Pain Of Truth is Michael Brian Smith - Vocals, Nick Barker - Drums, Nik Hansen -
Guitar, Ridge Rhine - Guitar, and Zach Stachura - Bass.
PAIN OF TRUTH is more than just a band name, it’s a mantra for the Long Island, NY
based hardcore band and their fans. Since 2020, Pain of Truth has been a driving force
of the genre, blending old school sounds with new school swagger. The band signed to
DAZE and came crushing out the gate with their 2020 No Blame…Just Facts EP and
2023 full-length Not Through Blood, both boasting an impressive list of guest features
from bands including Terror, Madball, Trapped Under Ice and King Nine. Following the
release of 2025's Coast to Coast split with Sunami, Pain Of Truth entered the studio
with GRAMMY winning producer Will Putney (Body Count, Incendiary, Counterparts) in
early 2026 to craft their sophomore album, fittingly self-titled.
When Pain Of Truth drops on DAZE in September 2026, expect to hear the band’s
sound amplified tenfold. Michael Smith’s vocals reach new heights of aggression and
charisma, echoed back by gang vocals on every track. Riffs move from dirty grooves to
electrifying and the drums provide a pulsating rhythmic backbone made to intensify
every mosh part.
The record is the band’s first truly collaborative release and first bout of longer material
with absolutely zero guest features. It's a testament to Pain Of Truth doing things 100%
their way and moving from a “me vs. you” mentality to “us vs. them.” The lyrics build
from a place of resistance, struggle, and drive, attacking the unjust divisions in the world
and fighting for a better reality.
As the album covers weighty topics, the real heft comes in the songs being experienced
in a live setting. At every show you can expect Smith and co directing fans to pile on in
the front, jump off the stage, and position a chaotic pit behind it, ailing the "horseshoe
effect” that plagues other acts. Their high energy shows have deemed Pain Of Truth a
must see live band, and earned them spots touring alongside Knocked Loose, A Day To
Remember, Terror, Madball, Speed, Counterparts, and High Vis to name a few. They’ve
had stand out sets at festivals across the world including Sound and Fury, Outbreak,
Louder Than Life, Ieper Fest, Sick New World, and Vans Warped Tour. Heading toward
the album release, Pain of Truth is set to play small venue shows on the east and west
coast, before diving into a historical headline tour this fall.
With their unstoppable drive and true to themselves approach, Pain Of Truth have been
able to achieve in six years what takes other bands decades to accomplish. With the
release of their self-titled second album, the band are continuing to cement a lasting
impact in the world of hardcore and beyond.
