Photo by Nate Congleton / Story by Kurt Orzeck
For most Americans, identifying a distinction when it comes to the state of Idaho would likely be a difficult task. Geography aside, it seems to be regarded as another flyover state, if it were more central to the country - despite being home to some of the most breathtaking landscapes the country has to offer.
Yet with the seemingly unstoppable resurgence of hardcore in virtually every pocket of the United States (along with international reach just the same), genre stalwarts Ingrown are drawing attention to one of the least expected destinations for heavy music - putting Boise’s music scene on the map. In a region better known for immense natural beauty and a blue-collar agricultural backbone, Ingrown is carrying the flag, intent on showcasing how the vast lands of Gem State have shaped their musical intensity.
Founded about a decade ago, the nasty, gnarly trio found itself with some serious wind in its sails aligning with heavy music specialists Closed Casket Activities. Forging ahead, Ingrown marked the release of the second full-length earlier this month, beginning a new chapter for the band and signaling their arrival on the greater radar of hardcore. Simply titled Idaho, one can’t help but be reminded that Slipknot also named their second LP after their home state of Iowa. Shared visceral authenticity and outlier lineage aside, the sonic comparisons pretty much end there; with Idaho clocking in at an 18-minute blitzkrieg that transpires within the blink of a bloodshot, twitching eye.
“I’m not a metalhead or a power-violence nerd,” vocalist/guitarist Ross Hansen confides. “I was not into any crazy music when I was young. I just struggled to fit in. I was just so frustrated all the time growing up because I was not into underground music at first and didn’t have a clique. I had a lot of rage.”
While the sentiment of finding personal respite and a sense of community is a common thread among creatives, that reality takes on added weight when commiserating with like–minded people in the 44th least–densely populated state in America. Fortunately, Hansen found camaraderie in some of his peers, and now Ingrown–which also features bassist Gavin McWilliams and drummer Charlie Ritch–have gone from fringe to the forefront of Idaho hardcore. With packed shows in Boise and beyond, the band stand seemed positioned to make a sizable impact on their scene.
Equipped with some of their most assaultive tracks to date, Ingrown's durability and wherewithal manifest in the explosive shared experience that is their live set. The band's no bulshit, brass tacks approach resonates with fans and skeptics alike, as the band weaponizes the angst and isolation of Idaho into a ten-track wallop.
Set to unleash that fury live, the phenomenon of the Boise outfit wll play out in real time as the band embark on a dozen live dates across the West in the first half of April, including two shows opening for Machine Head. Spreading the gospel that is Idaho, the band attribute at least part of their chemistry to the decision to venture outside of their orbit to visit Chicago to collaborate with producer Andy Nelson (Jesus Piece, Weekend Nachos) who also recorded the band's first album, 2021’s, Gun.
The simplicity of the titles further speaks to the band's earnest approach to aggressive music. The music, the message - Ingrown's brand seems more reactive than anything pre-meditated. “Shooting a gun is relaxing, like fishing,” Hansen remarks during the many times he touches on Second Amendment issues during our 90-minute conversation. “Yeah, people get killed with guns, but they’ve existed forever, and some places allow access to more public land than to guns.”
It may be hard to reconcile that sentiment, or Hansen’s outspoken affinity for weed, with Ingrown’s stated claim as a straight-edge hardcore punk band. However, It's those cultural contradictions that underscore the unpolished, authentic disposition of the band. Nothing is especially deep, over-thought or pristinely produced - Ingrown are the product of their environment and make no apologies for it.
As a byproduct, Idaho also addresses Ingrown’s affinity for isolation and the physical freedom that gorgeous state filled with rivers, mountains and wilderness grants to its residents. Ironically enough, there’s all but one single moment of tranquillity on the riotous, 11-track record, though - with the final, title track poignantly punctuating an otherwise pummeling audio experience.
To the contrary, songs like “Bullet,” “Watch Your Back,” “Cold Steel,” “Enemy” and “Your Fault” dominate the record with a sense of hostility and paranoia that Hansen isn’t afraid to admit to harboring. It appears to be all the more reason, in fact, that he enjoys living in the sparsely populated Gem State.
“We went to Chicago because Charlie [Ritch/drummer] said [Nelson] was the best, and he had recorded Harm’s Way material,” Hansen notes between tokes on a joint. “I listened to some hardcore records he recorded and believed it. His impact on the band went far beyond just recording, and I’d go back to Chicago to record with him again. But I got no reason to live anywhere else.”
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Idaho, the second full length album from Ingrown is now available via Closed Casket Activities. Get the album - HERE
