Buffalo hardcore unit Frozen Ground has released a new video for their track “No Values, Only Judgment,” featuring guest vocals from Michael Smith of Pain Of Truth.
The song was produced and directed by guitarist/vocalist Mike Hatalak, who also handled recording, mixing, and mastering duties. The track leans into themes of betrayal, self-deception, and moral failure with zero filter.
The band—Mike Hatalak (guitar, vocals), John Runkle (drums), Greg Styliades (bass), and Nick Brooks (vocals)—doesn’t dress it up. “Cut out / Just like a fucking disease,” opens Brooks in the first verse, setting a tone that doesn’t flinch. The track charges forward with a mid-tempo churn that lands hard, both musically and lyrically, as it lays into people who show up hollow when things get real.
“No values / Only judgment,” the chorus spits, folding contempt and disappointment into a rhythmic hook that stays sharp and unfriendly. The song drills into the idea of cowardice not as a passing moment but as a defining trait. “Run, hide, like a dog all bark no bite / When it mattered most, came as no surprise,” the band states flatly. No redemption arc. Just consequence.
Michael Smith’s feature adds a raw second voice to the breakdown section, reinforcing the call-out and sealing the tone of judgment. There’s no space left for ambiguity. “Devoid of morality / Nothing but contempt for your lies and deceit / It ends now.” The lyrics don’t offer interpretation—they issue a verdict.
Frozen Ground keeps things minimal outside of the music itself. The video, also directed by Hatalak, sticks to stark visuals and hard cuts. No no storyline, just the band in the moment, delivering what they came to say.
The band is currently lining up shows through the summer. On June 1, they’ll play Amvets Post in Buffalo with Spaced. July 5 takes them to Rutherford, NJ at Hellphyra.com alongside Dying Fetus. On July 12, they hit St. Catharines in Ontario with Pure Bliss.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
Keep in the loop!
🗞️ Subscribe on Substack
🔔 Join our Messenger and WhatsApp
📜 Get daily news via Instagram Stories
Your support keeps us alive!
IDIOTEQ is a one-man DIY operation, tirelessly spotlighting the local cultural scenes and independent bands that often go unreported elsewhere. Born in the early 00s, this platform has been committed to giving hard-working artists the high-quality coverage they truly deserve.
No ads, no distractions—just pure inspiration and a genuine focus on independent artists and their stories.
Please consider helping keep IDIOTEQ ad-free and in tune with the indie scene by donating today.
DONATE via PayPal 𝗈𝗋 SUPPORT via Patreon
100% of the funds collected go toward maintaining and improving this magazine. Every contribution, however big or small, is super valuable.
Your support ensures that we continue to be a place where you can discover, learn, and get inspired, without any advertising noise. Thank you for being a part of this musical journey.
