The noise rock and hardcore scene in Massachusetts has always had its own vibe—gritty, tight-knit, and a bit off the beaten path. Earlier this year, that vibe got a spotlight with “The Bridge to Disappointment,” a series of shows that brought together some of the raw and eclectic bands from the area.
Organized by members of Deprogrammer Cult, the shows were a showcase of the community’s DIY spirit, pulling in bands that had recorded at The Bridge Sound and Stage or released records through Constant Disappointment Records.
Deprogrammer Cult
At the center of our focus today is Deprogrammer Cult. Their gritty debut LP, Tactics for Manipulation, dropped in July 2024, and it’s a good example of everything this scene represents. The album blends hardcore, metal, and sludge into a gritty, no-nonsense package that reflects the frustration and tension that’s part and parcel of the underground scene. A loud, clear message from a band that’s tired of the same old bullshit.
“Tactics for Maipulation” takes you on a journey through eight tracks of seething, sludgy metallic hardcore that doesn’t hold back.
These are five middle-aged guys who’ve seen it all, and they’re not afraid to call out the cookie-cutter trends that have made the broader hardcore and metal scenes feel stale.
Deprogrammer Cult harks back to the sounds of early 2000s noisy metalcore but injects it with a fresh dose of anger and existential dread that feels all too relevant today (think Cursed, Botch, Deadguy, Unsane, Tragedy).
The result is a sound that’s as heavy as it is introspective, capturing the delicate balance between fury and anxiety, where one emotion feeds into the other.
Released via Constant Disappointment Records (CDR-14), the album is available on transparent jungle swirl vinyl, packaged in a full-color gatefold jacket with an insert.
For the true collectors, a limited edition deluxe package (only 25 copies made) includes a CDR pog set—10 mini record pogs representing each prior vinyl release and a slammer featuring the enigmatic Deprogrammer Cult symbol.
The Bridge to Disappointment gigs
Jesse Sherman, the drummer and a key figure in organizing “The Bridge to Disappointment” shows, had a vision that extended beyond just making music. His goal was to bring together a community, to highlight the bands that are pushing the boundaries of what noise rock, hardcore, and punk can be.
And these shows did just that, offering a platform for bands like Lesotho, Stoploss, and Knock Over City to share their unique sounds while contributing to the overall vibe of the scene.
“The Bridge to Disappointment” gigs showed that the Massachusetts scene is more than just a footnote in the broader hardcore and metal world. It’s a place where bands can come together, support each other, and create something that’s truly their own.
Now, our today’s guests, Deprogrammer Cult, delivers a candid recount of these shows, sharing insights and reflections that highlight not just the music, but the sense of unity that defines this corner of the Massachusetts scene.
“It was three shows, monthly, featuring bands that recorded at The Bridge Sound and Stage (in Cambridge, MA) and/or have released records through Constant Disappointed (based out of Lowell, MA). We could feature some interview snippets from Alex Allinson (who runs The Bridge), Adam Norton (who runs Constant Disappointment; i.e., me), Jesse Sherman (from Deprogrammer Cult, who organized all of the shows), and from the bands who played.” – comments the band.
There was an amazing sense of community
“Again, it’s kind of a niche little scene within a larger hardcore scene, but it means a lot to all of us involved and would be a really cool way to shine a spotlight on it.”
All shows took place at Deep Cuts in Medford, Massachusetts. All shows booked by Jesse Sherman from Deprogrammer Cult.
To dive deeper into the essence of these shows, Deprogrammer Cult has curated a special playlist, packed with powerful tracks from the bands that graced the stage during “The Bridge to Disappointment.”
Among the 12 featured bands, 11 recorded their music at The Bridge Sound and Stage (Lesotho, Knock Over City, Deprogrammer Cult, The Endorphins, Karate Steve, Crowfeeder, Bedtimemagic, Billy, Psychic Weight, The Freqs, Miracle Blood), and 4 have released records through Constant Disappointment Records (Stoploss, Knock Over City, Deprogrammer Cult, Crowfeeder).
