How’d the band start?

Koen: We’ve been jamming together since like year 9 or 10 originally doing stuff like “Rage Against The Machine” covers and stuff like that, just playing school shows under the name “Office Job”. Eventually we decided we’d enter the Smokefree Rockquest, under the name “Nile”. After our performance at Rockquest we were reached out to by Sara Rose who invited us to play Hamtown Smakdown 2022. We were made aware there was a band already named Nile and then made our final switch to “Cease & Desist”.

What’s the local hardcore scene like?

Caleb: It is very welcoming. I’ve met a lot of good people and made a lot of friends in this scene. It’s the only music scene where you can have one of the most deep and meaningful chats with someone in the venue parking lot and then give that same person the bash to a band called “Hate feeder” or something. Bloody brilliant.

How does Hamilton treat young punk bands?

Caleb: I would say very well, Hamilton especially. When we first started we were always getting show offers from bands we looked up to. And walking after our set everyone would tell us how good we sounded and how far we were going to go. I would say younger bands are just as respected as older bands. The scene is very welcoming to anyone of any race or identity. And there will always be an audience for any genre you wanna make.

Explain hardcore to a swiftie

Caleb: Invisible ninja fighting music for people with low iq.

How is the hardcore attitude & culture different to punk?

Hardcore originally stems from punk, and over time has evolved into what it is today. It borrows some of the lyrical themes and DIY ethic of punk and combines it with riffs influenced by all kinds of metal, as well as slower and heavier grooves. It basically is a grey area between punk and metal.

Who inspired your sound?

A mix of Old and New school hardcore/beatdown bands, such as Sunami, XweaponX, Harms Way, Six Ft Ditch, Pain of Truth and just general drop C riffage.

How gnarly are the moshes getting?

Caleb: I love how crowd killing is getting more and more frequent at every show I go to. Push pits are out, kicking someone in the crowd and spilling their $12 beer is in.

Favourite NZ bands?

Oliver: Drop Off Point, Martial Law, Xile, Antagonist AD, and Lucre

Coolest drum technique to come from hardcore?

Caleb: Honestly hitting a bell before a breakdown has to be my favourite but a good ol blast beat comes in at a close second.

Best distortion pedal for your music?

Oliver: Most Hardcore/Heavy bands get their distortion from amps like 5150s with a boost in front.

How fried is Koen’s voice at the end of the set?

Koen: Picture a grandpa who has been smoking since WW1 and then he ate a light bulb.

What kind of lyrical themes are common in hardcore?

Koen: It’s like any music really. You can write about whatever you like, but a lot of the old school stuff is about community and brotherhood, basically how hardcore is a safe inclusive scene for anyone. Except bigots.

What does your writing/song-making process look like?

Koen: Gathered in a storage unit spitballing riffs that we can eventually structure into a song. Then I just write lyrics to it after.

How do you prepare for gigs and what are you up to after?

Caleb: For any upcoming gigs we usually do a practice or two leading up to the show. As for what we do after shows we all just eat really greasy food and sleep.

Any local bands/musicians worth a shoutout?

Caleb: A few great bands are Martial Law, Drop off point, and Hoon who are killing it in the all ages scene right now, as well as Crunch DIY who runs all the all ages stuff and sets up all the youth shows, they’re keeping the all ages scene thriving in hamilton.

Working on any projects atm?

Koen: We’re actually in the process of recording our debut EP. We’re hoping to have it released around winter.

Any gigs coming up?

Koen: We’ve got a gig coming up this weekend on May 2nd in Auckland.* We’ll be joining our mates in “Parasitic Infestation” who just released their album KILLZONE. Caleb and I’s other band Nuclear Blunt will also be playing (Shameless self plug).

(*This show may have passed by the time this interview is released)

How can students get involved in the gnarlier music scenes of Hams?

Koen: Keep an eye out for posters, people plaster them all over the place. Also the “New Zealand Hardcore Past & Present” instagram + facebook pages are always posting up gigs. In summary just pull up to a local show, there’s pretty much monthly shows.

Oliver: Crunch Diy holds regular all-ages shows in Mesoverse, by Victoria on the river (although these shows could stop any day now, due to Mesoverse being shut down), as well as Last Place, which is Hamilton’s other go-to venue.