by Eric Foreman (@ericforemanDPT)
“Hardcore for fucking freaks. That’s it” – New Jersey hardcore band GEL abides simply and earnestly by their signature mantra. The band, through their own previous experiences as musicians and fans of the mid-2000’s NJ emo/punk scene, center their art around hard work and community building. These values are essential to the punk ethos but have, in some cases, presented challenge in practice. On their debut album Only Constant, the band distills the piss and vinegar of a classic DIY hardcore outing into a bite-sized punch of a package.
Punk, and its descendants, have a weary history with its originally intended inclusiveness and the challenge of its inevitably growing popularity. Aimed for the “outcasts,” the genre and culture’s ability to weave into worldviews and be critical identity markers have previously allowed for a pungent distaste to those not designated to be true to cause or real enough. Ironically, the punk and hardcore aesthetic has in some cases led to the very same clique mentality that it usually purports to be staunchly against.
This is all considered by GEL, a band who admittedly draws strong connection to classic hardcore and emo. This connection manifested musically with simple but strong riffing as a main ingredient to the success of Only Constant. Opener “Honed Blade” builds from a hooky riff from guitarists Anthony Webster and Maddi Nave, backed by a walking drum groove. The guitar lick is foundational, the vocals and the remaining instrumentals curl around its moving parts with Webster adding an octave as the song progresses for melody. The track speeds and slows in the second half, always maintaining raucous excitement. “Fortified” begins with a fist-pumping rhythm that takes off running reminiscent of Damaged era Black Flag. Vocalist Sami Kaiser espouses courageous platitudes throughout the track, exclaiming “Depleted but hungry, I forge with my hands” – they encourage the listener to find strength, no matter how deep the dive must be. Highlight “Attainable” slowly glides through increasing tempo changes until a satiating dance riff prevails – enticing even the at home listener to test the sturdiness of their two step.
While their musical influence is decidedly old school, GEL is consistent with their all-for-one messaging. Specifically, the overdue gradual platforming of queer, non-men and otherwise marginalized members of the punk community. A quick example can be seen in the soon to be iconic Sonic drive thru show with California punks, Scowl. The camaraderie in the crowd is visible and the energy is palpable – it’s not that the music is just “for the freaks,” it’s slowly allowing for participation without judgement. During the recording of Only Constant the band opened a hotline for fans to call in and ruminate about music, life and nothingness. The chosen snippets are melded into the mid-record interlude “Calling Card”. The recordings cover the beauty and ugly of hardcore, lashings against gendered expectations and local happenings. It also produced the aforementioned sloganeering, which all bolsters the true connection between the band and the fans.
The intermission is refreshing but brief. “The Way Out” begins and ends with a looping riff that sandwiches a crushing rhythm section, ensuring the physicality of the artform. “Worn Down” drives a more straightforward path with the feedbacking guitars punching up Kaiser’s vocals as they outline the conflicting feeling of oneself’s truth in the face of a disappointing family. Final track “Composure” leads a moshing first half that decays into a noisy void as the track dissipates.
Only Constant foundationally resists pretentiousness. The music is physical and the band is earnest. GEL’s music, message and motive seem to be all in alignment– achieving an oft sought after goal for a band on the rise. On their debut release, GEL offers open arms to all that may fall in – no matter the form you might take.