Jesse Sherman from Deprogrammer Cult was the driving force behind organizing the “Bridge to Disappointment” shows.
Reflecting on how it all began, he mentioned, “I guess I’m the Nexus event for the whole thing.” It started with a conversation with Alex Allinson about recording at The Bridge Sound and Stage. Jeff, Deprogrammer Cult’s bassist, had sent Jesse a link to The Bridge, and as Jesse dug deeper into the bands that had recorded there, he was sold.
The studio’s history as the former Fort Apache, where pivotal records like Only Living Witness’s Prone Mortal Form had been recorded, made the idea even more appealing. “That absolutely got me and Paul [guitarist] psyched to make a record in that room!”
The next step came when Adam Norton of Constant Disappointment Records approached them about releasing the record on his label.
Jesse had already been a fan of Crowfeeder, another band on the label, and knew of Adam’s meticulous attention to detail through mutual friends in Aneurysm and Knock Over City.
Jesse recalled one of his first meetings with Adam, where he was shown the intricate printing on the inside of a record jacket. “He thinks of things from all angles and leaves nothing to chance,” Jesse noted, emphasizing how Adam’s passion for the artform of putting out records made it an honor to have him interested in Deprogrammer Cult’s release.
With the recording and release plans in place, Jesse began to think about how to bring together an impressive lineup of local bands for a show. He reached out to both Adam and Alex for a reality check, wondering if the idea was worth pursuing. Both were immediately onboard, and the concept quickly expanded beyond just one show.
The venue for this ambitious project would be Deep Cuts, a relatively new bar and venue in Medford, Massachusetts, opened by local music fans Jeff and Ian. Both were regulars at the now-closed Great Scott and had wanted to create a space in its image, with a few tweaks. Ian, who had been promoting shows around Boston and Cambridge for years, was known for his community-oriented approach and support for local artists. Jesse was excited to work with them and quickly secured the dates needed.
From there, the planning process became a whirlwind of epic and convoluted email chains. Jesse, Alex, and Adam landed on an incredible lineup and soon realized that they had more than just one show on their hands.
The flyers
Andrew Wong of Miracle Blood volunteered to create the flyers for the series (see below). After some back and forth, they agreed on a theme, and Andrew delivered three standout designs that Jesse describes as some of his favorites. These posters now hang in both his home and rehearsal studio.
“I always offer to make the flyer for any show we play,” Andrew explained, noting that it’s his way of contributing and making things easier for everyone involved. When Jesse asked him to create a “triptych” for the series, Andrew was on board, even if he had to look up what a triptych actually was.
Using a royalty-free design as his starting point, Andrew crafted a set of striking flyers that captured the spirit of the shows. The response was overwhelmingly positive—so much so that Jesse had them printed in large format and handed them out at the shows. “People were asking for them,” Andrew shared, adding a personal anecdote: “A friend of mine went to someone else’s house recently and said one was hanging up on the wall. I think that’s pretty cool.”
Constant Disappointment Records
Adam Norton started Constant Disappointment Records in 2017 with a simple goal: to release his own band Crowfeeder’s LP, No Flowers.
But what began as a personal project quickly evolved into something much bigger. “I didn’t think much of it until Knock Over City, the best band in Massachusetts, was putting together a full length,” Adam recalls. That record became the label’s second release in 2018, and from there, the vision for Constant Disappointment began to take shape.
Adam’s label is about creating a tactile experience that reflects the heavy, rough, and noisy content he’s drawn to. “I’m not an audiophile by any means, but record jackets, inserts, vinyl colors, silly gimmicks, that’s where it’s at,” he explains.
This passion for the physical aspect of music production is best exemplified in the label’s recent releases. For example, Knock Over City’s The Campaign was pressed on marijuana vinyl, complete with a full-color gatefold jacket, three inserts—including fully usable monster character sheets for DnD—and a limited edition sorrow guy 20-sided die.
Deprogrammer Cult’s Tactics for Manipulation followed with a transparent jungle LP, a gatefold jacket, and a limited edition set of 10 CDR pogs, each mini record true to color and center labels of prior vinyl releases. “I’ll have a hard time topping those,” Adam admits, setting the bar high for future projects.
