• Digital Album

  Streaming + Download

  Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
  
  cassette version of this release contains the demo and July '21 tracks on side 2.
  Purchasable with gift card

  Buy Digital Album   $3 USD  or more

  Send as Gift  

• futile CDEP

  Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

  • 
  This is the debut EP from Lesser Minds, a new addition to the NJHC scene. Contained herein are 5 gut-punching tracks that pull influences from the likes of Ceremony, Deadguy, Black Flag and Peace Test, while mowing their way through 8 minutes of fast and heavy hardcore punk. Cassette B-side includes the 4 songs previously released as digital-only demos.
  
  
  Here’s some of the feedback “futile” has received:
  
  New Jersey’s LESSER MINDS come out swinging with this debut cassette EP. Futile is a very pissed-off, riffy affair in the vein of classic CEREMONY, with some of the dissonance of chaotic bands like DEADGUY. The abrasive and oppressive sounds omitted by LESSER MINDS is certainly far from easy listening. Recommended.
  
  Bobby Cole - MRR #473 • OCTOBER 2022
  
  
  Lesser Minds form bigger thoughts.
  The misleadingly named Garden State hardcore crüe, a deceptively brainy bunch, recently dropped their debut EP, Futile, courtesy of Protagonist Music. With a discography well worth a deep dive, the long running independent label boasts a wildly expansive and exceedingly diverse roster. The latest from these Sussex county bruisers is no exception. 
  First profiled in these very pages, the group features the industrious Brian Burdzy, of the esteemed Sex and Glue Zine and a glut of rad podcasts. Having already dropped a grip of killer digital singles, their return is a taut and vicious five song cycle.
  Pulling from the admittedly influential Ceremony, Deadguy, and the world beaters in Peace Test, there’s a ton more at play here. As is often the case with such far flung swaths of inspiration, the best I can do is call it hardcore. To wit, essential hardcore. 
  “Vatican Damage” springs to life after a discordant and eerie open and, as promised, certainly leans on stomping Tim Singer-isms. It plays more like a set opener and a foundational part of their sound than a fully fledged song. Allowing the listener to buckle up, it’s a not so thinly veiled letter bomb addressed to the church, which will forever get me to join the congregation. 
  
  Follow up “…Crush” picks up the pace considerably. Employing the tried and true trick of savagely announcing the song name, it’s an enthralling mix of blazing fast hardcore and a riff that calls to mind RATM’s early classic, “Bullet in the Head.” For a song just north of two minutes, there’s a world of various sounds all seamlessly stitched together under the banner of hardcore. 
  Elsewhere, “All Pain all the Time” and “High Praise” dazzle in myriad ways. The former is a straight up speed trial… a sub-minute rager that suggests you “Get the fuck outta my way” atop a bludgeoning backdrop of D-beat-infused battering.
  The latter is a noisier and sludgy mid-paced assault that introduces Lesser Minds’ killer call and response talents. The song’s back end relies heavily on backing vocals and pulls off its mangled melodies with aplomb. 
  
  Closing track “Blunt Force Drama” is aptly named, to be sure. The band’s innate ability to create dramatic sweeps is on full display, as the building tension is at least released around the :40 mark with a scuzzy low end. The bass sound is killer across the whole collection but it’s isolated opportunity here is note perfect. The blunt force, as it were, is composed of the frenzied back end that sprints toward its squealing and manic finale. Shit rips. 
  
  This is one of the year’s finest hardcore EPs. You’re welcome. 
  
  Adam Yoe - No Echo Dot Net - July 27, 2022
  
  I continue to be been blessed doing these reviews and finding out about many great bands and at the same time continuing to fulfill my desire/goal to contribute to the growth of the hardcore/punk scene. With this goal in mind let me tell you about a newer band that I am very excited about. Lesser Minds from Sussex County NJ put out a total of 3 songs on two different releases in 2021 and recently they have dropped a mighty debut EP titled “Futile” on Protagonist Music/Deathwish Inc.
   
  Drawing from influences such as Death Threat, Black Flag, Deadguy and Integrity, “Futile” is a musical whirlwind of aggression, composed of raw and simple hardcore, punk rock and in your face lyrics. The release contains 5 tracks with less than an 8 minute play time, causing me to listen to it over again several times because I like it that much. Track titles are: “Vatican Damage”; “Crush”; “All Pain (All The Time)”; “High Praise” and “Blunt Force Drama”. I like all of the tracks on the EP but my favorites are “High Praise” with its eerie intro and great line “Can’t avoid the wall when someone cuts your breaks” and “Blunt Force Drama”, which is also a great title. But you will find all the lyrics on “Futile” are well-crafted and straight from the heart which is to be expected from a band that won’t compromise on their views. This is another reason why I have become a fan of Lesser Minds. The music drew me in and when I read how they are against racism, stand with the LGBTQ community, encourage those with opioid abuse and mental health concerns to seek help and advocate for a healthy diet I became more of a fan and also gained much respect for them. Now obviously people may have different opinions and mindsets than the band members do but what is important here is that “Futile” is a release that pushes Lesser Minds high on the list of newer bands that really have something special. They follow in the footsteps of the countless, great bands preceding them that paved the way for the Garden State hardcore scene.
  
