New York’s Combust, Tokyo’s Blow Your Brains Out, and Brighton, UK’s Imposter have joined forces for United Nations, a new three-way split EP out now via Streets of Hate Records.
Though it just came out today, United Nations has been on repeat. It's a powerful showing by all three outfits, bringing their respective corners of the international hardcore scene together on one release. Hopefully, we see more releases like this coming from other parts of the globe.
If you’ve been reading No Echo for a while, you probably already know how much I love Blow Your Brains Out. Their excellent debut LP, The Big Escape, landed on my 12 Best Hardcore Records of 2023 list. The group's sound is steeped in NYHC influences like Cro-Mags, Dmize, and Killing Time.
Back in a 2023 No Echo interview, I asked Blow Your Brains Out bassist Yusukedge about his favorite hardcore demo, and his answer said it all: “It comes to mind first because, even though it's a demo, it became the band's masterpiece.”
If you haven't done so already, you need to dig into what these dudes are doing.
Imposter formed in Brighton in 2017; the UK band mix hardcore and punk with a strong black metal streak.
Their debut LP, Oblivion Opens, arrived in 2024 through Quality Control HQ, who memorably described their sound as something like Bathory incorporating Cold as Life. How about that?!
United Nations, features Combust's newest material since Belly of the Beast, which I included as a pick on my Best Hardcore Albums of 2025 list. Vocalist Andrew Vacante describes the split as “tangible evidence that real hardcore has a worldwide impact.” That's a fitting way to describe the new EP.
In related news, Combust will head to Europe for two runs this fall. The band will join NYHC veterans Madball for eight dates in October before returning in November for an extensive tour with Spy.
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United Nations is available on streaming now.
Combust with Madball:
10/03 — Heerlen, NL @ De Nieuwe Nor
10/04 — Chemnitz, DE @ AJZ Chemnitz
10/05 — Budapest, HU @ Dürer Kert
10/06 — Brașov, RO @ Rockstadt Club
10/07 — Bucharest, RO @ Quantic Club
10/08 — Belgrade, RS @ Zappa Barka
10/09 — Sofia, BG @ Toplocentrala
10/10 — Athens, GR @ Arch Club Live Stage
Combust with SPY:
11/13 — Munich, DE @ Kafe Kult
11/14 — Schweinfurt, DE @ Stabruch Fest
11/15 — Berlin, DE @ Neue Zukunft
11/16 — Vechta, DE @ Gulfhaus
11/17 — Bochum, DE @ Die Trompete
11/18 — Antwerp, BE @ Kavka
11/19 — Paris, FR @ Glazart
11/20 — Eindhoven, NL @ Revolution Calling
11/21 — Hanover, DE @ Bei Chez Heinz
11/22 — Prague, CZ @ Rock Café
11/24 — Bratislava, SK @ Pink Whale
11/25 — Vienna, AT @ Arena
11/26 — Poznań, PL @ Pod Minogą
11/27 — Warsaw, PL @ Hydrozagadka
11/28 — Kraków, PL @ Zaścianek
United Nations is available now through Streets of Hate Records and on streaming platforms.
Tagged: blow your brains out, combust, imposter
