After forming in 2021, the time has come for Destiny Bond to unleash a blistering record upon the world. Their first full-length album, Be My Vengeance, will arrive this Friday, June 23 after two years of releasing demos, singles, and their four song “2022 Promo” EP.
Destiny Bond hails from the Denver, Colorado hardcore scene and feature vocalist Cloe Madonna Janzen, guitarists Amos Helvey and Emily Armitage, Rio Wolf on bass, and founder of Convulse Records, Adam Croft, on drums. The hardcore/punk scene in Denver is thriving, with bands such as Raw Breed, Candy Apple, and FAIM having all called Denver home at one time.
Be My Vengeance features a blend of newly recorded and updated versions of songs spanning the band’s existence. The recent singles, “Chew” and “Headspin”, are standout tracks alongside newer recordings “Worlds Unseen”, “Harmony”, “Papercut”, and “Kinetic”. “Baby Bloom”, “The Glow”, and “Losin'” are updated tracks from their Promo tape released last June. Previous tracks from their 2021 demo, “Mosaic” and my personal favorite, “Blood Chokes,” also find their way onto the full-length album. The flow of the record is flawless, with the tracks expertly mixed. To quote directly from the album press release, “Be My Vengeance fully encapsulates the fast, early punk and hardcore inspired sound of the first two years of Destiny Bond, with moments that foreshadow what’s to come.”
“Chew” opens the album with solitary, mid-tempo guitar strumming. The entire band enters in a tight, headbanging rhythm that proceeds effectively towards an up-tempo, double-time outro. Lyrically, the song is a call-to-action to remove and identify leaders who claim to have a grasp on the needs of their community.
“Worlds Unseen” is a thrash song that’s short and raw. The track flows seamlessly into “Kinetic”, a punk anthem urging the listener to keep the faith and “pick yourself up off the floor, baby.” The high energy mixed with such an uplifting message is infectious. Cloe’s voice is strong and encouraging throughout the record, but this track, in particular, feels genuine and personal.
The second single ahead of the album’s release is the superbly fast “Headspin”. The chord changes from the rhythm section are dark, quick, and extremely catchy. This song especially feels like a call out to former trans-feminist hardcore band G.L.O.S.S., but Destiny Bond have a unique style that sets them apart from other anti-fascist, LGBTQIA+ bands. If anything, their sound reminds me of Converge, mixed with some Cro-Mags, and add a touch of recent bands like Gel or War On Women.
My favorite track on the record is the trans rights anthem “Blood Chokes”. Personal sentiment and a message of acceptance scream forth from Cloe’s vocal cords during the repeated refrain: “This is for all the trans kids. You’re mine. You’re mine. On my heart all the time.” June is Pride Month, but there is always a desperate need to protect, support, and uplift the trans community. Destiny Bond‘s message is clear: mess with a member of their family and feel their vengeance.
As a listener, I am totally stoked to have Destiny Bond on my radar. I highly suggest you check out the band on YouTube, purchase the album directly from Convulse Records, or ideally, catch them live as they embark on a month-long Midwest/East Coast tour this summer with fellow hardcore band Spine. Their tour kicks off with a show at Seventh Circle Music Collective in Denver on July 1st, with support from local arts Candy Apple, UKKOS HAMMER, Paparazzi, and Closed In. I will be there in spirit, two-stepping and moshing along in solidarity with the band, who are sure to gain more notoriety as they spread their message of positivity and love.
Be My Vengeance comes out everywhere this Friday, June 23 on Convulse Records. Listen to their latest single here!
The Indy Review 
1 Comment