Undeniably powerful things happen when aggressive music embraces raw vulnerability—a shift that Recollection executes seamlessly on their new single, “Intrusive Thoughts.”
Freshly signed to the independent label DAZE, the band will release their sophomore EP, Intrusive Thoughts, on August 28. Accompanying the announcement is an anxious, melody-driven, self-directed music video for the title track.
Boasting a notable lineup of veteran hardcore contributors, Recollection was born from a place of grief after vocalist Josh Hynes (Rude Awakening, Hammer Bros) and guitarist Joshua Long (Skinhead, Criminal Instinct, Rude Awakening, Hammer Bros) lost a mutual friend. Through that loss, their 2025 debut EP, Vivid Dreams, was released via Pop Wig Records—the independent punk label run by members of Angel Du$t and Turnstile that has served as ground zero for hardcore’s most genre-blurring, creative output for the better part of a decade.
The band eventually rounded out their lineup with bassist G (Hammer Bros, The World), drummer Snooka (Life’s End), guitarist Matt March (Hard Ca$t earlier this year for a sold-out album release show at Baltimore Soundstage alongside a short promotional tour run.
The shift toward a more cathartic, indie-influenced sound shouldn’t come as a total surprise to those who caught the band’s debut. For Intrusive Thoughts, the band locked in at The Pit Recording Studio with producer Taylor Young, alongside additional tracking by Eric Sauter at Black Heart Sound. Young—known as much for fronting God’s Hate and playing in Twitching Tongues as he is for producing bands like Militarie Gun, Rotting Out, and Drain—proves to be the perfect engineer to anchor Recollection’s sonic pivot. He ensures that while the guitars lean into nostalgic alternative rock, the rhythm section retains an authentic, heavy-hitting punch.
The title track acts as the emotional centerpiece for this new chapter. Featuring guest vocals from Cherish Hynes, “Intrusive Thoughts” relies on candid vocals and sharp, repetitive hooks to mirror the mental loop of anxiety.
“It’s about being in a relationship and not being able to avoid self-sabotage,” vocalist Josh Hynes shares. “Once you have a thought in your head, it’s next to impossible to get it out, leading to obsessive overthinking to the point of affecting sleep patterns and everyday life.”
What makes “Intrusive Thoughts” work so well is how the music actively imitates its subject matter. The relentless, looping hooks and the interweaving of Josh and Cherish Hynes’ vocals create a sense of sonic claustrophobia, capturing the exhaustion and overwhelm of being trapped inside your own thoughts. By the time the final chord fades, Recollection has pulled off something rare: they’ve turned the deeply isolating experience of self-sabotage into a powerful, communal exhale.
Intrusive Thoughts Tracklist:
1. Lost In Translation
2. Turntable
3. Intrusive Thoughts
4. Son
The Intrusive Thoughts EP is available on CD and vinyl pre-order now HERE through DAZE, with the physical CD format including the band’s Vivid Dreams EP, completely remixed and remastered.
