Hardcore Punk Comes to Mt. Holly’s Union Firehouse (Angry Corpses, STFU, Ingdorf, Acrolein)

Tim McMurtrie was featured on a couple of M.O.D.’s records, including playing guitar on the band’s debut album ‘U.S.A. for M.O.D.’ Also on that album was bassist Ken Ballone.

Angry Corpses was originally started by both McMutrie and Ballone prior to M.O.D., but it was in 2016 when the duo resurrected Angry Corpses again, enlisting Donnyy Polinske on vocals and Walter “Monsta” Ryan on drums. Sadly, Ballone passed away in 2022. Although Ballone is no longer physically with us, he was involved in the writing and recording of Angry Corpses’ upcoming EP, ‘Resurrected’, ... leaving a final gift of his musical talents to live on. 

Angry Corpses' newest single “Kill The Bully” was released on December 2, 2022. ‘Resurrected’ the EP is due to be released early this year. The sound carries the traditional fast tempo thrash punk style that you have come to know from many of McMurtie’s past work. If this was released back in the 80s, you’d find it blaring from the boomboxes at the skate park or liquor store parking lots where the "outcasts kids" of the town hung out. However, it also incorporates today’s modern elements of punk, showing the group's willingness to stick to their roots while adapting to the current times. 

STFU is a local South Jersey band that started a while back and reformed recently. The start was in 2013, but it was in 2021 when guitarists Harry Parks and Harry Pomeroy began playing again, including Cleo Kraus (vocals and bass) and Kyle Smith (drums) to help fill the band. The group just released 3 new songs to Spotify while they continue to record their next EP. Listening to the newly released music, you may think you are listening to a Victory Records compilation disc from the late 2000, early 2010s. STFU would fit well on a mixed tape of Taking Back Sunday, Silverstein, Hawthorne Heights, and the likes. With all that said, STFU may actually be the least heavy band playing this show. And I don’t say that in a negative way, but just to point out that as heavy as their music is, the other 3 bands have an even heavier sound.

Ingdorf is an experimental hardcore band that first started in 2011. They recently added their newest song ‘Last Year, Before All This’ to Spotify in December. This is the band's first new music in 6 years and currently the only music on the streaming site, however older music can still be found online. It does appear the group is in the process of getting more new music out soon, however you can be some of the first to hear new music by seeing them live. The band consists of members, Ben Ryan (guitar), Michael Smith (drums), David Barnes (vocals), and Ryan Smith (bass).

In keeping with the lineup’s theme of coming back together, Acrolein is another New Jersey group that is playing their first show on stage together in nearly 2 years. Their last album, “The Human Recondition” was released in 2020. The band’s profile describes the group as a deathcore band. Listening to “The Human Recondition” the songs are filled with heavy drums, low strung guitars, and growling vocals that are a staple in the deathcore music scene, a sound similar to a Carnifax or Chelsea Grin. The band members are Ant Bentler (vocals), Shawn Trimble (guitar), Joe Fasbinder (guitar), Mario Corsaro (bass), and Justin Leso (drums).