Emerging from the hardcore underground of Evansville, Indiana, Grow Blind have wasted no time making their presence felt. Since forming in late 2023, the band has built a reputation for pairing relentless energy with infectious grooves—a formula that comes to full fruition on their self-titled debut EP. Across its four tightly wound tracks, Grow Blind carves out a space where aggression, emotion, and fun all collide, drawing inevitable comparisons to genre-shakers like Turnstile, Trapped Under Ice, and Gumm. But even with those touchpoints, Grow Blind already sound like a band confident in their identity.

Right from the jump, “Born to Lose” delivers a heavy-handed statement of intent. The guitars crash in with a metallic edge—chunky and downtuned, yet agile—and the bass doesn’t just sit in the mix, it drives it, rumbling with a clarity and heft that gives the track its crushing weight. The drums are tight and explosive, loaded with busy, expressive fills that never feel overstuffed. What stands out most, though, is the vocal delivery: piercing, high-pitched, and urgent. It cuts against the usual guttural hardcore grain, adding a layer of tension that elevates the whole track. The riffs shift and scale with finesse, and the transitions are fluid—making the track feel as catchy as it is chaotic.

“Come and Get It” keeps that momentum rolling, but adds a twist. The bass opens things up with a swaggering presence before locking into a stuttering rhythm that flirts with nu-metal without fully diving in. Think Limp Bizkit’s Break Stuff, but stripped of gimmick and sharpened for a hardcore crowd. There’s a palpable sense of buildup here, with spoken-shout vocals riding on syncopated drum hits that keep the energy simmering before everything boils over. It’s one of the EP’s most danceable and crowd-ready moments—tailor-made for mic grabs and two-stepping chaos.

The third track, “Silver,” shifts gears entirely. Where the first two songs thrive on volatility and motion, this one feels intentionally restrained. The tempo is steadier, the arrangements more open. The riffs take a back seat to mood, allowing atmosphere and pacing to lead. It doesn’t hit with the same explosive force, but that’s the point—it serves as a reset, a moment to breathe before the final blow.

That final track, “Get a Grip,” brings the EP full circle while nodding toward broader ambitions. There’s a noticeable Turnstile influence here—not just in the balance of melody and aggression, but in the way the band plays with space and repetition. The riffs are simple but catchy, leaning into a pop sensibility without ever losing their grit. The drumming is more dynamic, pushing and pulling in all the right ways, while the vocals remain sharp and cutting. The track doesn’t necessarily build to a climactic eruption, but its steady churn leaves a lasting impact, wrapping the EP in a sound that’s as accessible as it is raw.

What makes Grow Blind’s debut compelling isn’t just the strength of the songs—it’s the clarity of vision. The band wears their influences proudly, but never hides behind them. Instead, they fuse those inspirations into something distinct: a blend of groove-heavy hardcore, emotionally honest lyricism, and an unexpected vocal style that sets them apart. There’s a chemistry here that feels both natural and deliberate, as if the band already knows what works for them and is eager to refine it.

If this EP is any indication, Grow Blind are just getting started. With a little more dynamic range and a push into the experimentation hinted at in tracks like “Silver” and “Get a Grip,” they’re well positioned to grow beyond the regional circuit and into the national conversation. As it stands, Grow Blind is a debut that hits hard, grooves harder, and leaves you wanting more.

Rating: 7/10