Trustkill

Trustkill From its earliest days, Trustkill built a reputation for spotting raw talent and helping bands unleash their full potential.

❌ Hardcore Since ‘94 by Josh Grabelle
🍝 Bayway “The Recipe” out now
🦅 Terror "Live at CBGB" out now
⚔️ Shattered Realm "Broken Ties" out now
🛒 Trustkill.com/store
☠️ Hellfest is July 3/4/5, 2026
🎟️ Hellfest.com Trustkill Records was a pioneering independent record label at the heart of the hardcore, metalcore, and post-hardcore explosion of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Founded in 1994 by Josh

Grabelle in New Jersey, Trustkill quickly became synonymous with raw energy, unrelenting passion, and a DIY ethos that resonated deeply with fans and bands alike. From the moment Josh Grabelle started printing the Trustkill fanzine in 1994 and hosting bands in the basement of his parents’ Jersey Shore home, there was an energy that refused to be contained. The label was instrumental in shaping the sound of modern heavy music, introducing the world to game-changing acts like Poison the Well, Bleeding Through, Hopesfall, Terror, Eighteen Visions, Throwdown, It Dies Today, and Walls of Jericho. These bands defined a sound, bridging the ferocious intensity of hardcore with the precision and power of metal. With each release, Trustkill was setting the standard for what heavy music could be. By championing bands that defied convention and shaped genres, Trustkill Records became a cultural landmark. From sweaty basement shows to dominating global stages like Warped Tour and Ozzfest, its roster redefined what it meant to be “hardcore.” The label’s releases became touchstones of the era, blending innovation with aggression, and finding their way into Hot Topic shelves, MTV rotations, and countless playlists worldwide. Before its 2010 hiatus, Trustkill had sold over two million albums, cementing its legacy in heavy music. Beyond the music, Trustkill was a beacon for the underground community, known for its beautifully designed releases and forward-thinking approach to distribution and marketing. Trustkill stood for authenticity and gave bands a platform to explore themes of struggle, triumph, heartbreak, and resilience. Today, the legacy of Trustkill continues to echo. The label’s influence is felt in every breakdown, every mosh pit, and every new band that picks up the hardcore torch. Its roster has inspired countless musicians, while its DIY ethos has served as a blueprint for modern independent labels. With a history that embodies the unbreakable spirit of heavy music, Trustkill Records is a symbol of what the underground can achieve when passion meets purpose. The renewed focus also includes championing emerging talent, ensuring that Trustkill remains a guiding light for a new generation of heavy, innovative, and unapologetic music. In 2025, the legend grows even stronger as HELLFEST, the iconic hardcore and metal festival presented by Trustkill in the early 2000s, makes its triumphant return. The festival that defined a scene, a generation, and an era, is back.

- Anthony Mandelli

07/21/2025

Hatebreed played their first ever NJ show in my basement in the summer of 1995 with Ignite, Despair, and Endeavor. Last night they played to a packed Starland Ballroom. So cool.

🎤 Hatebreed
🎵 Perseverance

July 19, 2025
Starland Ballroom
Sayreville, NJ

🎥 Josh Grabelle

Listen to me and Joe HC talk about the new Trustkill book, Hellphyra weekend, Bayway and more on This Is Hardcore Podcas...
07/14/2025

Listen to me and Joe HC talk about the new Trustkill book, Hellphyra weekend, Bayway and more on This Is Hardcore Podcast out today

I made a book called “TRUSTKILL 90s Hardcore” and it’s out today. Thanks to Shining Life Press and Buske, Mike Olender, ...
07/12/2025

I made a book called “TRUSTKILL 90s Hardcore” and it’s out today. Thanks to Shining Life Press and Buske, Mike Olender, Tim McMahon, Carl Severson, Scott Dempsey, Scott Vogel and Pete Wentz for their contributions.

Dedicated to hardcore. Out now.

📖 ShiningLifePress.com

HELLFEST 2026 ☠️
07/09/2025

HELLFEST 2026 ☠️

07/08/2025

🇺🇸 BelieveInBayway.com

07/04/2025

Vocalist and producer Jayway of New Jersey hardcore crew Bayway discusses their new album 'The Recipe,' out Friday on Trustkill Records.

07/03/2025

Ladies and gentlemen 🇺🇸

Final Hellphyra lineup update and set times for both stages - SIN AGAINST SIN will now be playing Sunday. We wish  from ...
07/03/2025

Final Hellphyra lineup update and set times for both stages - SIN AGAINST SIN will now be playing Sunday. We wish from Shattered Realm a speedy recovery!

🚨 ONLY A HANDFUL OF WEEKEND PASSES LEFT

✅ SINGLE DAY TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE ONLINE AND AT THE DOOR ALL WEEKEND

🫡 Check FAQ included in this post for information about the weekend!

SCHEDULE:

Friday July 4
Doors at 2:00 PM
MANIC on at 2:45 PM

Saturday July 5
Doors at 9:30 AM
DRAPED IN BLACK on at 10:15 AM

Sunday July 6
Hellphyra Hangout
11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Sunday July 6
Doors at 3:00 PM
HOLDER on at 3:30 PM

🎟️ All tickets at Hellphyra.com

07/03/2025

Believe in Bayway 🇺🇸

07/01/2025

THIS FOURTH OF JULY! 🇺🇸

Rock out to the best in NJ Hardcore with e.townconcrete, Bayway NJ, Folly, norariotsquad, and many more at The Blackbox at The Williams Center in Rutherford, NJ! 🤘

TICKETS FOR THE 4TH, AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL SHOWS WITH MORE BANDS ON JULY 5TH & 6TH, AVAILABLE ONLINE HERE: https://dice.fm/bundles/hellfest-presents-hellphyra-9dwn

hellfestdotcom newjerseyhardcore

06/27/2025

🎟️ Hellfest.com/njhc

Address

Tinton Falls, NJ

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Trustkill posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Trustkill:

Share

Category