HardLore

Chris Conley: Saves The Day, New Jersey Hardcore & Overcoming Hitting Rock Bottom

We're joined his week to by Chris Conley, the founder, vocalist, and songwriter of Saves The Day for a comprehensive, career retrospective conversation… Featuring special guest co-host, Dr. Britty Drake of Pity Sex.In this true 3.5 hour epic, we start from the beginning and deep deep into Chris and STD’s entire history… From discovering punk through free tickets to a Rancid show, instinctively writing music the second he touched a guitar, Sefler’s humble origin and demo quickly evolving into Saves The Day, working with Steve Evetts and Equal Vision records, Lifetime’s influence on the early days and Can’t Slow Down, dropping out of school to tour on Through Being Cool, taking a leap into the mainstream with Stay What You Are, the harsh reality check of In Reverie, all the way up to feeling “resurrected” by his family in 2026 and finding new ways to handle his lifelong battle with depression.A true feast of information for any fan of the band, Chris, hardcore, punk, emo or beyond… Thank you to Chris and Britty for joining us.___________HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.Shot, Mixed & Edited by Steven GriseTitle sequence by Nicholas Marzluf • Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episode.• Join the HARDLORE DISCORD.• Get 10% off GUILTY PARTY site-wide with code HARDLORE and grab some of our favorite clothing brands of all time.• Get 10% off MILLS VINTAGE site-wide with code HARDLORE.• Visit GUITAR SANCTUARY for all of your guitar, amp, or pedal needs.00:00:00 - Start00:01:22 - Chris Conley00:02:24 - Discovering Music in New Jersey00:08:58 - Developing His Songwriting Chops00:11:24 - Everything Comes From Hardcore00:13:47 - The Show That Changed It All...00:19:09 - New Jersey Word Association00:28:56 - How Sefler Became SAVES THE DAY00:34:13 - Saves The Day's First Hardcore Show00:36:48 - Sefler00:38:20 - Saves The Day's Relationship With Steve Evetts00:41:44 - Equal Vision Records00:43:21 - CAN'T SLOW DOWN00:51:38 - Pardon This Interruption...00:55:04 - Favorite Fret00:57:37 - Evolving as a Teenage Lyricist01:04:41 - First U.S. Tour with Bane01:10:08 - The Story Behind "I'm Sorry I'm Leaving"01:12:22 - Attending NYU01:15:26 - Dropping out of NYU01:16:57 - Can't Slow Down Songs that Resonate with Chris Now01:18:20 - "Blindfolded"01:20:35 - "Always Ten Feet Tall"01:21:04 - THROUGH BEING COOL01:30:50 - The Iconic Through Being Cool Album Cover01:32:26 - "Shoulder to the Wheel"01:35:31 - Saves the Day's First Consistent Lineup01:37:24 - Shoulder To The Wheel Music Video01:38:31 - Pop Punk vs. Emo01:45:34 - "Banned From The Back Porch"01:49:44 - Tours On Through Being Cool01:51:39 - Vocal Conditioning & Early Voice Changes01:55:12 - Reflecting on Through Being Cool01:57:10 - "Sell My Old Clothes, I'm Off To Heaven"01:58:06 - STAY WHAT YOU ARE02:01:41 - "At Your Funeral" & Working With Rob Schnapf02:07:53 - Chris' Voice Changing02:09:15 - Stay What You Are 25 Years Later02:11:06 - Growth Over The Years02:19:20 - Criticism After In Reverie02:22:19 - IN REVERIE02:24:39 - Dreamworks02:27:38 - In Reverie's Cursed Roll Out and Release02:30:50 - Fatherhood Changing His Perspective02:31:41 - UPS AND DOWNS02:34:50 - Trilogy Chapter 1: SOUND THE ALARM02:43:05 - Formulating the Idea for This Trilogy02:45:50 - Trilogy Chapter 2: UNDER THE BOARDS02:47:31 - Touring On The Records02:50:28 - Trillogy Chapter 3: DAYBREAK (GOATED)02:54:54 - Dealing With Criticism02:58:10 - S/T02:59:51 - Re-Signing to Equal Vision03:02:58 - Five Year Gap Before 903:07:51 - Feeling "Resurrected" in 2026 Thanks to His Wife03:15:15 - Next Chapter For Chris & Saves The Day03:18:45 - Top 4 Hardcore Records

