Formed in early 2023, Search Warrant spent its first stretch figuring out who they were and who belonged in the room. By 2024, the New Bedford, Massachusetts band's lineup was locked in, and not long after, vocalist Brendan found his way into the fold in a way that felt almost accidental.
“I learned like two of their existing songs, tried out on a whim, and got the nod a few days later,” he tells No Echo. The singer laughs, “I’m sure the guys now severely regret that decision.”
That lineup solidified further with the addition of drummer Nik in spring 2024, and within weeks, the band was already in the studio. The result was Unlawful Demonstration, their debut 7” released later that year through To Live A Lie and Blind Rage Records—a raw, no-frills statement rooted firmly in the DNA of early 2000s Boston hardcore.
Since then, Search Warrant have stayed busy, building momentum the way hardcore bands are supposed to. Local shows quickly turned into bigger opportunities, including opening for Negative Approach in Boston and sharing bills with Cro-Mags and SECT. They also hit the road, linking up with Indiana’s Colossal Man for Midwest dates and running through New England with California’s Sabertooth Zombie.
“STZ was a band I fucked with back in high school,” Brendan says. “It was surreal to hit the road with them and host them on their first East Coast shows in over a decade.”
Now, the band is taking its next step—signing with WAR Records and teasing their forthcoming LP with a 4-song promo today:
The connection came together organically. After recording new material with Trevor Vaughan (Rival Mob, Wound Man) at his home studio, the band started floating the tracks around with no real expectations. The response was immediate. “To everyone’s surprise, we got a ton of positive feedback and a bunch of different offers to help with this release,” Brendan says. “We are psyched to be working with WAR Records. [Label owner] Andrew [Kline] has made everything super simple and has been totally on-point.”
The promo itself is a clear extension of what Search Warrant set out to do from day one—fast, stripped-down hardcore with no excess. It also includes a cover of The A-Team’s “Fall On Your Sword,” a choice that speaks directly to the band’s roots.
“The A-Team was a hardcore band from Worcester that I definitely modeled every band I’ve ever been in after,” Brendan says. “Their LP A Is for Asshole has been in my top 10 since it came out.”
Bringing that influence full circle, the band recruited A-Team vocalist Jon Clark to appear on the track. “I just found Jon on social media, threw a shot-in-the-dark DM out there, and he was gracious enough to come through,” he says.
While the promo acts as an introduction to this next phase, the band is already looking ahead to their full-length LP, which will again lean into speed and urgency. “This band is always trying to go faster,” Brendan says. “Definitely more punk and even some power violence influences.”
Recording is set to take place with Will Hirst (Restraining Order, Revenge) at Sonelab in Western Massachusetts, with the band promising more of what’s made them stand out—direct, fast, and honest hardcore—while pushing things even further.
Outside of the studio, Search Warrant are keeping active on the live front, with upcoming shows alongside Home Invasion, Strife, and Infernal Diatribe, and plans to hit the West Coast and beyond later in the year. At the same time, Brendan is quick to point out that the band is just one part of a broader scene that deserves more attention.
“There aren’t a ton of New Bedford hardcore bands right now,” he says, “but there are still a lot of bands doing cool stuff”—rattling off names like xFilesx, Intent to Injure, Wound Man, and Peace Test, among others.
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A limited cassette run of the 4-song LP promo is available now via WAR Records.
Search Warrant on social media: Instagram
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