After a decade shaped by loss, lineup changes, and self-produced chaos, San Jose’s Mugshot return with All the Devils Are Here, their second full-length and first for Pure Noise Records.
Set for release on June 20, the record lands as a 12-track barrage of personal and collective fury, marked by new energy, sharper focus, and an unrelenting grip on the genre’s most punishing corners.
Today, the rising four-piece reveals the impending record’s massively heavy 3rd single, ‘I’ll Be Here Forever,’ and accompanying music video.
Commenting on the new single, the band says: “This was one of the most difficult to finish lyrically, but came together better because of that. We all felt a sense of isolation while writing and recording this album so thematically, this song is centered around sacrificing whatever you feel is necessary to accomplish one’s goals, even if that means ultimately harming yourself or those around you.”
Produced by Randy Leboeuf (Kublai Kahn, The Acacia Strain, Bad Omens), the album marks the first time Mugshot have handed off the production reins. It’s also the first LP since vocalist Ringo Waterman joined in 2023, helping the band shape what drummer Connor Haines describes as a “new vibe, new energy and new presence.”
The rest of the lineup—guitarist Michael Demko, bassist Ciro Abraham, and Haines—remain central to the group’s identity, but All the Devils Are Here pushes beyond past efforts, both sonically and thematically.
Lyrically, the album shifts from the political focus of 2023’s Cold Will to something more intimate and universally cutting. “This album is the most collaborative we have ever been as a band, every person had a major hand in creating whether that be musically, lyrically or both,” the band shares.
“Lyrically this is the most personal and pissed off we have ever been and we think everyone will be able to connect with many tracks on this record.” The devils, as the title suggests, aren’t theoretical or religious—they’re everyday burdens, traumas, and abusers. “The ‘Devils’ are the worst qualities of life that people deal with every day,” the band explains. “Whether that be people that abuse or try to control others, daily struggles or just your own traumas and mental illnesses. The devils aren’t something waiting for you when you die, they’re here now.”
That weight runs through recent singles “Die in Fear” and “Afore a Waking Nightmare,” initially written as one song but later split during recording. “‘Die in Fear’s’ lyricism focuses on self-hatred — that sense of being a constant burden to those around you — while ‘Afore A Waking Nightmare’ is that same vitriolic hatred pointed at someone else who takes and takes but provides no value to anyone else.”
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This duality—inner and outer rage—is a thread throughout the album. From isolation to religious trauma, power abuse to spiritual disillusionment, All the Devils Are Here takes those themes and hurls them into dense, crushing compositions.
The artwork, once again, ties into past motifs. “Themes of Heaven & Hell, life & death, grief & bliss, and a reoccurring set of flowers (roses and chinese forget-me-nots) have been present on our artwork and in our music since Empty Heaven so we wanted to continue that through line,” the band shares. They tapped Rotting Reign to pull it together visually: “We’ve admired Rotting Reign’s work for a long time and knew he would be able to bring all these aspects together in a unique way and he nailed it.”
The record is also a document of a scene that’s evolved along with the band. Mugshot’s roots in the San Jose hardcore community run deep, and they’ve seen its shifts over time. “The scene in San Jose has never been better,” they say. “We’ve seen a lot of iterations of it, from when it was thriving and there were a ton of local bands, to every DIY hardcore venue shutting down and people aging out of hardcore, to where it is now, an awesome scene with so many incredible bands that represent the Bay Area in a way we’ve never seen before.” They highlight groups like Sunami and Scowl for expanding the reach and diversity of the scene.
Speaking of regional heroes, Mugshot also offered up a list of their current Bay Area favorites:
Big Boy – “They’re crushing right now and representing the bay on cool stages and tours while making killer music.”
Outta Pocket – “A younger band, making fun music and really elevating the Bay Area scene.”
Desmadre – “One of the coolest hardcore bands we’ve ever seen live, sound massive and absolutely crush. Full of awesome, nice dudes.”
Scowl – “They have been pushing boundaries for how far a punk band can go and have been evolving their sound while staying true to their roots.”
Sunami – “A band that’s just having fun and showing that you don’t need to be serious, tough guys to take over the world.”
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As for what’s next, Mugshot is gearing up for a heavy summer tour. “We have a tour this summer with Orthodox, Omerta and Fromjoy that is going to be an incredible time,” they confirm. “We have a couple other things in the works that I can’t speak on yet, but I think will be very cool.” Asked about Europe, they add: “Nothing on the books yet but hoping for something early next year, fingers crossed!”
