The Washington D.C.-based band Sutras has just dropped their latest album, The Crisis of Existence, and it’s nothing short of a visceral emotional experience. With six tracks of raw energy and introspection, this release brings the perfect storm of punk, hardcore, and a sludgy shoegaze that’ll have you questioning everything. It’s dark, it’s haunting, and it’s deeply personal—a real sonic plunge into the depths of grief, addiction, and mental turmoil.
From the get-go, The Crisis of Existence comes at you with that in-your-face, cyclical riffing that feels deeply rooted in D.C.’s punk history. But Sutras doesn’t settle for just being another hardcore band; they take those gritty, Fugazi-esque vibes and mix them with something much heavier and darker. You can hear it in the thick, sludgy atmosphere of tracks like “Karma to Burn” and “Racing Sundown,” where the tempo slows down just enough to let the emotion sink in.
The album is a study in contrasts—there’s that screamo intensity, but there’s also something strangely melodic beneath all the noise. The vocals? They’re charismatic and visceral. It’s like the singer’s heart is hanging out on their sleeve, raw and unfiltered. Take the way the chorus in “Karma to Burn” spirals out of control, with the group yelling “MY MIND, MY BODY, NO WORDS NO PEACE” in unison, drowning in the frustration of not being able to escape their own thoughts.
Sutras aren’t afraid to dive into the depths of despair. “Racing Sundown” is this haunting, almost mournful meditation on running away from something—maybe yourself? The lyrics, “It’s hard to run in the dark / And in the light, there’s safety,” feel like a cry for help, but also a resignation. It’s like the race against the inevitable—something that you’ll never outrun.
The standout track, though, has to be “Welcome, Kingdom Kids.” Here, the band takes the listener on a twisted journey through nihilism and existentialism, all set against a backdrop of crushing heaviness and chaos. With lines like, “Welcome to the kingdom kids / It’s beautiful and collecting dust,” Sutras paints a world that’s both captivating and suffocating. It’s a powerful commentary on how the material world and the pursuit of fleeting desires ultimately fail to offer any true satisfaction.
Musically, the band leans into some truly interesting territory, mixing aggressive riffs with melodic, shoegaze-inspired layers. It’s like Sutras is trying to make you feel uncomfortable, and they succeed with a sound that’s unpredictable yet oddly familiar. And the mix of punk and hardcore influences with more atmospheric, shoegazey elements adds a whole new layer to their sound—think Lungfish meets slowcore with an edge.
This is an album for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the darkness, for anyone battling mental health, or anyone who’s had to wrestle with their own demons. Sutras may be taking the road less traveled, but if you’re ready to go there with them, it’ll be worth the ride.
The album’s out digitally and on limited cassette via Tomb Tree label—don’t miss it.
Sutras members:
Tristan Welch (guitar/vocals) and Frederick Ashworth (rhythm section).
Sutras Social Media:
Punk Rock Mag 
Leave a comment