Enervate release "My Own Peace of Mind" and dig into Milwaukee's DIY hardcore scene

Milwaukee hardcore band Enervate have released a new EP, "My Own Peace of Mind", picking up where their previous record, "All Said and Done", left off. The songs keep the heavy breakdowns the band is known for while opening a door to melody on tracks like "Pass Me By" and "Keep My Flame".

The EP was recorded with Collin St Mary at 19 Stars Recording in Northwest Indiana, the studio behind everything the band has put out except its first demo. Bassist Tom Hively said the group tracked everything but vocals in roughly two days, and admitted he had guitarist Adam handle the bass parts so they would sound better than his own takes.

Enervate came together after a false start. Adam and drummer Sean were jamming in 2019 between tours with their previous band Low End, Hively joined in, and vocalist Lan was brought in to front the project. The first demo arrived in February 2020, the debut show was booked for that March, and the band did not actually play live until September 2021, by which point Marcus had joined on guitar to lock in the lineup.

Hively credits the local scene for the band's approach, describing Milwaukee as a place where nothing is handed over, from booking touring acts to finding rooms and drawing crowds. Lyrically, Lan writes about frustration with people who critique the scene from the outside, feeling stagnant, and pushing through anyway. On the melodic shift, Hively is blunt: "Don't worry, we won't ever write a pop punk record."

The title track features Greg of Hold My Own, a band Enervate have shared stages with for years and one Hively booked in Milwaukee back in 2021.