Justifications, a new metallic hardcore band featuring members of The Red Chord and Austrian Death Machine, released their debut single, “Urge To Kill,” according to reports from ThePRP and Blabbermouth. The Manchester, New Hampshire-based quintet spent a week airing the track on SiriusXM before its broader online release, setting the stage for their upcoming live debut and a full-length album planned for 2027.
Band Lineup and Origins
The group brings together veterans of the heavy music scene. Vocalist Guy Kozowyk and guitarist Kevin Rampelberg both played foundational roles in The Red Chord. They are joined in Justifications by guitarist Mark MacDonald of Austrian Death Machine, bassist Jason Edney, and drummer Tony Hersey, as reported by Blabbermouth. Music industry publication coverage recommends the band’s spirited brand of metallic hardcore for fans of groups like Nails, Terror, and Turmoil.
Kozowyk described the project’s creative ethos in statements published by ThePRP, calling Justifications “a knee-jerk reaction to the world around us” intended to be direct and fun. Rampelberg added that the streamlined musical approach allows the songs to connect with listeners in a distinct way.
Production and Musical Style of “Urge To Kill”
Recording sessions for the debut track took place with producer Kevin Billingslea, who has previously worked with Lamb of God and Cruel Hand. Chris “Zeuss” Harris, known for his work with Hatebreed and Rob Zombie, handled the mixing and mastering, according to Blabbermouth.
Clocking in as a two-minute track driven by double-bass flurries and a guitar solo, “Urge To Kill” pairs abrasive lyricism with clear vocal delivery. Kozowyk noted that despite the violent imagery in lines like wanting to play in traffic rather than see an adversary’s face, the song focuses conceptually on restraining impulses rather than acting on them. “I was on a mission to deliver lines that sounded abrasive but were also legible,” Kozowyk told ThePRP.
Upcoming Live Performances and Album Plans
Justifications scheduled their first live performance for September 19, 2025, opening for Deadguy at Broken Goblet Brewing in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, followed by a September 26 date at Henniker Brewing Company in Henniker, New Hampshire, alongside Pathogenic, as detailed by Blabbermouth. A full-length debut album is currently slated for release in 2027 through Kozowyk’s label, Black Market Activities.
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