Cold Steel

Cold Steel is a New York-based hardcore/metal outfit known for their unrelenting energy and razor-sharp riffs. Formed in 2015, the group—vocalist Mike Shaw, guitarist Alex Torres, bassist Jenna Kim, and drummer Tomás Rivera—carves out a punishing blend of metallic hardcore with lyrics tackling systemic injustice and personal catharsis. They’ve built a reputation through sweat-drenched DIY shows and collaborations with bands like Fury and Incendiary, dropping gnarly splits and EPs that bridge old-school NYHC grit with modern metallic ferocity.

Recent releases like *Discipline & Punish* (2022) and *Smoking Mirrors* (2023) showcase their evolution into darker, more technical territory, while staying rooted in hardcore’s raw urgency. Tracks like “Blacksmith of Damnation” and “Will of Spiritual Cleansing” pair pummeling breakdowns with Shaw’s visceral bark, reflecting themes of resistance and self-reckoning. Independent labels like Closed Casket Activities have backed their no-frills approach, letting Cold Steel’s music—and their famously chaotic live sets—do the talking.