Introducing: PUSH!

Lisbon five-piece PUSH! deliver a thick slab of heavy and intense metallic hardcore infused with serious amounts of groove in a sound they describe as “heavy, energetic and groovy.”

The Portuguese band has been around since 2013 with a backstory rooted in their local hardcore and punk scenes. They quickly earned a reputation for high-energy live shows, which remain a staple of the PUSH! approach, playing across Europe in countries like Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, Spain and Romania, as well as releasing three albums and two EPs.

And over the years, they’ve honed their approach into what vocalist Nuno Cruz describes to us as: “The PUSH! sound is a fierce blend of heavy metallic hardcore infused with groove. If you haven’t heard us before, picture aggressive, pounding riffs, driving rhythms and intense breakdowns that hit you right in the chest. Beyond the heaviness, there’s an emotional edge. We don’t just play loud; we play with heart, tackling themes that resonate on a personal level.”

Our latest taste of this is their three-track EP Tough Guys With Feelings, which was released in May. It opens up with a chunky riff answered by a clean flurry of notes then a little exhale of breath tees up a chunky riff. It explodes into a violent verse of vicious vocals supported by a stabbing riff and driving drums, which continue under heavy screams. The pace drops down into a deliciously groovy breakdown section with chugging guitars, a big siren sound, and more chunky guitars, heavy screams and rolling drums.

Unswayed opens up with heavy guitars and vocals then a funky driving riff that you can’t help but bounce your head along to. Fast-paced intense vocals take over along wild riffs before intensifying with high-pitched guitars, which drop into low-tuned moody chords and another funky riff.

Final track Hands Of Concrete dives straight into staccatoed vocals and guitars with rolling drums before a lively verse. Little flurries of higher-pitched guitars jump in before a big chorus and the return of the siren. The drums drop out and set up a big breakdown section of chunky guitars before a flying guitar solo brings the EP to a conclusion.

On the track, Nuno told us: “The reception has been amazing! We’ve felt a lot of support from both our long-time followers and new listeners who connected with the raw, honest energy we put into this EP. For anyone who hasn’t checked it out yet, you should expect a heavy metallic hardcore experience with a solid dose of groove. This EP isn’t just about aggression – it’s about finding strength in facing your struggles and being real about what you feel. And the title Tough Guys With Feelings is a bit of satire, poking fun at the hyper-masculine image that’s often associated with hardcore and heavy music scenes.”

The PUSH! sound has been influenced by the likes of Trapped Under Ice, Expire, Backtrack, Suburban Scum, and King Nine’s intense approach to hardcore. As Nuno explains: “Each of them brings a unique element that we’ve connected with and drawn from over the years.”

And on what inspires them to write music, Nuno tells us: “We write from a place of authenticity, drawing inspiration from the challenges we face, the emotions we confront, and the world around us. A lot of what we create is influenced by personal struggles, resilience, and the ups and downs that come with being human. Key themes we tackle often include perseverance through adversity, inner conflict, and the idea of staying true to yourself in a world that constantly pushes you to conform. We also touch on social issues and the struggles faced by those on the fringes of society.”

PUSH! are currently in the process of writing a new album that will explore fresh ideas and help them to push their sound further. They’re also preparing for a tour, including playing festivals across Europe, and are especially hopeful to play in the UK for the first time. As Nuno says: “It’s been a goal of ours for a while to play for the hardcore community there and share the energy of our live shows with new audiences.”

You can follow PUSH! on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp and YouTube.