Cruel Hand Australian tour starts this week

Maine's hardest hitting sons, Cruel Hand, return to Australia this June to show why they have been heralded as the future of hardcore. Last seen in Australia for the 2009 Hardcore Festival, Cruel Hand have grown into a force to be reckoned with. Their 2010 album, Lock & Key, has earned them the title of "one of the most important young bands waving the flag of East Coast hardcore".

Taking equal influence from across all eras of hardcore and throwing in elements of thrash metal, Cruel Hand are a band that have made waves, impressing everyone in their path. Reminiscent of the likes of early Madball, Leeway and Suicidal Tendencies, all of these influences can be heard in Lock & Key. Produced by Jay Maas (Defeater, Shipwreck, Carpathian) and released by Bridge 9 Records last year, the album has earned them places on stage alongside everyone from Terror and Madball, to The Acacia Strain and Evergreen Terrace.

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The “hoods from the woods” will return to Australia to leave their mark on the scene once again this June. Taking in venues from Brisbane to Adelaide, Cruel Hand will bring their intense live performance to the stage, pummelling audiences with hard hitting riffs, infectious speed and maybe a Metallica cover or two. The bands well rounded hardcore has lead them to tour the world endlessly since the release of Lock & Key, they will finally give Australia a chance to witness what everyone else has been talking about.

Cruel Hand will be taking on the road with them Sydney's furious ball of aggression, Phantoms. In 2010, the band caught everyone's attention with the release of their debut album As Above, So Below and through playing with bands the likes of Miles Away, Fireworks, Evergreen Terrace, Casey Jones and Mindsnare. In 2011, Phantoms haven't slowed down, releasing and touring their Bad Romance Split 7-inch with Canberra's I Exist and venturing to play shows all across the country. They will join Cruel Hand in what will be their biggest tour to date.