A scene-within-a-scene
When Jesse approached Adam and Alex with the idea for the shows, Adam was immediately on board. Not just because of the bands involved, but because it was a chance to spotlight the niche scene that had developed in the Boston-to-Lowell stretch of Massachusetts. “There’s the Boston hardcore scene, but this ain’t that,” Adam points out.
While some of the bands fit within the traditional hardcore mold, many bring a more eclectic mix of influences—punk, metal, noise rock, and more. It’s a “scene-within-a-scene,” one that’s both precious and fiercely independent. For Adam, the joy of Constant Disappointment lies in fostering this tight-knit community where bands not only share stages but often share members, blending their influences into something distinctly their own.
The shows themselves were built around the existing schedules of the bands, leading to a stylistically diverse mix. “All the bands were all loud and aggressive, but from there they were all over the map—hardcore, noise, indie, metal, punk, sludge, rock, everything,” Jesse said. Despite the variety, the energy was consistent, with each band delivering powerful performances.
Promotion efforts by the bands were effective, and all three shows were well attended. Jesse noted that he recognized a few faces at all three shows, indicating strong support from the community. The atmosphere was something special, a vibe that Jesse hadn’t felt in a long time. The bands not only played their hearts out but also fostered a positive energy that was palpable among the crowd and staff. “The bands all fucking killed and sounded amazing,” he said, summing up the experience as one of camaraderie and musical excellence.
Alex Allinson, co-owner and chief producer/engineer of The Bridge Sound and Stage, was instantly on board when Jesse Sherman and Adam Norton approached him about organizing the showcase.
Alex, who has been a fixture in the Boston music scene for over a decade, saw this as a unique opportunity to bring together a diverse lineup of bands he had worked with in the past. “When Jesse approached Adam and myself about a showcase I couldn’t have been more excited about the idea,” Alex recalls.
“Even though genres were somewhat mixed you could really feel how connected everyone was,” Alex noted. The experience left such an impact that since the showcases, several artists have reached out to Alex, eager to be part of any future runs. For Alex, the most rewarding aspect was seeing the community spirit grow stronger, with artists supporting each other purely out of love for the music and the scene.
“There’s something really special developing within the Boston heavy music scene,” he reflects, highlighting the shift towards a more community-driven atmosphere that has been brewing in recent years.
January 20th, 2024
Lesotho, Stoploss, Knock Over City, Deprogrammer Cult
Adam Norton of Constant Disappointment Records gave us his take on the first show and each band performing:
Lesotho: Post metal anthems with majestic, soaring leads over solid rhythms that ground the listener into their perpetual state of being: alive.
Stoploss: Stomping hardcore to beat your chest and bang your head. Tell your boss to fuck off.
Knock Over City: Simultaneously fun and fearsome, this stoner-punk / post-hardcore / alt-rock outfit is, without hyperbole, the best band in Massachusetts. Hey Sub Pop, you know that new sound you’ve been lookin’ for? Well listen to this!
Knock Over City had a blast playing the January 20th show at Deep Cuts, especially sharing the stage with old friends from Stoploss and Deprogrammer Cult. It was also their first time playing with Lesotho, a band outside their usual lineup but one they were excited to connect with.
“It was also really cool to have a new up and coming/hip venue not only acknowledge our weird little noise rock/post hardcore scene but actively showcase it, the Boston punk scene can be pretty exclusive and choosy with what they decide to show love for and for a couple of Lowell weirdos like us to get love felt cool.”, they commented.
Deprogrammer Cult: Harkening back to the sounds of the pioneers of early 2000s noisey metalcore, they balance equal parts anger, anxiety, frustration, and existential dread into their vicious brand of seething and sludgy metallic hardcore.
February 17th, 2024
The Endorphins, Karate Steve, Crowfeeder, Bedtimemagic
Here’s Adam Norton’s quick review of the bands tht played the second show:
The Endorphins: Pop-rock or prog-punk, whichever way you cut it, your head will spin like a phaser and delay pedal combo while you zone out, tone out, and dance hard.
