For her first contribution to No Echo, I asked South Carolina-based photographer Kayla Boshard to introduce us to some of the bands making noise in her home state.
Boshard has been attending shows for more than 20 years and has been photographing the Southeast music scene for nearly a decade, focusing on capturing the energy and genuine connections that make hardcore such a unique community.
Below, she highlights 11 South Carolina bands you should have on your radar.
—Carlos
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Reviler (Greenville, SC)
This high-energy band from Greenville, South Carolina, is made for stage dives, moshing, and having fun. These guys are a major pillar of the SC scene, and vocalist Will runs a zine called CalmxMind Fanzine that covers events across the Southeast.
Don’t miss Reviler if they come to a town near you, and follow the zine for show footage and announcements!
World Inside (Greenville, South Carolina)
World Inside brings that raw, underground hardcore sound with real street vibes. No bullshit, no gimmicks. Two-steps, real life, real struggles, and hardcore from the heart.
Reality. (Greenville, SC)
Reality. is bringing the quintessential 2008 metalcore sound back, and they’re doing it right. From Greenville, South Carolina, they’re cooking up classic sounds from the For the Fallen Dreams era. Heavy riffs, breakdowns, and melodies—everything you want from metalcore.
They just dropped a split EP with Florida band Trust called A Fractured Horizon, so definitely give it a spin!
Dangerous Game (Greenville, SC)
Dangerous Game brings an old-school hardcore sound with modern breakdowns and some sick-ass fight riffs. They play a Madball cover... ENOUGH SAID. These guys rule.
Heavy, tough, and keeping real hardcore alive.
God Glitch (various cities, SC)
God Glitch is a chaotic mix of mathcore and metalcore that hits. Heavy, emotional, deeply lyrical, and all over the place in the best way. Think Converge meets Norma Jean.
If you like crazy timing and breakdowns, these guys are worth checking out!
Rat Poison (Greenville, SC)
Rat Poison brings a metallic hardcore sound with elements of thrash and plenty of heavy riffs. Heavily influenced by the Northeast, they mix old-school grooves with two-step parts for all the dancers out there.
ArmBar (Charleston, SC)
ArmBar is bringing the violence, and for all the right reasons. Heavy hardcore—if the riffs don’t make you want to fight, the politically charged lyrics will certainly remind you of real-world issues that should piss you off.
Get familiar and tackle your local ICE agent to their tracks.
D.I.E (Charleston, SC)
D.I.E stands for Dead Inside Everyday, and their riffs feel that way. This band has a thrashy, old-school sound that sends you back to the ’90s in the best way. Fast guitar riffs, circle pits, and two-step transitions made for punk and hardcore fans looking for a modern twist on familiar sounds. No fancy bullshit, just riffs and four bald-headed dudes who can make some music.
80 Bagg (Columbia, SC)
80 Bagg is Southern hell-raising party hardcore. Think cocaine-fueled energy and riffs that make you want to punch your best friend in the face. These guys recently opened for the legendary Agnostic Front and are just getting started!
Their guitarist, Ethan, also runs a collective called For the Freaks, bringing some of the best music to the Carolinas. If you’re in the Southeast, follow them for show announcements!
Waste of Space (Columbia, SC)
Waste of Space is part of the new wave of South Carolina hardcore that’s been making some serious noise lately. Pulling influence from bands like Contention, Hatebreed, and Foundation, this band is bringing plenty of bite. Carlos recently featured the band on No Echo, so you might’ve already seen their name popping up!
And for a cool little piece of hardcore history, their drummer is the son of the drummer from legendary SC band Stretch Arm Strong. Waste of Space is definitely a band worth keeping an eye on!
Circle Back (Charleston, SC)
Circle Back brings that old-school, late-’90s/early-2000s hardcore sound with years of experience behind it. Their frontman, John Marino, has been in the hardcore scene since the ’90s, and these guys have been a huge part of keeping Charleston hardcore alive. Heavy riffs and absolutely no shortage of intensity.
These dudes have shared stages with legends like Madball and Terror, and they’re still going strong. Check out their new album, Built From Bones, and show some love to the Holy City hardcore veterans!
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Tagged: 80 bagg, armbar, circle back, dangerous game, reviler, waste of space
