3 Feet High & Rising: Seasoned Buffalo Punk Players Share Self-titled Debut EP (Trustkill Records)

FROZEN GROUND (CREDIT: Michael Hatalak, @michaelhatalak)

FROZEN GROUND is a newly-minted Hardcore band hailing from Buffalo, New York, who shares members with those of It Does Today and Rhinoceros, as well as an ex-member of Pop-punk/Emo/Screamo greats Senses Fail. FROZEN GROUND’s line-up counts vocalist Nick Brooks, guitarist/vocalist Mike Hatalak, drummer John Runkle, and bassist Greg Styliades amongst its current membership. We’ve known about FROZEN GROUND and their existence since at least March of this year and they’ve been steadily teasing their debut EP whilst recording it in the studio these last few months. FROZEN GROUND is signed and aligned with monumental New Jersey-based Punk, Hardcore, Metalcore, and Alternative Rock label Trustkill Records, which ceased operations and went largely defunct as a traditional Indie label in 2010 after being initially launched in 1994. However, as recently as 2022, president/A&R Josh Grabelle triumphantly regained the rights back to his old label and once more, resumed operations of Trustkill Records. FROZEN GROUND now joins a roster that includes legendary bands—both past and present—as Poison The Well, Eighteen Visions, Bullet for my Valentine, Bleeding Through, Walls of Jericho, TERROR, It Dies Today, Most Precious Blood, Brother’s Keeper, Memphis May Fire, Earth Crisis, and latest signees BAYWAY (NJ). About a month ago, FROZEN GROUND dropped a single and companion music video for “No Values, Only Judgment" featuring Michael Smith from Pain of Truth, which was followed by, we’ll call it, a “sizzle reel” showcasing their live exploits. Earlier this week, FROZEN GROUND Shared their second single and music video for "Strikes & Gutters," this time, featuring Mike Ryan from Missing Link.

We’ve been listening to and jamming out to both of the FROZEN GROUND singles all week and emailing/messaging Josh at Trustkill, as well as members of the band, in an effort to attain additional information… but, then, overnight, seemingly out of nowhere, FROZEN GROUND surprise released their long-teased self-titled debut EP onto streaming services. It showcases both “NO Values, Only Judgement” and “Strikes & Gutters,” in addition to three more tracks (“Frozen Ground,” Prophet of Doom,” and “Killing Frost.”) All in all, the FROZEN GROUND EP is five tracks in the span of nine minutes and 22-seconds, in tried and true Punk/Hardcore fashion. It’s definitely a pummeling head-banging affair sonically in the same vain as fellow Buffalo greats TERROR, Buried Alive, Snapcase, Wreckage, and PURE HEEL. Then, earlier this morning, Trustkill Records shared an email burst that went out to subscribers of their email list entitled 🦬 FROZEN GROUND surprise drop new 5 song EP on Trustkill - See them at HELLPHYRA ☠️ Saturday, July 5. It further explained, “Frozen Ground 5 song EP is streaming now! Listen at Spotify, Apple, Amazon, or Pandora and watch the music video for “No Values, Only Judgment” (ft. Pain of Truth) and “Strikes and Gutters” (ft. Missing Link).” It, also, listed FROZEN GROUND’s upcoming shows as: July 5, 2025 in Rutherford, NJ at HELLPHYRA with Dying Fetus, July 12, 2025 in Ontario, Canada at St. Catharine’s with Pure Bliss, August 24, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY at Gold Sounds with Missing Link. So, just like that, within a matter of days, we went from having just two FROZEN GROUND songs to listen to and enjoy to, now, having five! FROZEN GROUND’s FROZEN GROUND EP is now available on digital streaming platforms. FROZEN GROUND’s upcoming live dates and festival appearances are listed above, but we would, also, suggest Following both the band and Trustkill Records on Instagram.