  Chris Berman - In Effect Hardcore
  
  Includes unlimited streaming of futile via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more
  ships out within 2 days

  Purchasable with gift card

  Buy Compact Disc   $5 USD or more 

  Send as Gift 

• Futile EP + 4 Songs Cassette

  Cassette + Digital Album

  • 
  This is the debut EP from Lesser Minds, a new addition to the NJHC scene. Contained herein are 5 gut-punching tracks that pull influences from the likes of Ceremony, Deadguy, Black Flag and Peace Test, while mowing their way through 8 minutes of fast and heavy hardcore punk. Cassette B-side includes the 4 songs previously released as digital-only demos.
  
  
  Here’s some of the feedback “futile” has received:
  
  New Jersey’s LESSER MINDS come out swinging with this debut cassette EP. Futile is a very pissed-off, riffy affair in the vein of classic CEREMONY, with some of the dissonance of chaotic bands like DEADGUY. The abrasive and oppressive sounds omitted by LESSER MINDS is certainly far from easy listening. Recommended.
  
  Bobby Cole - MRR #473 • OCTOBER 2022
  
  
  Lesser Minds form bigger thoughts.
  The misleadingly named Garden State hardcore crüe, a deceptively brainy bunch, recently dropped their debut EP, Futile, courtesy of Protagonist Music. With a discography well worth a deep dive, the long running independent label boasts a wildly expansive and exceedingly diverse roster. The latest from these Sussex county bruisers is no exception. 
  First profiled in these very pages, the group features the industrious Brian Burdzy, of the esteemed Sex and Glue Zine and a glut of rad podcasts. Having already dropped a grip of killer digital singles, their return is a taut and vicious five song cycle.
  Pulling from the admittedly influential Ceremony, Deadguy, and the world beaters in Peace Test, there’s a ton more at play here. As is often the case with such far flung swaths of inspiration, the best I can do is call it hardcore. To wit, essential hardcore. 
  “Vatican Damage” springs to life after a discordant and eerie open and, as promised, certainly leans on stomping Tim Singer-isms. It plays more like a set opener and a foundational part of their sound than a fully fledged song. Allowing the listener to buckle up, it’s a not so thinly veiled letter bomb addressed to the church, which will forever get me to join the congregation. 
  
  Follow up “…Crush” picks up the pace considerably. Employing the tried and true trick of savagely announcing the song name, it’s an enthralling mix of blazing fast hardcore and a riff that calls to mind RATM’s early classic, “Bullet in the Head.” For a song just north of two minutes, there’s a world of various sounds all seamlessly stitched together under the banner of hardcore. 
  Elsewhere, “All Pain all the Time” and “High Praise” dazzle in myriad ways. The former is a straight up speed trial… a sub-minute rager that suggests you “Get the fuck outta my way” atop a bludgeoning backdrop of D-beat-infused battering.
  The latter is a noisier and sludgy mid-paced assault that introduces Lesser Minds’ killer call and response talents. The song’s back end relies heavily on backing vocals and pulls off its mangled melodies with aplomb. 
  
  Closing track “Blunt Force Drama” is aptly named, to be sure. The band’s innate ability to create dramatic sweeps is on full display, as the building tension is at least released around the :40 mark with a scuzzy low end. The bass sound is killer across the whole collection but it’s isolated opportunity here is note perfect. The blunt force, as it were, is composed of the frenzied back end that sprints toward its squealing and manic finale. Shit rips. 
  
  This is one of the year’s finest hardcore EPs. You’re welcome. 
  
  Adam Yoe - No Echo Dot Net - July 27, 2022
  
  I continue to be been blessed doing these reviews and finding out about many great bands and at the same time continuing to fulfill my desire/goal to contribute to the growth of the hardcore/punk scene. With this goal in mind let me tell you about a newer band that I am very excited about. Lesser Minds from Sussex County NJ put out a total of 3 songs on two different releases in 2021 and recently they have dropped a mighty debut EP titled “Futile” on Protagonist Music/Deathwish Inc.
   
  Drawing from influences such as Death Threat, Black Flag, Deadguy and Integrity, “Futile” is a musical whirlwind of aggression, composed of raw and simple hardcore, punk rock and in your face lyrics. The release contains 5 tracks with less than an 8 minute play time, causing me to listen to it over again several times because I like it that much. Track titles are: “Vatican Damage”; “Crush”; “All Pain (All The Time)”; “High Praise” and “Blunt Force Drama”. I like all of the tracks on the EP but my favorites are “High Praise” with its eerie intro and great line “Can’t avoid the wall when someone cuts your breaks” and “Blunt Force Drama”, which is also a great title. But you will find all the lyrics on “Futile” are well-crafted and straight from the heart which is to be expected from a band that won’t compromise on their views. This is another reason why I have become a fan of Lesser Minds. The music drew me in and when I read how they are against racism, stand with the LGBTQ community, encourage those with opioid abuse and mental health concerns to seek help and advocate for a healthy diet I became more of a fan and also gained much respect for them. Now obviously people may have different opinions and mindsets than the band members do but what is important here is that “Futile” is a release that pushes Lesser Minds high on the list of newer bands that really have something special. They follow in the footsteps of the countless, great bands preceding them that paved the way for the Garden State hardcore scene.
  
  Chris Berman - In Effect Hardcore
  
  Includes unlimited streaming of futile via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more. ... more

  Sold Out

• Share / Embed

about

credits

license