Jade Puget: AFI, Creating Their Signature Sound & Surviving Mainstream Success

In this highly anticipated next chapter with one of our favorite bands, HardLore is finally joined by Jade Puget: the man who was instrumental in defining the iconic AFI sound. Featuring special guest co-host Alec Faber of God’s Hate, Twitching Tongues and Holy Blade.Following our legendary two part special with Davey Havok, we’re honored to share Jade’s side of the greater AFI story… Starting from the beginning with Jade discovering punk & hardcore in Ukiah, CA alongside his brother Smith, his days in Redemption 87, joining AFI and creating their definitive sound with his work on Black Sails in the Sunset, the surprising legacy of the All Hallows EP, his (and the band’s) frustrations with Nitro Records, the opportune timing of Art of Drowning, the cultural phenomenon of Sing the Sorrow and continuing success of Decemberunderground, the agony of Crash Love, the triumph of Burials, all the way to re-defining the AFI sound with Silver Bleeds the Black Sun.It was an honor and a joy to finally chat about all things AFI and hardcore with Jade, and we can only hope you enjoy this 3 hour chat as much as we did.______________HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.Shot, edited and mixed by Steven Grise Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf • Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes• Join the HARDLORE DISCORD • Get 15% off DUNABLE GUITARS with code HARDLORE. Seriously. A guitar. What are you waiting for??? • Get 15% off TIMELESS COFFEE site-wide and grab a bag of my favorite beans and the best vegan cookies I’ve ever had: ______________00:00:00 - Start00:01:38 - Jade Puget00:03:10 - Discovering Punk and Hardcore in Ukiah00:06:28 - Skateboarding & The Muhammad Ollie00:12:57 - Straight Edge & The Way It Is Compilation00:18:05 - Redemption 8700:24:21 - Becoming Aware of AFI00:28:04 - Joining AFI & Writing BLACK SAILS IN THE SUNSET00:34:30 - Jade’s Favorite Fret & Restraint in Songwriting00:38:03 - The AFI Sound00:43:10 - All Hallows EP00:51:01 - AFI, Danzig, Samhain Tour00:57:38 - Art Of Drowning01:06:36 - Commercial Success And Overall Shock01:09:20 - SING THE SORROW & Slowing Down the AFISound01:13:20 - Jerry Finn & Butch Vig01:21:21 - Sing The Sorrow’s Electronics (Fruity Loops)01:26:48 - Leaving Song 2 & Initially Hearing Sing the Sorrow Finished01:31:34 - MTV New Years Eve With Three Six Mafia01:32:59 - Leaving Song 2 Video01:37:46 - Sing The Sorrow’s Release Into DECEMBERUNDERGROUND01:44:17 - Picking the Singles for DECEMBERUNDERGROUND 01:47:59 - Butch Vig Declining to Work on the Album01:50:54 - Writing 120 Songs & The “Hardcore Club”01:57:00 - The Whirlwind of Decemberunderground into the Agony of CRASH LOVE02:01:15 - Blaqk Audio/Crash Love Coinciding and “Stripping Down” AFI02:11:51 - Sing The Sorrow At The Forum02:17:25 - The Triumph of BURIALS02:24:13 - The Blood Album & Producing AFI02:28:18 - Silver Bleeds the Black Sun & Evolving the AFI Sound02:39:22 - BODIES & AFI in 202002:43:05 - Birdlegs & Getting His Revelation Star02:46:23 - Jade's Insane Chipotle Order lololololol02:51:51 - Top 4 Hardcore Records02:54:22 - A Les Paul Epilogue For Bo

