Oakland’s hardcore underground keeps pushing forward, and this time, two of its contributors—Piss Mist and Wrinkled Rat—are marking their spot with a split 7-inch, set for release on March 14. This collaboration brings together two bands that, while rooted in hardcore punk, each twist the genre with their own angles. Piss Mist leans into a metal-influenced melodic hardcore assault, while Wrinkled Rat adds post-punk angularity to their chaos.
The Piss Mist side is available for an exclusive first listen before the official release right here!
Formed a little over two years ago, Piss Mist is made up of vocalist Tommy Dean, guitarist/backing vocalist Mario Bourzac, bassist Mike DiMaria, and drummer Jed Hewitt. Their connection was forged through West Oakland’s Punks With Lunch, a harm reduction and advocacy group where all four members were involved at different times.
The band came together in early 2023 after Dean persistently pushed Bourzac to start writing music. Within months, Hewitt joined on drums, and by their first gig, DiMaria had stepped in to complete the lineup—literally answering their call from a nearby cot where he’d been resting at the time.
Lyrically, Piss Mist doesn’t shy away from confrontation. Their track “Salute Deez Nuts” takes aim at the manufactured patriotism that has fueled decades of war. Dean describes it as a reflection on how military marketing campaigns have conditioned young men to enlist, while domestic conditions crumble. Meanwhile, “Dialectical Immaterialism” is a deeply personal look at the internal contradictions of depression, existential doubt, and the struggle to appreciate life despite its hardships.
The band isn’t looking for a singular theme, but there’s an undeniable sense of trying to find clarity amid collapse. “It does reflect the human experience of living through what feels like the prologue to a dystopian nightmare, and the desire to navigate that without letting it lead you to permanent despair,” the band explains. Making music with friends, in a scene that values community, remains an antidote to that bleakness. They have more on the horizon—a second split later this year with Peripeteia, and a potential full-length by the end of 2025. Touring is limited by day jobs, but they plan to play as much as possible.
The cover art pays tribute to Agatha, the cat that used to hang out during their practices at Hewitt’s house. She passed away last year, and the band wanted to honor her presence.
Piss Mist has been active in Oakland’s DIY scene for just over a year now. Since emerging in a post-lockdown landscape, they’ve seen more shows popping up, with the underground slowly regaining its footing. Their split with Wrinkled Rat captures that energy perfectly.
Piss Mist throw their weight behind a bunch of bands keeping Oakland’s underground alive. Wrinkled Rat, who share this split with them, are just the start—there’s also Ratz On Acid, Ansible, Ancient Rage, Peripeteia, Diesel Dudes, Braintooth, False Figures, Quaaludes, Altar De Fey, Glowing Brain, Urban Sprawl, 55 Castles, BIG, Don’t Ask, Shame, Angry Aztecs, Las Ratas, Raze, Vermidax, Phantasmal Abyss, Deathgrave, Brainoil, Hellfire, Nite, and Healers. Each one’s got their own spin, but together they make sure the local scene stays loud, thriving and unpredictable.
Full track by track commentary for the Piss Mist side:
“Salute Deez Nuts”: As a millennial, most of my life has been marked with endless wars and proxy wars, as the quality of life in our own country deteriorates because our collective resources are funneled to kill and conquer innocent people abroad. And coming of age in a post-911 world with Afghanistan and Iraq, patriotism via a multi-million dollar marketing scheme is what enabled this consent, and also coerced young, unknowing men to go and die for it. We are all victims of this bullshit in one way or the other.
“Dialectical Immaterialism“: The title is a play on the “dialectical materialism” theory of history Marx popularized, but the lyrics just refers to my own mental and emotional processes that push and pull against each other. I’ve struggled with severe depression, anxiety, and suicidality, but have also been blessed with an amazing life, amazing friends, amazing family, and experiences. So, I’m constantly pulled between the two opposite existential sentiments: “I want to fucking die” and “I’m so glad I’m here in this life”.
