South of the border from San Diego, Tijuana’s scene is quite a potpourri of heavy music. All of your favorite bands have played here: Terror, Trapped Under Ice, Foundation, Earth Crisis, etc. Name the band, they probably already played here.
Just as in any other city, the pandemic came to disrupt the flow of things and truthfully the scene was a bit left astray for a couple of years. But the scene started to ramp up as of last year, with more shows happening every month. We still have a long way to go, but we’re getting there!
This isn’t a definitive round up of the current bands hailing from the border town, but they’re a few that I know and can back up. If I missed any band, please let me and your friends know.
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Violencia
Remember how teachers at school used to shamefully tell you, “You should know this by now”? This is the case for Violencia.
Currently Tijuana’s most popular band, Violencia have been going at it for quite a few years; taking no shit from people and creating their own sound. You might have seen them on their recent Not So Fun Weekend 2024 tour with acts such as Incendiary, God’s Hate, Suburban Scum, Twitching Tongues, and other bands you’ve probably moshed to.
Having just released their 12-track album Viviendo en Tiempos Aun Mas Oscuros (To Live a Lie Records), the power violence band have expressed their inconformity with media companies trying to control the information we all receive. Be sure to catch them next time they’re in town, you’re in for a great time.
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GRAYOUT
How cool is it when a bunch of musicians who haven’t played in hardcore bands for a few years come together and put out an ass-whooping EP on their own? This is the case for Tijuana’s newest band – GRAYOUT.
Featuring ex-members of Days of Struggle and Bonebreaker, GRAYOUT bill themselves as “dark hardcore” and we can only oblige to this. Recorded and released in 2024, their self-titled EP delivers eight minutes of hatred-filled lyrics with a dose of darkness. This will surely make you want to kick ass in the pit while you’re wearing all black.
In the words of your new favorite up-and-coming band – GRAY THE FUCK OUT!
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Habak
Tijuana’s melodic crust powerhouse is and will be Habak.
Nearly 10 years after their first record Insania came out, Habak is still killing it. Their intense sound melds aggression with melody, touching on hard-to-talk topics such as hopelessness and our society’s imminent decay.
Safe to say, these guys have been killing it. Having just released their split LP with Los Angeles’ Lagrimas, the band just announced a second pressing of their debut record on Persistent Vision Records. Moreover, they’re about to set out for a two-week European run. Needless to say, Habak is the band you need to get into.
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Truth Be Told
I consider myself to be brutally honest when my friends ask for my opinion regarding something. Normally I try to point out things that I think should be worked on, but once I heard the rough mixes for Cronicas I simply couldn’t find something to work on.
Although they’re from Mexicali, we can still consider Truth Be Told a staple for the contemporary Tijuana hardcore scene. The city’s scene is not known for stagediving given the venue’s where shows are put on – but guess who causes the contrary?
This is a hardworking band who self-released 2023’s Cronicas on Little Hammer Records. It’s incredible to know that despite the quality of the recording, this album was recorded in their home. Do yourself a favor and check out Mexicali’s best band.
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A whole other lot of bands to check out are the following (in no particular order):
- Agonista (hardcore punk)
- DFMK (punk rock)
- Ciprés (self described as “hardcore mexicano alaverga perro”)
- Perdición (hardcore punk)
- CÁNIDOS (d-beat)
- 10-59 (d-beat)
- BALACERA (power violence)
- No Grata (hardcore punk)
- Bumbklaatt (hardcore punk)
- The Red Awakening (hardcore)
- Writ (hardcore)
- OGRISH DEMEANOR (black/death)
- The Fire Mystical (rock)
- Animals Revenge (d-beat)
- Espectro (sludge)
- Los Helldandys (rockabilly)
- Silphos
- Vander Decken (post-punk)
- Ritüel For Two (darkwave)
- Melting Lillies (grunge punk)
- Abyssal (funeral doom)
- TASAJO
- Honor and Blood (beatdown)
- Viscerian (beatdown)
If your band or your friend’s band is interested in playing Tijuana, hit up New Lords Booking. You’re in for a good time.
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Tagged: grayout, habak, scene report, truth be told, violencia
