Perth’s isolation has always bred a certain intensity, and Forged By Fear wear that lineage proudly. Made up of longtime friends who’ve spent years crossing paths in various hardcore bands, the Perth, Western Australia, outfit came together without much ceremony—but with plenty of shared history. “There’s nothing exciting behind it,” vocalist Griffo admits. “The four of us have been friends for almost decades now from playing in various hardcore bands together. We basically just got in contact to see if everyone was keen, and luckily enough, everyone was.”
That familiarity translates directly into the band’s sound. Forged By Fear deal in a bruising strain of metallic hardcore that feels both classic and dangerous, pulling from the grim heft of Cleveland staples like Integrity and Ringworm while channeling the swagger and bite of Texas crossover thrash à la Iron Age and Power Trip. According to Griffo, none of that was calculated. “Our goal was just to do the sort of hardcore/crossover band we’d all want to listen to as fans of the music ourselves.”
That approach comes through loud and clear on Cruelest Creature, the band’s four-track EP/demo released on cassette by the always-reliable Aussie label, Life.Lair.Regret.Records.
Visually, the release is just as sharp, with artwork handled by Eyedust and layout duties taken on by Griffo himself. Lyrically, the EP doesn’t stick to a single concept; instead, it touches on themes like environmental collapse, mental health struggles, human greed, and—because this is hardcore—Star Wars. It’s blunt, personal, and unpretentious in the best way.
Looking ahead, Forged By Fear are already hard at work on new material, with local shows lined up for 2026 and hopes of eventually making it across to the other side of Australia. For now, they’re firmly rooted in Perth—also known as Boorloo—and proud of the scene that surrounds them.
Griffo is quick to shout out fellow local bands, including Lokka, No Future, The Chain, Concrete Bomb, Gaoled, Day of Demise, Intro, Crosscheck, Iron Eater, Total Defeat, Gob, Betrayed By Life, Dirtywork, Engage, Blinder, Hysteria, Carbon Copy, Shattered, Warden, End It All, Termite, Chalked, Closed Off, No Pity, Sevenish, Woodbridge, Pensive, No Brainer, Ratking, From The Ruins, The Others, and Miles Away.
For a city often defined by its distance, Forged By Fear sound anything but disconnected. Cruelest Creature is a short, vicious statement that makes it clear Perth hardcore is alive, loud, and ready to be heard.
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Cruelest Creature is available on cassette via Life.Lair.Regret.Records.
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