For the members of hardcore crossover band Cutthroat, releasing new music isn’t just about putting songs out—it’s about constantly evolving, honoring their roots, and stepping into broader territory. The band’s new EP, The Purge, is officially out now via M-Theory Audio, marking an ambitious new chapter supported by a solid infrastructure, including management through FM Management.
Reflecting on the milestone, the band’s founder, vocalist Neil Roemer, shares what it felt like to see the record reach listeners under a proper platform after roughly a year of hard work. “Well, after maybe a year or so working on it, it feels nice to finally have it released, and feels good to have it released with M Theory,” he explains. “It’s a proper platform, and I was a little concerned in the beginning when we made it because we were independent at that point, so M-Theory taking a chance on us and then also signing with FM Management, like, I think we have a proper platform.”
The journey to shape The Purge took the Nashville-based frontman clear across the globe to collaborate directly with his bandmates. “My bandmates live in Sao Paulo, Brazil. So my bass player, guitar player, and drummer live there, and I live in Nashville nowadays,” he notes. “I flew to Sao Paulo to record the record at Dharma Studios because I really wanted this record to capture that Brazilian groove, you know, and I felt like being in that element with people who lived there, you know, who grew up in that scene—I thought that that was really important, so that was a really cool, enjoyable part of the process, traveling and being in a different environment and capturing a different feel. I feel like this record is definitely different from all the other stuff that I’ve released, and it’s elevated because of the musicianship behind it.”
Cutthroat originally formed in 2013 and previously dropped their full-length album Fear by Design in 2022 with support from German label Demons Run Amok. Over the years, the project has navigated a roller-coaster trajectory, from build-ups to setbacks caused by the pandemic. However, The Purge reflects a sonic shift from their pure hardcore origin into more thrash and metal territory. That expansion showed immediate results during a recent European tour alongside Bay Area thrash veterans Vio-Lence.
“We just did a month in Europe, and we were out with Vio-lence from the Bay Area, old school OG thrash band,” he shared. “My manager Jessica, she also manages them, and so she was able to get us a support slot. I have done hardcore forever, and I love hardcore, and I love the hardcore fans. But I kind of felt like everything was the same … So with this record leaning more towards metal and thrash, like I mentioned, it was nice to go out with a band outside of our typical genre and get new fans and get the response from people who have never heard of us before. And even though we’re not fully thrash, or fully metal, or, you know, fully hardcore, they appreciated the heaviness, you know, and the crossover feel.”
That tour exposed the group to younger audiences—Gen Z and young millennials—who are driving a massive heavy music renaissance. “It’s a cool resurgence,” he remarked. “The shows we just played … the majority of the people there were probably Gen Z or millennials, you know, and loving it. And then you have the old dudes in the back who, you know, are my age and stuff, and don’t really want to get in the pit anymore. But their heads are moving and rocking out. So, I would say, like, maybe four years ago, the Cutthroat shows were probably more geared towards middle-aged people, and now you see a lot more kids, and they’re buying the merch and wearing cool band T-shirts … You feel that it’s real too. It’s just not like a nostalgia thing that they’re trying to pose; they’re really real about it, so it’s awesome.”
With The Purge out today, the momentum is only accelerating. The band released their second music video off the EP alongside the drop and plan to make a music video for all five tracks on the record, treating every song like a standalone single. Looking ahead, Cutthroat are aiming for a potential U.S. run in October with Sworn Enemy, followed by prospective dates in South America alongside Vio-Lence.
Crucially, the studio process never truly stopped. The band already have seven songs written for a follow-up full-length slated for spring 2027 via M-Theory Audio. They are recording at Korn drummer Ray Luzier’s studio in Franklin, Tennessee, featuring bass player Roz on the tracklist.
Ultimately, The Purge stands as a testament to the group’s relentless work ethic and heightened standards. “We’re really proud of it, and we put a lot of work into it,” Roemer says. “We took our time with it, and we’re very careful about every lyric, every riff. You know, we didn’t rush this … Now that I feel like we have a bigger platform and more ears and eyes on the project, we want to make sure it’s perfect for the friends and fans that are paying and investing time and interest into it. We want to make sure we put out 110% of our capacity.”
The Purge is out now via M-Theory Audio. Get it here.
Photo courtesy of M-Theory Audio
