Nearly three decades after their first spark in the Long Island hardcore scene, Overthrow are back with a new hard-hitting full-length, “Setting The Price.” The explosive album is out today, recorded with Chris Fasulo at East Coast Recordings and mastered by Dave Roman at 4130 Mastering. Nine tracks run between punk urgency and metallic weight, anchored by breakdowns that feel sharpened for the present.
This is that strain of hardcore where everything snaps tight—metallic, heavy-bouncing, but not the kind of over-grooved chug you’re expecting. Some will say “in the vein of Strife,” but it’s got its own flavor—precise riff fire, room to breathe, zero drag, zero boredom.
Originally formed in 1995, the band made its first mark through a split with Voice of Reason on Stillborn Records, followed by the 1999 full-length “React” on Triple Crown. After disbanding in 2001, Overthrow resurfaced for a one-off reunion with Strife and Shutdown in December 2022.
That show rekindled more than nostalgia. “Coming back with ‘Setting The Price,’ we have a deeper sense of purpose,” vocalist Chris Ruffini explains for NoEcho magazine. “We understand the weight of what we put into this, musically and lyrically. But also realize that doing this now at this point in our lives is about having fun and enjoying the moment we’re in.”
Thematically, the record pulls no punches. “The new album is a reflection of both personal and collective growth—from struggle, resilience, and a need to move forward with clarity and strength,” Ruffini says. “At its core, it’s about overcoming adversity and carving out a stronger, more intentional path after setbacks. We touch on themes of personal loss—acknowledging pain without being consumed by it—and how those experiences shaped us into who we are now.”
That balance of confrontation and reflection carries into social commentary. Ruffini notes: “The record also continues our commitment to addressing real-world issues, with a sociopolitical lens on the opioid crisis and its devastating impact. It’s a mix of confrontation and reflection—raw, honest, and driven by purpose.”
For guitarist Anthony Salerno, the band’s sound keeps to its original DNA while building forward. “Setting the Price holds true to our original sound, blending metal and punk influences together, and continues to lean heavily into breakdowns similar to ‘React.’ The biggest difference this time around is the addition of a guitar lead, with Steve adding a lot of depth and body to everything we collectively write.”
Puccio adds, “The whole album is built on the fundamentals of what Overthrow always was but has added extra layers and surprises that makes it that much more interesting.”
Lyrically, the record threads personal and collective struggles into one current. Songs memorialize friends and family lost over the years, reflect on resilience, and carry militant critique of systemic failures. The titles already released show this range: “Tribute” remembers those who shaped the band’s path; “Anywhere But Here” channels escape and reinvention; “The Calling” pushes towards resilience and movement. At the other end, the title track “Setting The Price” takes on the opioid crisis with lines like “Class action won’t do, street action is due.”
Some songs lean heavy and direct, while others show a more melodic undercurrent. Ruffini points out, “We now have a lead guitarist, Steve, that adds another dimension to our sound, providing depth that we didn’t have as a four-piece. It’s still us—but the progression is in how we’ve evolved, and pushed ourselves a little further, and written with more purpose. It feels like the natural next step, even if there’s a big gap between records.”
Overthrow describe the record as both a continuation of what they were and a statement of where they stand now: older, more intentional, still committed to the grit of hardcore. “Hardcore is about connection—connecting past to present, the younger generation to the older one, and showing that this music still has the power to inspire and challenge people,” Ruffini reflects.
“Setting The Price” comes out October 3rd. A full track-by-track commentary from the band, breaking down every song in detail, can be read below.
View this post on Instagram
1. End Complete
This song is on the refinement process we all must go through as part of a greater design. It’s one of my favorite collaborations this band has ever done, with everyone pushing the bar on this song until the last moment possible. The guitar for the ending breakdown was completed in the 11th hour, the night before we went into the studio. Rich actually completed writing the end in the studio, as we recorded it.
This was the last song we wrote for the record. It really came together fast. Very heavy, cool tempo changes and mosh parts. The ending breakdown was adjusted in the studio, and for the better. Rich switched up his drums when he was recording with a more stomp breakdown beat. Anthony then went into the studio and wrote the breakdown over the drums.
2. Anywhere But Here
This was the first song we wrote for the album. Has a heavy, in your face, dark sound. It grapples with themes of longing or escaping a situation or job. The person acts invested, but in reality has the desire to break free from past constraints or personal stagnation, all while finding strength in a renewed identity.
3. Tribute
This is an uplifting, energetic song. The lyrics are about our friends and family that we have lost since our last record in 1999. It is a Tribute to them and what we have learned from them at this stage of our lives. All of the songs on this record mean a lot to us, but this one and Remembrance stand out for me based on the theme.
View this post on Instagram
4. The Calling
The idea for the chorus came up while sitting in a movie. The song communicates resilience by speaking out, and establishing a new path forward.
5. Setting The Price
This song is straight up militant punk, with a crazy breakdown at the end. I think the ending of the song is some of the heaviest stuff we ever wrote. The song’s lyrical theme is about the opioid crisis in our country.
6. What Lies Ahead (featuring Rick from Extinction AD)
This song is straight up heavy and to the point. The lyrics deal with confronting uncertainty or anticipating what may come—portrayed with urgency. Rick from Extinction AD/This is Hell provides guest vocals on the second verse of the song.
7. Final Design
This has a melodic, punk edge to it. This one is fun to play and has a lot of energy. As mentioned before, the addition of Steve in adding the second layer of guitar with his leads and harmonies, helped bring out a lot of the new songs. On this one, you can see how his subtle harmonies enhance the melodies in Final Design.
8. React
This song was the title track of our first Record “React” in 1999. We felt the song’s intensity and lyrics completely fit the new record. We also wanted to re-record the song because we enhanced the ending part with the addition of Steve with more groove and heaviness.
9. Remembrance
This song is dedicated to a close friend of ours that tragically passed away. The lyrics honor his memory, but are reflected in sharing the times had and using them to move forward.
This song has a hard melodic edge. We were able to experiment with different guitars to provide a melodic tone that fit the song. All of the songs on this record mean a lot to us, but this one and Remembrance stand out for me based on the theme.
