For over a decade now, Antwerp’s Toxic Shock have been flying the flag for crossover thrash. The band traces back to 2010, when guitarist Pieter Coolen and guitarist Danny finally acted on an idea they’d been kicking around for years. “We all played in hardcore bands before Toxic Shock, but we wanted to do something with our love for Suicidal Tendencies, the Venice bands, thrash metal, and New York hardcore,” Coolen tells No Echo. “I’m a huge NYHC fan.”
The lineup came together in an organic, almost DIY way. Bassist Maarten and drummer Wotte joined early on, with Wotte learning to play drums specifically for the band. “He wasn’t a drummer before he joined us, but he wanted in and learned on the spot,” Coolen says. After trying out a few vocalists, the band found the missing piece in Wally, someone they already knew from the local scene. Not long after, Toxic Shock hit the ground running—playing their first show opening for Black Breath in Antwerp and quickly building momentum.
Since then, the band has carved out a steady presence in the European hardcore and metal underground, releasing a string of records and sharing stages with everyone from Testament and Suicidal Tendencies to Cro-Mags and Power Trip. Their sound has always reflected that overlap. “Crossover—hardcore kids playing metal without losing our hardcore punk roots,” Coolen tells No Echo. “Throw old Slayer, Kill ’Em All-era Metallica, Bad Brains, Suicidal Tendencies, Cro-Mags, Exodus, Leeway… and you’ll have an idea.”
That balance remains intact on their latest album, Future Is Calling, where the band once again teamed up with producer Martin Furia. “He’s a good friend and a great producer,” Coolen says. “He recorded our previous EPs too, and especially Reborn sounded so great we had to work with him again.” Lyrically, vocalist Wally continues to draw from both internal and external chaos. “The state of the world and inner demons are where he gets his inspiration from,” Coolen explains. “We live in crazy times… so there’s a lot to write about.”
Even with years between full-length releases, Toxic Shock haven’t lost their edge. “It’s crazy that it’s been nine years since the last LP,” Coolen says. “But life happens—broken relationships, kids… I think it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.”
Back home, Antwerp remains a fertile ground for heavy music. “There are lots of bands… old bands stop, but people start new ones and young kids are getting involved,” Coolen says. He points to acts like Parasite, Mindwar, Sicko, Babylon, Axident, Raw Peace, and Bütcher as just a snapshot of what’s happening locally, alongside various side projects involving members of Toxic Shock themselves.
After all these years, the motivation hasn’t changed. “Still love hardcore after all these years,” Coolen tells No Echo. “Getting out, playing shows—it’s still one of the best things there is.”
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Future Is Calling is out now via This Charming Man Records.
Toxic Shock on social media: Instagram
Tour dates:
April 26 - AKAB fest Nijmegen (NL)
May 9 - Goera Rock Metal Fest, Mol-Sluis (BE)
May 21 - LP release Zig Zags het Bos, Antwerp (BE)
October 31 - Hell Yeah Metal Fest te Zandhoven (BE)
November 14 - Helldorado, Eindhoven (NL)
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