Youth crew hardcore has always thrived on sincerity. At its best, the style isn't about technical musicianship or innovation—it's about conviction, community, and songs that inspire people to move. Los Angeles hardcore band Start Today understand that better than most. On Nothing To You, the band embraces the classic youth crew blueprint while injecting enough energy and personality to avoid sounding like a simple tribute act.

Drawing influence from legendary acts such as Gorilla Biscuits, Floorpunch, Ten Yard Fight, and Carry On, Start Today have crafted a record that feels rooted in hardcore tradition while remaining relevant to today's scene. The result is an album packed with fast riffs, memorable gang vocals, powerful bass lines, and the kind of positive messaging that has always defined youth crew hardcore.

The album immediately establishes its identity with "No Space." Fast-paced riffs, deep drum tones, and thick bass lines create a familiar but effective foundation. The song captures the urgency that made classic youth crew records so impactful while introducing a heavier breakdown section that adds additional weight without compromising the track's speed. More importantly, the song's lyrical themes reflect the self-improvement and personal accountability that sit at the heart of the genre.

"All Along" continues that momentum with one of the album's strongest bass introductions. The rhythm section consistently proves to be one of the band's greatest strengths throughout the record. The bass isn't buried beneath the guitars; instead, it drives many of the songs forward and adds an extra layer of groove beneath the fast-moving riffs. Combined with energetic drumming and well-placed mosh sections, the track feels tailor-made for a packed hardcore show.

"What About Now" offers one of the album's more dynamic arrangements. Beginning with a slower build before settling into a groove-heavy rhythm, the track demonstrates that Start Today don't need constant speed to maintain energy. The song allows the bass and drums room to breathe while still delivering the urgency listeners expect from youth crew hardcore.

Throughout the record, tracks like "Stuck In The Past," "Someone You're Not," and "Sold Out" showcase the band's ability to write concise, memorable songs without overcomplicating their formula. Every track arrives with purpose, delivers its message, and exits before losing momentum. That efficiency becomes one of the album's greatest strengths, helping the record maintain a consistent level of energy from start to finish.

The title track, "Nothing To You," serves as one of the album's heavier moments. Built around slower grooves and more deliberate pacing, the song creates a welcome shift in momentum before gradually accelerating. The added aggression in the vocal performance gives the track extra intensity while still fitting comfortably within the band's overall sound.

One of the record's standout moments arrives with "Turn My Back." As the album's longest song, it provides a slightly broader showcase of the band's songwriting abilities. Thick bass lines, driving punk-inspired riffs, and subtle additions like pinch harmonics help create one of the album's most memorable arrangements. While some vocal passages occasionally sound strained during the faster sections, the performance never loses its authenticity, and that rawness ultimately works in the song's favor.

Later tracks such as "Looking Out" and "Sold Out" continue delivering exactly what Start Today do best. Fast riffs, energetic drumming, gang vocals, and positive messaging combine to create songs that feel designed for singalongs, stage dives, and community participation. The backing vocals throughout the record deserve particular praise, frequently elevating choruses and helping many of the songs leave a stronger impression.

Production-wise, Nothing To You strikes an ideal balance for this style of hardcore. The album sounds clean enough to highlight every instrument while retaining the grit and urgency that give hardcore its impact. The bass remains prominent throughout the mix, the guitars retain their bite, and the drums hit with enough force to keep the energy levels consistently high.

If there's a criticism to be made, it's that Start Today rarely step outside the traditional youth crew framework. Listeners searching for innovation or experimentation may find the album somewhat predictable. There are also occasional moments where the drumming feels slightly loose and certain vocal passages push the limits of the vocalist's range. However, these issues are minor compared to the strengths of the record.

Ultimately, Nothing To You succeeds because it understands exactly what youth crew hardcore is supposed to accomplish. It delivers fast songs, memorable choruses, positive messages, and genuine passion without unnecessary distractions. Rather than attempting to modernize or reinvent the genre, Start Today focus on writing great hardcore songs, and that approach pays off.

For fans of classic youth crew hardcore, Nothing To You is an easy recommendation. It's energetic, heartfelt, and packed with the kind of community-driven spirit that helped make hardcore such a powerful movement in the first place. More importantly, it establishes Start Today as one of the brightest young bands currently carrying the youth crew torch.