Patrick Walker of WARNING & 40 Watt Sun’s First Ever Podcast Interview

It is my tremendous honor to be joined by Patrick Walker of Warning and 40 Watt Sun for what is not only first ever non-print interview, but also HardLore's first ever 1 on 1 interview with a guest.In this appropriately intimate chat, we discuss his humble upbringing in Harlow, Essex UK.From the Jackson 5 and Tears For Fears to Revelation and Saint Vitus, we discover how Patrick's emotional connection with music flourished, and how he evolved into someone i've always considered to be one of the most personal and deliberate songwriters in the world. We learn the canonical standing of Warning and 40 Watt Sun in Patrick's point of view, the 20 year lasting legacy of "Watching From A Distance" and why now was finally time to return to Warning for "Rituals of Shame."After years of championing Patrick's work both on and off HardLore, it was an honor not only to have this chat, but to share more about someone whose work I admire so much. Thanks for watching._______________HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.Shot, mixed and edited by ⁠Steven Grise⁠Title sequence by ⁠Nicholas Marzluf⁠• Join the ⁠HARDLORE PATREON⁠ to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes.• Join the ⁠HARDLORE DISCORD• Get 15% off DUNABLE GUITARS with code HARDLORE. Seriously. A guitar. What are you waiting for??? 00:00:00 - Start00:01:12 - Patrick Walker00:02:47 - Finding Music in Harlow, Essex00:04:59 - Doom Metal & Discovering the Guitar00:09:41 - Emotional Connections to Music00:15:22 - WARNING00:18:41 - Revelation Looms Demo00:22:59 - Blessed By The Sabbath00:23:48 - The Strength To Dream00:27:07 - Patrick's Favorite Fret00:30:39 - Re-Approaching Warning00:33:10 - Watching From A Distance00:43:20 - The "Footprints Moment"00:45:42 - Vulnerability in Public-Facing Art00:48:27 - Pardon This Interruption...00:49:48 - Touring In America / Patrick's Love of Food00:56:51 - Patrick on Modern Doom Metal00:58:17 - 40 WATT SUN01:09:33 - Changes In Touring Solo01:12:16 - Rituals of Shame01:23:27 - Patrick on Spirituality01:25:29 - Top 4 Doom Metal Records

Pete Morcey: 100 Demons, Blood For Blood & The Evolution of Connecticut Hardcore

Destiny has come: After being officially crowned the hardest hardcore band of all time in our official tournament bracket… We’re finally joined by the great Pete Morcey, vocalist of 100 DEMONS for a long form, sit-down interview.We’re ALSO joined by special guest co-host Dan Seely of King Nine, for his historic 5th full-length appearance on a HardLore episode.We start from the beginning of Pete’s nearly 40 year musical career, from making the “definitive American oi record” in Forced Reality, spearheading heavy hardcore in Connecticut with Higher Force, joining 100 Demons and writing the iconic self-titled record, his dark folk masterpiece that is Murmur’s The Boundless Black, all the way to now singing for Blood For Blood, and making 100 Demons’ first record in 22 years, Embrace the Black Light.Thanks to Pete, Dan, and the Detroit Masonic Temple for having us.__________HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.Edited by Steven Grise (https://www.instagram.com/iamonenineseven/) • Title sequence by Nicholas Marzluf (https://www.instagram.com/marzluf/)• Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes: https://patreon.com/hardlorepod • Join the HARDLORE DISCORD: https://discord.gg/jA9rppggef • Get 10% off GUILTY PARTY site-wide with code HARDLORE and grab some of our favorite clothing brands of all time: https://www.guiltyparty.co/ • Get 10% off MILLS VINTAGE site-wide with code HARDLORE: https://www.millsvintageusa.com/• Get tickets for LOUDER THAN LIFE Festival! Can’t wait to see you all there: https://louderthanlifefestival.com/.________________00:00:00 - Start00:01:22 - Pete Morcey00:02:51 - Finding Punk & Hardcore in Connecticut00:17:50 - FORCED REALITY, Pete’s First Band, Defining American Oi!00:14:28 - Jocko Willink & The Connecticut Skinhead Crew00:29:00 - Forced Reality S/T & Tours00:33:22 - Sean Martin00:34:57 - HIGHER FORCE, Connecticut’s First HARD Band00:39:42 - Higher Force’s Very Confusing Discography00:43:08 - Pete Morcey: Classically Trained Opera Singer00:48:00 - The End of Higher Force & Beginning of 100 DEMONS00:51:50 - Morcey’s Restaurant & The Tuna Pita00:54:00 - Pardon this interruption…00:57:03 - The Lost Higher Force LP00:59:27 - 100 DEMONS - Self-Titled01:08:36 - His Fathers Son to Cold Wind of the Crossroads01:14:50 - Recording New 100 Demons after 22 Years01:21:00 - Larry Dwyer’s Cinnamon Challenge01:24:24 - Growing as a Vocalist & Lyricist01:31:17 - Pete’s Haunted House01:37:35 - A Visit From Bo01:46:55 - Joining Blood for Blood01:54:50 - MURMUR (Pete’s Masterpiece)02:03:24 - IG! And the IGfits!02:10:13 - Pete’s Most Personal Creative Endeavor02:20:55 - Top 4 Hardcore Records

