Rooted in straight edge hardcore but unwilling to simply recreate the past, Time X Heist have spent the last few years building a reputation through relentless touring and a sound that balances classic hardcore with a sharper, heavier edge. Their full-length debut, The Measure of My Devotion, pushes that evolution even further, delivering songs centered on discipline, self-control, and a rejection of the culture of excess surrounding both modern life and hardcore itself.
I caught up with vocalist Mark Frandsen via text while the band was in the middle of a European tour to discuss the new LP, hardcore’s growing business mentality, expanding beyond traditional Youth Crew influences, and why one of the strangest misconceptions about straight edge still refuses to die.
From a stylistic approach, did you approach the writing any differently for this LP, or did you just let things flow naturally? I know you've been playing a ton of shows over the past couple of years, so I was curious whether the way crowds reacted to certain older songs has had an impact on your thinking.
Musically, we wanted to try and deviate a little further from the traditional youth crew hardcore sound and play around with adding some of our other influences. We also wanted to bring a little more heaviness and anger to this one. Can’t be posi all the time.
Before you began working on the lyrics, had you worked out the ideas and issues you wanted to tackle this time out? Is there a theme that ties the material together?
All the lyrics for this release were actually written in the studio. I had some themes I wanted to touch on, but no real plan for each song in advance. A main theme I had in mind to tackle was the current big business aspect of hardcore.
Bands are getting scooped up by big labels and coming out of the gate on their first tours with huge booking agencies and management behind them. It feels like a repeat of what happened in the mid-to-late 2000’s. I could do a whole interview about just this one topic, but I’ll just say that’s been on my mind and other people’s minds a lot lately.
If you had to point to one song on The Measure of My Devotion that best encapsulates Time X Heist right now, which would it be and why?
Time X Heist is a spectrum. I don’t think we could narrow it down to one song. The book ends of the spectrum on this record, I’d say, would be “Carry the Flame” and “For Your Approval.” Everything else falls in between those two.
You’re currently out on tour throughout Europe. How has it been going so far?
We’re still in the first half of it. Going good so far, other than our guitar player getting accused of stealing pastries and almost getting arrested, and our guitars not showing up at the airport when we got here [laughs].
That’s great to hear. Have there been any good bands you discovered playing the shows yet?
We played with Nerve Center last night. Very, very good band. Got to see Wrong Man a couple of days ago. Their singer was the vocalist for Rise and Fall. Mushaal from the UK are amazing.
Wrong Man is sick. Bjorn contributes to No Echo, and I'm psyched that Rise and Fall will be playing again soon.
What is a misconception people tend to have about straight edge? What do you think people misunderstand most about straight edge today?
The one that surprises me when I hear it is that people think it means you can’t have sex, like at all. I don’t think anyone would have signed up for this if it meant complete celibacy. I try to disregard all the wacky questions people have about Straight Edge on Reddit. The sex thing is the only one I’ve encountered in the real world.
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The Measure of My Devotion is out now via Indecision Records (vinyl & CD orders).
Time X Heist on social media: Instagram
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