Ghouli are a macabre-inspired Richmond, Virginia-based Hardcore Punk band, who just released their debut EP, NOTHING, earlier this morning. We, actually, first learned about Ghouli last week, when Stereogum Senior Editor, Tom Breihan, posted the first installment of his new Let The Roundup Begin: The Month In Hardcore - January 2020 column. Ghouli hail from an area that boasts a decades-long pedigree of great Punk/Hardcore bands, which includes newcomers One Step Closer, CANDY, Break Away, NOSEBLEED, Division of Mind, Red Vision, and Left Cross. Ghouli were formed in early 2018 and their current line-up consists of frontwoman Sam Poe, guitarist Mikey Kent, bassist Ethan Mackenzie, and drummer Eric Kelly, including former members of Hold Tight, Radio Reds, and Teen Death. Mikey Kent recently told The Witzard, via email, that Ghouli are "heavily influenced by 80's Hardcore bands, like T.S.O.L. & Poison Idea, old school Death Rock, like Christian Death, and 2000's bands, like Government Warning, Direct Control & F*CKED UP."


NOTHING is Ghouli's proper follow-up to their self-released 2018 Demo. It was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Bob Quirk—who has previously worked with Iron Reagan, Fried Egg, left Cross, and Haircut—during Summer 2019 at Ground Up Studio. According to Discogs, Quirk, also, recorded, mixed, and mastered Ghouli's 2018 self-titled Demo EP. Much like its predecessor, NOTHING was self-released digitally on Ghouli's Bandcamp page with clear red-hinted cassettes available from Orlando, Florida-based imprint, Doctor & Mechanic Recordings AKA DAM Recordings. With six frantic tracks clocking in at just under 13 minutes, NOTHING is a guttural "punch" to the head, reminiscent of Black Flag's 1981 full-length debut, Damaged cover image. Ghouli's upcoming gigs include 1/22: Richmond, Virginia (RVA) with Lipid & Iron Cages at VSC and 2/7: Norfolk, Virginia with Bato at Studio 239B. Ghouli's NOTHING EP is now available on digital streaming platforms, as well as the aforementioned cassette tapes, via Doctor & Mechanic Recordings.