Ray Cappo: Youth of Today, Shelter, Straight Edge & The Search for Spirituality

We’re back… HardLore returns with a very special episode in honor of our late co-host, friend, and brother, Bo Lueders. Youth of Today was Bo’s favorite hardcore band of all time, and a constant through-line on this show since the beginning. Now, we’re finally joined by YoT/Shelter vocalist and trailblazer of straight edge as a movement: RAY CAPPO, for a 3.5 hour career retrospective interview.It doesn’t end there, as our first ever guest co-host is also extra special, we’re joined by Harms Way vocalist James Pligge (aka “Youth Crew James”) to round out this perfect tribute to our fallen friend.We start from the very beginning in Danbury, CT, where Ray and Violent Children got a historic head-start from an opportune visit to a radio station, discovering Hare Krishna through Harley Flanagan, meeting Porcell and evolving into Youth of Today and spreading straight edge all around the world, thoroughly BREAK DOWN the Youth of Today discography, founding Revelation AND Equal Vision Records, and the spiritual path that lead to the end of Youth of Today and the humble origin of Shelter.The goal remains the same, carry on the love and dedication for our favorite bands that we’ve shown every week the last 4 years… But with the new mission of honoring Bo every step of the way. Enjoy._______________HardLore: A Knotfest Series, fueled by Monster Energy.Shot, mixed and edited by Steven GriseTitle sequence by Nicholas Marzluf• Join the HARDLORE PATREON to watch every single weekly episode early and ad-free, alongside exclusive monthly episodes.• Join the HARDLORE DISCORD• Get 10% off MILLS VINTAGE site-wide with code HARDLORE• Get 10% off GUILTY PARTY site-wide with code HARDLORE and grab some of our favorite clothing brands of all time.______________00:00:00 - Start00:03:09 - Discovering Punk And Hardcore00:10:00 - Violent Children & Darryl on the Radio00:17:50 - Harley Flanagan & Reflex From Pain00:29:24 - Porcell00:33:25 - Hare Krishna, Straight Edge & The Lower East Side00:39:09 - Youth of Today00:50:29 - Pardon This Interruption00:53:04 - Can’t Close My Eyes01:11:41 - Youth Crew as a Movement01:12:46 - We Just Might01:22:21 - Touring on Can’t Close My Eyes01:26:56 - Wishingwell Records01:29:42 - Break Down The Walls01:40:15 - Record Collecting & Trade Currency01:50:19 - Revelation Records01:57:00 - Break Down The Walls Cont.02:10:30 - Break Down The Walls Tour02:21:12 - The Girl Next Door Soundtrack02:22:25 - We're Not In This Alone02:39:48 - “No More” Music Video02:45:21 - We're Not In This Alone Tour, Formation of Shelter02:55:14 - Renouncing the World via Shelter03:02:09 - Equal Vision Records & Krishnacore03:05:00 - Mantra03:18:21 - Shelter After Mantra03:26:24 - Breaking Edge03:33:04 - Top 4 Hardcore Records of All Time