Frankfurt am Main’s Truth Grip are a longtime group of friends finally turning years of shared history into heavy, metallic hardcore. Formed in 2023, the band quickly found its footing, writing and releasing their first EP, Reality Curse, before hitting the road for shows and festivals across its region.
“We’ve all known each other for almost 20 years and always wanted to make music together because of our friendship,” bassist Steven explains. “So we wrote Reality Curse relatively quickly. After two more singles and many fantastic shows and festivals, our new EP, Twist of Fate, will be released later this month."
With the new release, the band feels more firmly rooted in its identity. “I think we’ve found our sound with the new EP,” says Steven. “We write riffs that are as hard as possible to get people moving. You could probably compare us to bands like Hatebreed, Remembering Never, or Malevolence. They are definitely among our influences.” He adds that his lyrical approach pulls from outside the traditional hardcore playbook: “I’m also very inspired by rap music, so I potentially approach writing lyrics a little differently than others in the scene.”
According to Steven, Twist of Fate represents a heavier and more cohesive step forward. “Our new EP is definitely darker and heavier. I also think it sounds more cohesive than its predecessor,” he says. “We recorded the songs in DIY fashion again and had our friend—and honorable fifth band member—Maximilian May mix and master them. The EP is quite short with a playing time of 15 minutes—hardcore, yeah!”
The record also includes a handful of guest appearances. “We have three cool features on board: Patrick from Peace of Mind, Denis from Minus Youth, and Emy from Blossom Decay,” Steven notes. Lyrically, the material leans into both personal and global struggles. “Twist of Fate delves deeper into topics such as social pressure and global conflicts, reflecting both personal struggles and larger social realities. The lyrics may seem very negative and angry, but there is also a positive optimism that resonates from time to time.”
Back home, the band is encouraged by the current energy in their local scene. “I think the local scene in our wider area is really lively again right now,” Steven says. “There are lots of events happening and they’re getting a really positive response.” He points to collectives and spaces like Heavy Grounds, LaMa Booking, Angeschimmelt Youth Crew, and Oetinger Villa for helping keep the culture alive, while also shouting out bands like Pointing Fingers, Minus Youth, Peace of Mind, Blossom Decay, and Defiance.
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Twist of Fate will be out on February 27th via Thrash Out Records, Bound by Modern Age Records, and Blood Blast Distribution on all major streaming platforms, with vinyl, tape, and CD versions available for pre-order.
To celebrate the release of the new EP, Truth Grip will be playing a show the following night in Wiesbaden alongside Peace of Mind, Defiance, Makhaira, and Cruel Division.
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