Band: Afflicted Past
From: Chicago, Illinois
Their formation story:
(Ace, bass): "The formation of this project was pretty unexpected. Cristian (vocals) and I have been friends for years, and we've always shared a love for '90s and 2000s hardcore and beatdown. We've both spent years playing in deathcore and metalcore bands, so we eventually decided it was time to step outside our comfort zones and try something different.
"Since our favorite band is Hatebreed, we thought Afflicted Past would be fitting for the project name, and there wasn't any other band name in line with it. It was Afflicted Past and nothing else."
Their sound in their own words:
"Afflicted Past is a mix of '90s and 2000s hardcore and beatdown. We take a lot of inspiration from bands like Hatebreed, Shattered Realm, I.E.D., Bodybag, Death Before Dishonor, 100 Demons, and Terror. We wanted to capture that straightforward sound that made us fall in love with hardcore in the first place."
Latest release info:
"Our debut EP, Born Into Exile, is for anyone who's ever felt like their life was taken away from them and wants to take it back. Whether it's due to politics, mental health, heartbreak, or anything else that has made you feel disconnected from who you are.
"The entire EP was written, recorded, mixed, and mastered in about a month. We were eager to get this project off the ground and put music out into the world. Hardcore is something we're both incredibly passionate about, so we didn't want to waste any time getting started."
Future plans:
"For the remainder of 2026 and into early 2027, we're looking to expand the project and bring the right people on board so we can finally take Afflicted Past to the stage.
"Alongside building a live lineup, we also plan on working toward new music with the individuals who become part of the project. We're excited to see where things go from here."
What other bands from their region should we check out?
"There's a lot of great bands representing the Chicago hardcore scene right now. We'd definitely like to shout out Spare No Mercy, Trust in the Serpent, Rites of Torment, and Shoot The Hostage. Show them some love!"
Afflicted Past on social media: Instagram
Tagged: afflicted past
