Nearly three decades after first emerging from the Long Island hardcore scene, Overthrow are back with a statement of purpose. Out October 3rd, the band’s new album, Setting the Price, delivers nine tracks that swing hard between metallic ferocity and punk urgency, all anchored by sharp breakdowns and commanding vocals.
Recorded with Chris Fasulo at East Coast Recordings and mastered by Dave Roman at 4130 Mastering, the record channels both confrontation and reflection, drawing on real-world setbacks to create something raw, honest, and unrelenting.
Originally formed in 1995, Overthrow made their mark with a split release on Jamey Jasta's Stillborn Records and their 1999 full-length, React, on Triple Crown before calling it quits in 2001. Sporadic live appearances kept their name alive, but a December 2022 reunion alongside Strife and Shutdown rekindled the fire, inspiring the writing sessions that birthed Setting the Price. The result captures the band’s evolution while honoring the grit that defined their early work—a seasoned return that proves Overthrow still have plenty to say.
No Echo is honored to premiere Setting the Price for our readers here today before its official release day. In addition, we spoke with Overthrow vocalist Chris Ruffini, and guitarist Anthony Salerno and Steve Puccio about the album.
How has your perspective on hardcore evolved over the years? Consider this especially in the context of playing in Overthrow.
(Anthony Salerno, guitar): I think there’s been a progressive shift towards more metal-style hardcore since the '90s, with punk-influenced hardcore still holding strong but not as prominent as it used to be.
Metal/thrash has been a great steward of hardcore, but I also think there’s a wide-open lane for aggressive-style punk to make a huge comeback. The title track, "Setting the Price," is a great example of this, -it’s carrying a message that couldn’t be more relevant today that hits the hardest in that militant-punk style.
(Chris Ruffini, vocals): When we first started in the mid-'90s, for us, or me in particular, I was all about playing as much as possible, and if we weren’t, going to as many shows as I could. In looking back, I feel it was all about intensity and urgency — but I wasn’t in the moment at all. Back then, I just wanted to make our mark.
Now, coming back with Setting the Price, we have a deeper sense of purpose. We understand the weight of what we put into this, musically and lyrically. But also realize that doing this now at this point in our lives is about having fun and enjoying the moment we’re in. The scene is thriving and has so many incredible bands.
You sense the brotherhood that is so incredible to be a part of. What’s different for us now is that we’re bringing more perspective and intention to what we’re doing, without taking things too seriously. Again, Hardcore is about connection — connecting past to present, the younger generation to the older one, and showing that this music still has the power to inspire and challenge people.
Back in the '90s, you really wouldn't see a lot of middle-age people at shows. Now, it’s very mixed, and that’s why it is so powerful right now. Playing in Overthrow again, I see how the scene has evolved but also how it has the same energy and passion — that will never go away.
(Steve Puccio, guitar): For me it has never really changed. Hardcore has always been and hopefully always will be a grassroots, underground genre of music that is pure.
In what ways is Setting the Price both a tradition of the Overthrow sound, and a progression of that sound?
(Anthony Salerno): Setting the Price holds true to our original sound, blending metal and punk influences together, and continues to lean heavily into breakdowns similar to React. The biggest difference this time around is the addition of a guitar lead, with Steve adding a lot of depth and body to everything we collectively write. Earlier songs veered abruptly from faster style, punk-influenced riffs into more metallic chugging breakdowns, -we do that this time around with a lot more finesse, and with our heavier songs hitting a lot harder.
(Chris Ruffini): Setting the Price definitely keeps the core of what Overthrow always sounded like — aggressive, fast, and heavy. We didn’t want to lose that energy that defined us back in the 90s with React. But at the same time, it’s not just a copy of what we did before. We’ve grown as musicians and as people, so the songs hit harder in some places, but they’ve also have more layers and thought behind them.
We now have a lead guitarist, Steve, that adds another dimension to our sound, providing depth that we didn’t have as a four-piece. It’s still us— but the progression is in how we’ve evolved, and pushed ourselves a little further, and written with more purpose. It feels like the natural next step, even if there’s a big gap between records.
Lyrically, we still hit on socioeconomic issues, but have songs about overcoming adversity and building from within. There are songs on this album that are some of the heaviest we have ever wrote, to the most melodic. I feel with us growing and having a different lens than we did back in the '90s allowed us to write these songs more organically.
We have songs like "End Complete" and "Anywhere but Here" that are intense, and heavy, with mosh parts all over-to songs like "Remembrance" and "Final Design," that are more melodic and progressive in terms of what we have ever written. Then more of the in-your-face, fast hardcore like "Tribute" and "Setting the Price." But in the end, it all sounds like us in one cohesive record, with more depth.
(Steve Puccio): I think the whole album is built on the fundamentals of what Overthrow always was but has added extra layers and surprises that makes it that much more interesting.
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Setting the Price will be out on October 3rd (order here).
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