Teen Mortgage
Who They Are
Teen Mortgage is a Washington D.C.-based two-piece punk outfit comprised of drummer Ed Barakauskas and guitarist and vocalist James Guile. The group has been releasing their own unique brand of sludge-infused hardcore since 2017.
Why You Should Listen
The early ‘80s D.C. hardcore scene was as influential as it was unlikely. Having grown up in the white collar Northern Virginia suburbs myself, it never ceases to amaze me that this metropolitan area, largely known for its mundanity and overpopulation of straight-laced government officials, served as the birthplace for incendiary and revolutionary bands like Fugazi, Minor Threat, and Bad Brains. And while that era may have passed, Teen Mortgage is here to prove that punk’s not dead yet in the Nation’s Capital. Their debut EP Life/Death is hands down one of the best new hardcore releases of the last decade. Combining the ferocity and intensity of Black Flag with the sludginess of the Melvins, Teen Mortgage’s powerful guitar riffs, hard-hitting vocals, and hammering percussion provide an all-out assault that ensures every song goes to eleven. That being said, the most impressive thing about Teen Mortgage is their sound. Many three-piece bands — let alone two-piece bands — struggle to find a way to fill space while maintaining refinement and texture, yet Teen Mortgage does so effortlessly, a benefit of their distorted guitar and intricate but heavy drumming.
What You Should Listen To
If you can spare thirteen minutes, Life/Death, released on the Brooklyn punk label King Pizza Records in March 2019, is mandatory listening. “S.W.A.S.”, the lead single off the EP, is a good introduction to the group, showcasing their next-level guitar work, screaming vocals, and pounding drums.