Two heavyweights of the underground scene collide in one of the most explosive split releases of the year. Evergreen Terrace / Wisdom in Chains – Split, released via Dead Serious Recordings, is a razor-sharp, full-throttle statement from two bands who’ve been through it all—and still sound like they’re just getting started.
Evergreen Terrace, after years of silence, tear the doors off their own legacy with a return to form that feels brutal, fast, and deeply personal. Tracks like “Restless Leg Syndrome” show they haven’t lost their edge—if anything, they’ve sharpened it. Their signature blend of metalcore breakdowns, melodic riffs, and shouted/sung vocals still rips, but there’s a fresh energy here, one that feels born from survival. Their contribution closes with a blistering cover of Dead Kennedys’ “Nazi Punks Fuck Off”—a middle finger that feels less like homage and more like a warning shot in 2025’s fractured world.
Wisdom in Chains, on the other hand, bring three brand new tracks that introduce their new vocalist Frankie Puopolo (ex–Death Before Dishonor). If anyone had doubts, “Mindset” wipes them clean. Frankie’s presence is commanding—gritty, fast-paced, and raw, with enough charisma to make you forget this is technically a new era for the band. “The Gospel” and “Reach Out” follow suit with massive choruses and the sort of gang vocals and lyrical bite that make WIC one of the most respected names in American hardcore.
What makes this split stand out isn’t just the track quality—it’s the timing. For Evergreen Terrace, this is a rebirth. For Wisdom in Chains, it’s a transition, and a bold one at that. Both bands are teasing future full-lengths, but the four songs each deliver here already feel like chapters of something much bigger. There’s no filler, no nostalgia trip. Just real, unfiltered intent—delivered at full volume.
The fact that both bands are now under the same label feels like a setup for something greater, and if the Berlin release show at SO36 is any indication, fans are showing up in full force. In a scene often dominated by short attention spans and overproduction, Evergreen Terrace / Wisdom in Chains – Split is the kind of project that cuts through the noise by being louder, faster, and smarter.
No trends. No compromise. Just two bands still swinging harder than most of their younger peers ever will.