Karate Steve: Thrashing metal/punk to wake you up in the middle of the night when you suddenly realize you can’t tell if you’ve wasted your life or if you’re just wasted. Either way, you had fun.
For the band, the beauty of these shows lay in the sheer diversity of the lineup. “These bands aren’t just standing there regurgitating tiresome interpretations of Sabbath riffs,” they noted, emphasizing how the bill covered a vast range of styles—from punk and noise rock to shoegaze, psychedelia, hardcore, and beyond. This variety ensured that anyone attending got their money’s worth, with something to enjoy no matter their musical tastes.
But beyond the music, what stood out to Karate Steve was the sense of community that’s at the heart of their scene. “Playing in this scene feels like a family,” they said, recalling how the bands support each other—whether it’s through gang vocals on each other’s records, buying each other’s merch, or just being there for one another at shows. A lot of this camaraderie, they believe, can be attributed to Alex Allinson and The Bridge Sound and Stage, which has become a second home for many bands in the scene.
Karate Steve, despite their light-hearted name, is serious about their music. Drawing from a wide variety of heavy influences, they’ve had a busy year of shows and are gearing up to record their third full-length album at The Bridge with Alex in October.
Fans can look forward to a release show later in the year, likely featuring some of the bands that made “The Bridge to Disappointment” series such a pleasure.
Crowfeeder: Sludge metal/punk that croons heavy, riffs the blues, and feels very self-conscious about the accuracy of this description.
Bedtimemagic: Two guys/dogs that insist on wearing spandex despite IDIOTEQ’s “no spandex” policy. The best two-piece noise rock outfit in New England, with enough distortion to bleed even the most plugged ears.
As a two-piece trash rock band from Boston, BEDTIMEMAGIC have made a name for themselves with their loud, unapologetic sound. Reflecting on the show, Morgan quipped, “We were the only two guys willing to wear spandex. It was pretty sweet.”
March 15th, 2024
Billy, Psychic Weight, The Freqs, Miracle Blood
Adam Norton of Constant Disappointment Records has it:
Billy: Old school hardcore that doesn’t tell you to “get pissed” because you, and they, already are.
Psychic Weight: Filthy, sludgey hardcore for moshers, tweakers, crowd killers, spin kickers, crankers, hippies, druggies, and posers. No tough guys allowed.
The Freqs: Picture three guys in jumpsuits playing fuzzed out noise rock / prog-punk, and take whatever you hear in your head and turn the dial up. More. More. Even more. There it is.
The Freqs were beyond excited when they were first contacted about playing the March 15th show at Deep Cuts. “We were floored,” they admitted, recognizing it as the kind of event bands in their scene had been longing for.
“It’s really an incredibly nurturing scene that has supported us as we’ve grown,” they explained.
This event felt like a true celebration of that camaraderie. With a packed house and every band bringing their A-game, the night was a big hit. “Deep Cuts really brought out the best in each band and the sound was excellent,” they recalled.
The Freqs also gave a shout-out to Jesse Sherman for his role in organizing the event, acknowledging the effort it took to bring everything together.
Miracle Blood: Noisy punk riffers that croon, shout, yodel, and sweat until their amps short or drumheads break.
Miracle Blood was excited to be part of the shows, describing the experience as feeling like they were part of something bigger that they truly belonged to. “The scene is big and there are always tons of shows happening, but it really feels like there is something special happening right now in our little, weird niche and this was a celebration of that.”
In the past, Miracle Blood had struggled to find their place, but during these events, it wasn’t a question. They’ve long gelled with bands like Knock Over City, The Endorphins, BEDTIMEMAGIC, and BILLY, and it was great to finally see and play with Psychic Weight and Deprogrammer Cult, with whom they now feel a connection.
“Deprogrammer Cult blew me away. People came out for the shows, too, which was really rad to see.”
Miracle Blood’s 2nd full-length album is slated for release this fall on Nefarious Industries.
They have a hometown show at Deep Cuts on October 4thcelebrating this release.
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