up to be a big year for Street Power, all their hard work over the last few years has really paid off and it’s exciting to see them make it to this point as they represent the best parts of Boston Hardcore.
Street Power would like to shout out: "Can't Lose, Neolithic, and Quick to Judge. Go check those bands out. Shout out to all of Boston hardcore — no one does it better than we do."
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Me Time will be out May 2nd via Triple B Records (pre-order).
Street Power on social media: X | Instagram
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