Band: Running Scared
From: Melbourne, Australia
Their formation story:
(Paul Carroll, bass): “Running Scared kicked into gear in April 2026, bringing together a bunch of old mates who’ve been involved in the Melbourne hardcore punk scene since the late ’90s and early 2000s, playing in bands including NoGrace, Grim Reality, and RACOR.
“It all started when Asher (Grim Reality) reached out to me about getting a new project going. He had a bunch of tunes he’d been writing over the years, including a reworked track originally written back in 2001. From there, Chris (RACOR), Glen (NoGrace), and Matt (NoGrace) jumped on board, and Running Scared was born.
“Since getting into the rehearsal room, the songs have just kept flowing, and it’s really reignited that spark for all of us. Everyone brings their own musical influences and ideas to the table, which is helping shape a sound that’s still evolving. It’s been fun!”
Their sound in their own words:
“That’s a tough one to pin down! There’s definitely an old-school hardcore punk foundation, but our sound pulls from all the different styles of music we’ve played and listened to over the years.
“Everyone comes from a slightly different musical background, so there’s a real mix of influences coming through. We don’t set out to sound like any particular band. We just throw our ideas into the mix and see what comes out. It’s fast, energetic, and sometimes melodic.
Latest release info:
“Our latest track, ‘Battles,’ is a pretty good taste of what Running Scared is all about. It’s fast, aggressive, and straight to the point. It’s one of four tracks from our debut release, Crossed the Line, dropping October 30 across all streaming platforms.
“We recorded everything at our guitarist Glen’s studio, which made the whole process even better. For some of us, it’s the first time we’ve stepped back into a recording studio in a long time, so it’s been a real buzz getting back into it. We’re stoked with how the tracks have come together and can’t wait to get them out there.”
Future plans:
“First up is our four-track release, Crossed the Line, out October 30. We’ve already got a heap more songs ready to record, and we’re keen to get a 7-inch vinyl release happening as soon as we can.
“We’ve also got our first show locked in for November 14, followed by another on December 11. After that, we just want to keep the momentum rolling, play as many shows as we can, and hopefully get interstate for a few gigs.
“We’ve only been going since April, but the songs keep coming and everyone’s fired up. We’re just keen to get out there, play loud, and have a good time doing it.”
What other bands from their region should we check out?
“Melbourne has always had a great scene, and it’s awesome to see it still going strong and growing!
“Definitely check out Chain of Fools, Padded Cell, Seven Hells, and Grim Reality, just to name a few. And while they’re not from Melbourne, Sydney’s Backhand are well worth checking out too.
“One of the best things at the moment is seeing so many younger bands coming through, older bands still going strong, and others coming out of retirement and getting back into it. There’s a real energy around the scene, and it’s great to be part of it again.”
Running Scared on social media: Instagram
Tagged: running scared
