No Echo introduced you to Life Stained Red earlier this year via our New Hardcore Band Spotlight series. Their demo resonated with our readers, who loved the San Diego group's penchant for '90s-inspired hardcore in the vein of Strife, and that's especially cool given today's announcement.
Life Stained Red hit streaming outlets today with My Will, a 2-song promo that signals their signing to WAR Records, the label founded by Andrew Kline (Strife, Berthold City). For vocalist Chris Havlu, joining the WAR roster carries particular significance. “Being on the same label as my biggest influence is a trip and an honor,” he tells No Echo. Havlu says the relationship began simply enough: “I just shot over our new promo, and we’ve been going from there ever since.”
Havlu is joined in Life Stained Red by guitarists Dezmond Chavez and Dan Porcho, bassist Kaya Martinez, and drummer Jon Jon, with influences including Undertow, Strain, and Unbroken. While bands like Magnitude, Contention, and Inclination are bringing this style of hardcore to new audiences, Life Stained Red’s approach is shaped by their own roots in San Diego’s scene.
The title track of the new promo shifts from driving hardcore and gang vocals to faster sections, closing with a section built for a room full of people to shout along. “The song is really about staying true to yourself and true to what you believe in no matter what the fuck is going on around you,” guitarist Dezmond Chavez explains to No Echo.
Its central declaration, “I may bend, but I will not break,” sums up that outlook. “If all you have is your will, then use it because it’ll always push you to get out of whatever shitty position you might be in,” the guitarist adds.
Though they only had a demo on streaming platforms until today, Life Stained Red's reach has been impressive so far.
“I had seen a few Instagram pages from Japan or somewhere in Asia post about our band, and I just thought to myself, ‘This is so fucking sick. I can’t believe some dudes that live miles and miles away know who we are and fuck with this,’” Chavez recalls.
In Southern California, the hardcore community’s response has been just as strong. Havlu points to playing with friends’ bands and getting into new venues as personal highlights, and says he values seeing people connect with the songs.
Life Stained Red are set to head out on their first tour. Guitarist Dan Porcho says the band plans to keep playing shows and writing, with an EP targeted for early 2027.
“We’re all super stoked to head out on the road for the first time,” Porcho says. “Alongside that, we hope to have an EP out by early 2027, so keep your eyes peeled for that.”
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My Will is out now on streaming outlets via WAR Records.
Life Stained Red on social media: Instagram
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