Photo credit: Errick Easterday

If Tuned Up had a collective of flagship record labels, Blood and Ink Records woud probably be involved. Why? Because when I see that name pop up, I just know the band involved is going to be good. Could be psychological association with a brand name, or it could be that this label is just darn good at signing bands. We choose to believe the latter, and one of those bands we knew were going to be good from the get-go is Debtor.

Debtor’s brand of melodic hardcore and punk is no stranger to the legacy of Cornerstone Festival. Here at Tuned Up some writers have used the term spirit-filled hardcore, something we do not use lightly – Debtor fits this bill. Check out the 90 seconds of chaos below and tell us if you agree, and go watch their set (or better yet, throw down in the pit) at Audiofeed. Get to know the band via Alan of the band, below in our interview. Oh, and John Gaskill of Life in Your Way and Reap & Sow will be playing drums for them at the fest. Cool, eh?

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZD9A4ki6ic[/youtube]

Who would play your ideal festival and where would it be?

For me (Alan), it would be a mix of old spirit-filled hardcore bands like xdisciplex A.D., with modern fast melodic hardcore bands like Mindset, and some heavy early 2000s metalcore thrown in for good measure. The Fest would be held in the New Jerusalem because when you have a resurrection body that can’t die, the mosh gets real. Maybe the whole thing could end with a ninja worship rave.

What is your favorite music released this year thus far? What are you looking forward to?

I dig the new Praise album; meaning, the band called Praise from Maryland, (not a worship album). Also the new Weekend Nachos. I’m looking forward to the new King’s Kaleidoscope album that’s coming out later this year, they are an incredible band that Audiofeed should absolutely try to book next year.

What summer movie are you most looking forward to?

I don’t know.

Assume I know NOTHING about your band. In one sentence, why should I listen to you?

We pray desperately over ADHD-fueled melodically layered hardcore as we try to die to ourselves.

Who on the Audiofeed lineup are you most stoked about this year and why?

It’s always great to see the Blood and Ink fam, obviously, and all our friends from Takehold and Unified Underground. If I’m not mistaken, the lineup also includes more of the old guard of punk bands from this scene, like The Blamed, the Huntingtons, and the Scurvies. I’ve listened to a number of Bad Christian podcasts so I think it’ll be fun to have those guys, too.

If your band had a mission statement, what would it say?

I want to make music that tears down our self-righteousness and self-sufficiency until we have no refuge but Christ.

What band from your area do more people need to hear? That most Audiofeed attendees (and beyond) would not have heard of.

If you like dark hardcore bands that sound like Cursed, look up Sovereign. Cetus is a heavy but technical metal band from our area that nobody knows, and they will blow your mind. Also, there’s a new band in Maryland called Wither doing some interesting things, some cats from Unified Underground.

What song do you hear and immediately think “Summer!”?

Anything by Blindside or Five Iron Frenzy.

What is something you’ve been learning on your life or faith journey lately?

Patience. As always, my sin runs deeper than I expected, and I can never give up fighting it if I hope to bless those closest to me instead of hurting them, and to serve the world.