The last time I covered Home Invasion on No Echo was when I included their debut LP, Enemy, on my Best Hardcore Albums of 2024 list.
I'm psyched to welcome the Chicago crew back to the site today with the release of their brand new 4-song self-titled EP. "It’s been a long and fun year for us," vocalist James tells me about Home Invasion's recent happenings. "Emilio from Reality Check (shout out Milwaukee Hardcore) is playing bass with us now. Bunch of shows around the Midwest. We were fortunate to play Rust Belt Ripper Fest in Cleveland and FYA in Orlando. Lot's of gambling."
If you aren't hip to them yet, Home Invasion features musicians who have also played in such bands as Noose, Guts and Glory, and Contempt. Their sound has been compared to the likes of Negative Approach and Think I Care, so expect nothing but hardcore punk of the ripping order.
I’m a big believer in the “if it ain't broke, don’t fix it” way of thinking when it comes to hardcore. The songs on the new EP sound like the natural continuation from the Enemy material. I ask guitarist Andy what the mindset was going into the writing phase of the record:
"I think the rest of the band would agree that writing with each other is genuinely fun and easy. We actually wrote all of the songs for this EP in a 2-3 week period, after we had booked time to record."
James also offers this up about their creative process: "I'm still kinda surprised at how writing in this band comes together pretty smoothly, when we decide to write songs, we draw on each of our individual talents; unfortunately each one of us are completely talentless, but it seems like we all bring the one piece of the puzzle that the other is missing and what could be an arduous task ends up being a track that sounds exactly like it should without having to bang our heads against the wall too much."
My favorite track on the new record is “Intoxicate,” which features what I am referring to as a mosh part fake-out around the 1-minute mark. Those are the kinds of dynamics that make songs memorable. "It’s funny, I can’t pinpoint a specific inspiration for that riff, but I can say that I had been listening to a decent array of bands when I came up with it," says Andy. "Government Warning, Knife Fight, and Coke Bust, to name a few."
James tries to pinpoint the specific influence behind the EP's opening track. "I don't know if it comes across, but there's a lot of Burning Spirits hardcore in 'Intoxicate' to me, it's got that uplifting 'fight the oppressors' feeling to the music, the lyrics kind of touch on that feeling of homogenization of culture and assimilation of spirit by the overlords.
"Every group is so connected now by the internet, nothing is really underground anymore, but it still makes me want to shave a mohawk in my head, wear spiky leather and listen to Bastard; unfortunately male pattern baldness has told me that I am literally too old for that subversion, so I will shave my head and write songs like this instead [laughs]."
The Home Invasion cover art is also in the same stylistic wheelhouse as Enemy. I asked Andy how the collaboration with artist Keith Caves works; does the band hit him with some kind of concept, or does he present ideas to them and go from there?
"Keith is genuinely an incredible artist, I don’t have enough good things to say about him. For the LP, we pitched a lost concept to him which he nailed. This time around, I sent him the songs and didn’t have any inspiration for art, and Keith came up with the concept and once again made something we all loved."
Home Invasion chose to not follow the usual pre-release hype plan route bands/labels take for new records, but how much of that was by design? "I like to think we have a no bullshit approach to the band," Andy bluntly answers.
"We do this because we love it, and while we could probably benefit from being more practical or organized that’s not what it’s about for us. We all treat the band as a break from the grind, rather than a side hustle."
James says: "For our prepared response to the media regarding our release schedule, please call 833.HM.INVSN (833.464.6876)"
I ask James what we can expect from Home Invasion for the rest of 2025. "There are few big things before the end of the year for us, can't speak on them yet, but they will be cool. We're gonna do a run in October from Texas to Minnesota, cause why not? And to anyone reading, we will play your basement as soon as you book it, I don't care who shows up."
Before I close our conversation out, James hits me with his favorite hardcore releases of the year so far, and he didn't stutter: "2025 Certified Bangers: Alienator - Meat Locker, Street Power - Me Time, Coronary - M.A.D.ness, and Survival Tactic - Demo."
***
The Home Invasion EP is out now as a one-sided 7" with a silkscreened B-side and a vinyl-only bonus track via WAR Records. The label has also compiled both the EP and Enemy on one limited edition cassette.
(hit the link quick if you want to grab a test pressing!)
Tagged: home invasion
