Ingrown, the Boise-based hardcore trio, is set to release their sophomore album Idaho on March 7, 2025, via Closed Casket Activities. With eleven blistering tracks clocking in at just 18 minutes, the album blends unrelenting heaviness and speed, channeling the chaotic energy of hardcore with the technical edge of death metal, thrash, and powerviolence.
The band just dropped the album’s opener dubbed “Bullet“!
Recorded at Bricktop Studios in Chicago with Andy Nelson, whose credits include Jesus Piece, Pain of Truth, and Weekend Nachos, Idaho represents the band’s sharpest and most aggressive work yet.
“Andy understands our band and our sound better than we do sometimes,” says vocalist and guitarist Ross Hansen. “He has an amazing way of capturing a performance in the most precise way possible without losing any rawness or power.”
Idaho is as much an homage to the band’s roots as it is a fierce statement of self-reliance. Tracks like “Bullet,” “Cold Steel,” and “Enemy” explore themes of survival, individuality, and resistance to external pressures. The album critiques broken systems and highlights the necessity of finding strength within oneself and one’s community.
“Living in Idaho has shaped us,” Hansen explains. “You only have your family and your community to support you. Knowing that can be freeing—you have the power to direct your own life.” This ethos underscores the album, which simultaneously exudes raw aggression and heartfelt connection to the band’s home state.
Standout moments on Idaho include the track “Asylum,” originally written by Hansen’s father, Erik, for his ‘80s hardcore band State of Confusion. Reinterpreted with Ingrown’s fury, the song bridges generations, offering a personal touch amidst the album’s unrelenting energy. Hansen credits the original track as “some of the first music I heard, and some of the best hardcore there is.”
The album concludes with a surprising twist—a medley of Irish jigs performed with acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin. While unconventional, this closer encapsulates the band’s roots and individuality. Hansen’s early musical experiences playing bluegrass on the Irish tenor banjo bring authenticity to the track. The result is a uniquely Ingrown finale that merges traditional music with hardcore ferocity.
Since forming in 2015, Ingrown—composed of Ross Hansen, bassist Gavin McWilliams, and drummer Charlie Ritch—has steadily gained momentum. Their debut album, Gun (2021), earned accolades from major publications and secured them tours with heavyweights like Trapped Under Ice, Regional Justice Center, and Pain of Truth.
Preorders for Idaho are now available through Closed Casket Activities, with vinyl variants including Black Ice with Silver Glitter, Orange and Black Cornetto, and more.
