Mihail Slavov from Expectations, and members of Rugged, Georgi Ivanov and Dimitar Rumenov, along with Simeon Mizov from Cold Hate, have come together to form a new straight edge band called TRUExFEELING. The band aims to reignite the fire of straight edge hardcore music in the Balkans, with a bunch of shows planned for the next few months and more songs and releases on the way.
Last weekend, TRUExFEELING played their first show during the second day of DIY Conspiracy’s Mayday Fest in Sofia, Bulgaria (see the photo above). And just a couple of days ago, they released their first single “In Decay,” a more general and straightforward track that aims to engage with everyone who turns to drugs and alcohol to deal with trauma and stress.
According to Mihail Slavov, the band wants to encourage everyone feeling doubt in the way they deal with hardship to try not to repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Straight edge can be part of the solution for a lot of people, a stepping stone to other “radical” ideas, self-improvement, and a way to bring more compassion in a cruel world.
While the lyrics of “In Decay” may seem simple, they carry a powerful message of hope and self-improvement.
“For us straight edge is not an end point, but a tool for people to get stronger, more aware and responsible for their well-being. It’s could and should be a stepping stone to other “radical” ideas, self-improvement and a way to bring more compassion in a cruel world. With this first song we want to encourage everyone who is feeling doubt in the way they deal with hardship to try to not repeat the same mistakes over and over again. Straight edge could be part of the solution for a lot of people.” – comments Mihail.
Mihail Slavov has been straight edge since 2006 and has noticed that there hasn’t been much of a “Bulgarian straight edge scene” throughout the years.
“Through the years there has been around 20 to 30 people who I was aware were straight edge. Some of them are not edge anymore, some still are, but some of those people are the ones who have done a lot for the local hardcore and punk scene. I was told from older people in the scene that in the mid-90s there were 2 straight edge bands but I wasn’t around then and as far as I know is no recorded music from these bands, so I can’t really comment on that. ”
However, things are starting to change with the rise of more young people claiming edge in the hardcore scene.
“With this band we aim to change things around. We want to offer an alternative to the trend of people in the scene doing harder and harder drugs – cocaine seems to be the trendy thing for the last few years.” – admits Mihail.
“In the near future we have plans for many shows, collaborations and releases. We’re finishing the music for our debut album and we intend to record it in the summer and release it as soon as we can. Another amazing thing that happened recently is that another straight edge band just formed in Sofia – shout out to xChokex! We are also very happy that Europe is home of some very good straight edge bands – Escalate, Remain, Lifelike. We are looking forward to sharing the stage with them in the future!”
TRUExFEELING is a band to watch out for in the straight edge hardcore scene, with their passion and dedication to spreading positive values and uplifting messages through their music.
TRUExFEELING are Simeon Mizov, Mihail Slavov, Georgi Ivanov and Dimitar Rumenov.
