Soon after the recent release of their new single “Cycofied”, their first in over 3 decades, Venice crossover punk rockers CYCOTIC YOUTH are back with new dope song and music video, which we’re stoked to give you in an early exclusive stream above!
Raised in the iconic Venice skate scene that bred legendary groups such as Suicidal Tendencies, 3rd generation Z Boy and singer Jason Brown has resseructed the group with a new lineup ready to retake their crown. Stream the track today on Spotify, Apple Music and most online streaming platforms.
Asked about the new single, the band’s singer Jason Brown says that the “Cyco Up” video was actually directed by the band’s guitar player Nick Garcia. “We wanted to capture the band performing and just hanging out with our friends and you know just getting a little agro. – says Jason.
“We just wanted the people to know us better by playing in our rehearsal studio and making it pretty simple. It was something to get out to the public to show what Cyco Up really means. Cyco Up means basically not taking any shit from anybody and if you get in our face, we will put you to the ground. It’s not something that we’re trying to get across to be violent, it’s more of a we stand up for ourselves and we make sure that if you get too close you’re going to make sure you wish you didn’t.”
“Especially with the stuff that’s going on in our world today you know, I really feel growing up in the neighborhood that you had to watch your back and pretty much stick up for yourself whenever possible. I guess the message we’re trying to bring is don’t let nobody get you down and stick up for yourself. We kind of wanted to bring it like an old-school garage type of fuel backyard boogie that we used to do back in the days. It’s the title of our album and it’s something that we stand by and something that we’ve always stood by. When you say let’s get Cyco it means like let’s get crazy let’s do 100% let’s put an effort into everything that we’re doing and Cyco up it’s just like Cyco up don’t give a fuck type of thing.” – consludes Jason.
The band’s previous single, “Cycofied”, picks up and levels up where the band left off, with a punk/thrash/metal energy that explodes with fast riffs and powerful angst that reminds listeners of their roots and touches on relatable topics to those from the Venice skate/punk scene and beyond. The band felt the need to raise their voices once again, especially in a world that is full of unnecessary pain, loss and suffering. There is an energy that the band hasn’t felt or seen since the 80’s happening right now, and this is the time for Cycotic Youth to once again spread their message.
Cycotic Youth formed in 1984 by brothers Jason and Jimmy
The band had success with 1985’s self-titled album which led to the band sharing the stage with King Diamond, Death Angel, Cryptic Slaughter and even culminating with selling out their own show at the Roxy in 1987. After nearly 30 years, the band recently reunited for a show with Los Creepers at Café Nela in Los Angeles. Jason Brown is also the owner of Venice based S.T. Tattoo, which he acquired from Mike Muir of Suicidal Tendencies.
1984
Hair Metal was dominating the Sunset Strip and Nancy Reagan was telling the youth to, “Just Say No.” But just 12 miles away a new genre of music was uprising and saying, “Fuck You!” to the establishment. That youthful angst mixed with a charged political climate gave birth to one of the most influential Punk Rock bands in Los Angeles; SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, putting Venice/DOGTOWN/Santa Monica on the map. Cultivated from the Chicano street gang style of dress mixed with surfing and skateboarding, an entire sub-genre was born. As the popularity of Suicidal Tendencies grew, other bands started to emerge out of Venice as well; EXCEL, BEOWULF, NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH and a band started by two 15- and 16-year-old brothers; CYCOTIC YOUTH.
The Brown brothers; Jason and Jimmy, along with a few other like-minded misfits launched the 13 track self-titled CYCOTIC YOUTH in 1985; hard core punk mixed with a little ghetto metal. The album was the soundtrack for illegally skating abandoned pools and headlining backyard parties. The brothers played with other bands from the neighborhood as well as big names like King Diamond, Death Angel and Cryptic Slaughter, the self-titled pressing did so well underground that they would eventually sell out the world-famous Roxy in 1987, but as with time went on, life started moving the members in different directions and ultimately apart. CYCOTIC YOUTH disbanded in 1988.
Fast Forward 30 + years, on the invitation of a 30th reunion for Los Creepers, the Brown brothers resurrected Cycotic Youth at Café Nella. The band practiced more and had a good time doing it, eventually playing another show with LA band Countime at the Westside Rebellion magazine launch party. The reception was electric, and the brothers decided it was time to keep the momentum going and show this generation what real hard core is.
With a new line up, the band members Jason Brown (vocals), Nick Garcia (guitar), Rob Mikhail (guitar), Mikey Beato (Bass) and Bill “Stillwill” Greenwood (drums) have taken that youthful angst to a polished, solid and undeniably matured faction.
The new material is heavy and fast, blended with lyrics written from pain, loss and angry observations of a changing world, CYCOTIC YOUTH has come back to remind everyone where the fuck they came from and to let the people know, they ain’t going nowhere.
