Krooked emerged from Milwaukee's hardcore scene in the winter of 2023, initially motivated by an inside joke among friends. Drummer Ryan Claxton's return to the city marked the point when the idea became reality, and the band swiftly established itself as a serious force within Wisconsin's expanding hardcore community.
"Joey Drahiem and Ryan Korsmo had already come up with the idea for the band as a joke and even had merch made for a band that didn't exist," Claxton says. "Once I moved back, we made the band a real thing."
Following an early lineup shift, Krooked strengthened their lineup with bassist Adam Ries. "We're just a group of guys that want to make the same style of music."
Their sound draws from direct, no-frills hardcore, but also incorporates influences that set them apart from their peers. "We're a hardcore band, but we try to blend a little hip-hop influence into it," Claxton explains. "Plenty of two-step and breakdown parts." The band's influences range from hardcore mainstays like Hatebreed and Terror to 2Pac.
Krooked's most recent release is the three-song EP Still Pissed, recorded at 19 Stars Recording in Indiana with Colin St. Mary.
St. Mary previously worked with the band on their split with KEEP, further shaping their recorded sound. "We're very proud of the work we've done with Colin," Claxton says.
Live shows have become a key part of Krooked's momentum. The band recently toured with KEEP through Indiana and Ohio, sharing stages with acts like Orthodox, Fox Lake, Ingrown, and Hoods.
Looking ahead, Krooked is going back into the lab. "New music is definitely in the works," Claxton says. "We'll be getting back in the studio very soon to drop some fresh tracks and possibly another video."
Claxton sees Milwaukee's hardcore community as especially vibrant at the moment.
"The local scene is popping," he says, pointing to bands like Enervate, Muzzle, and See No Evil, while naming X-Ray Arcade, Cactus Club, and Falcon Bowl as some of the city's best places to catch hardcore shows.
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Krooked on social media: Instagram
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