Cruel Hand is an American hardcore punk

Hardcore punk

Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...

 band from Portland

Portland, Maine

Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...

, Maine

Maine

Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...

, formed in 2006. As of 2011, Cruel Hand has released three full-length albums, Without a Pulse on 6131 Records and Prying Eyes and Lock & Key, both on Bridge 9

Bridge 9 Records

Bridge Nine Records is a contemporary hardcore punk record label located outside Boston, Massachusetts. Bridge Nine is owned by Chris Wrenn of Salem, Massachusetts, who began the label in 1995 and produced its first release in 1996...

, and two EP's

Extended play

An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...

, Life in Shambles and Cruel Hand, also both on Bridge 9. They are also featured on the America's Hardcore Compilation put out by Triple B Records with their song Face to Face.

History

Cruel Hand formed in Portland, Maine, in 2006, originally as a side project of the punk band Outbreak. In 2007 they released their debut album Without a Pulse, on 6131 Records. They played shows around the U.S. with Trash Talk

Trash Talk (band)

Trash Talk is an American hardcore punk band from Sacramento, California, formed in 2005. Trash Talk combines hardcore punk with the aggression of power violence...

 and The Mongoloids, touring the United States three times and a full European tour. Cruel Hand then signed with Bridge 9 for their second album, Prying Eyes, which was recorded at Getaway Recording Studios and God City Studios in 2008. Cruel Hand released a self-titled 7" EP in 2010 featuring a song from their third album, Lock & Key and an unreleased track. Lock & Key was released on July 27, 2010, on Bridge 9 Records.

Cruel Hand draw influences from the Cro-Mags

Cro-Mags

Cro-Mags are a hardcore punk turned crossover thrash band from New York City. The band, which had a strong cult following, released many records, their first two considered the most influential...

, early Metallica

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

, and Madball

Madball

Madball is a New York-based hardcore band that originated in the late 1980s, as a side-project of Agnostic Front .- History :Madball was founded in 1988 and featured most of Agnostic Front's members...

, and are often compared to now defunct Toronto band No Warning

No Warning

No Warning may refer to:* No Warning , a Canadian punk band** No Warning , the band's debut album* No Warning, a 1991 album by British musician Dave Wakeling* No Warning , a web series...

Discography

Studio albums

• Without a Pulse (2007, 6131 Records)
• Prying Eyes (2008, Bridge 9)
• Lock & Key (2010, Bridge 9)

EPs

• Life in Shambles (2008, Bridge 9)
• Cruel Hand (2010, Bridge 9)