“Hardcore’s for f***in’ freaks, that’s it.” Those words close out the spoken word track “Calling Card,” a manifesto for the intent of this band and this album if I’ve ever heard one.

New Jersey’s GEL are part of the new wave of hardcore, including bands like DRAIN, SCOWL, Soul Glo, Zulu, and MSPAINT, who are re-energizing the scene for a new generation. Coming up under titans like Turnstile, who started in hardcore and now are headlining festivals with an evolved sound, GEL seek to emulate the good vibes of their forebears by creating a scene that is open to ‘freaks’ who are willing to dive in (sometimes literally) to the chaos and madness of the live show. Because ultimately, this kind of music is meant to be experienced live.

With their quick switches between 90’s influenced riffs and double time drumming, Only Constant is the soundtrack for a live hardcore show creating the right tempo and backdrop for two-stepping, pit dancing, and stage diving. And typically, the audience is as much a part of the event as the band. Watch any set from the ever-popular hate5six YouTube channel and you’ll see that in this scene, there are times when the line between audience and band is indiscernible.

This album is a brisk 16 minutes long, which has become about standard for this style of hardcore. It goes hard, it goes fast, and it’s easy to just let it roll around to another replay. The riffs aren’t too complex, but their groove is undeniable. And Zach Miller is probably the best drummer in hardcore today. Lyrically, despite what many people might deem as “angry music,” hardcore can be one of the most encouraging genres of music (which is why it has such a dedicated following). And Only Constant is no exception.

GEL is touring this record now; be sure to catch them if you can. And although the vinyl is ALREADY sold out, cassettes and CD’s are still available (for now). Follow GEL and stream Only Constant HERE.