Hard rock project Criminal Hero blends elements of alternative clarity and punk urgency in a lively, nostalgic sound that they describe as “rhythmic, driven and focused.”
The project came about in 2020 when, after a long break from making music, Toronto native Rick Harkness immersed himself in the rock bar scene of his new home Detroit. He reconnected with music without getting involved in any bands, but a trip away was the turning point.
As Rick explains: “The real shift happened on a trip to San Diego. I was there alone for a few days and started writing lyrics on the beach. They weren’t fully formed, but they felt honest and like something I could stand behind. When I got back to Detroit, I picked up the guitar again for the first time in years and began recording simple rhythmic ideas. I deliberately stayed away from big, modern, heavy rock riffs. That became You Better Believe. Once that door opened, everything moved fast in the same vein.”
From there, Rick reached out to a couple of session musicians, bringing in Nathan Snyder on bass and Briant Petry on drums. Over the next six months, the trio pieced together the remaining songs and completed the album. Then, after moving to Vancouver, Rick worked with mastering engineer Tom Porcell (Scorpions, Rob Halford, and Tiësto) to bring clarity and confidence to the songs.
On the sound they’ve crafted, Rick told us: “If I had to describe the sound in a few words, I’d say it’s rhythmic, driven, and focused. It’s stripped-down and analog at its core, with a punk edge that makes you want to move, but it’s not heavy or chaotic.”
Our first taste of this is the band’s debut single You Better Believe, which was released earlier this month. It opens up with lively repeating guitars that tee up an engaging opening verse that flows into a big catchy chorus “My girl, Don’t you see, All that you better believe, My resolution, A reality.” It quickly dives back into another feisty verse and big chorus, which gives way to a tasty little guitar solo that sets up a final blast of the chorus.
On the track, Rick said: “This first single has gotten way more attention than I expected. In the first week, it landed on a bunch of playlists, and Saticöy, a great touring band out of LA, agreed to promote the song, which really kicked things off. From there, it snowballed into blog write-ups, radio play, and I’m honestly grateful for all of it. I think part of why it connects is that it’s a simple, classic story. Boy meets girl at a concert, they fall in love, build a life together, and years later, that moment still matters.
“The groove locks in early, and the hook hits quickly. Many people say that You Better Believe makes them want to dance, which makes me laugh in a good way. Hard rock doesn’t always have to be tough, depressing, or grinding.”
The Criminal Hero sound draws on a broad mix of influences, from 80s hard rock to punk and plenty of Canadian bands. Rick calls out early bands like Goddo, Triumph, Max Webster, Teenage Head, and Forgotten Rebels in the early days, as well as more recent artists like Danko Jones, Gluecifer and Turbonegro.
And on what inspires them to write music, Rick explains: “Everything starts with rhythm. Groove comes first. The drums drive with a natural forward motion; the guitar parts are simple, tight, and catchy without being over-distorted; and the vocals are raw and committed. There are no long intros or filler; everything is built to hit quickly, stay focused, and run around three minutes.
“Vocally, I’m not chasing perfection. I care more about conviction and personality. It’s not polished commercial rock, and that’s intentional. The lyrics are meant to tell stories people can think about, not just filler. The choruses work because they’re part of that release, not pasted on top.
“Production-wise, I like things tight and energetic, with an analog feel. The guitars have bite without crushing you. The drums feel heavy and driving yet fresh. The bass does its own thing rather than just following the guitar; the fills elevate at just the right moment for that build-up and hard drop. For a three-piece, it’s lean, locked in, and cohesive.”
Criminal Hero plan to release a few more singles before dropping their debut album. On which, Rick said: “It’s sarcastic, witty, funny at times, and brutally honest about social media and the modern life of the hyper-sensitive and entitled. Love shows up often. There’s already enough negativity out there.
Let’s mix it up and not make it all one note. If groove and momentum matter to you, that’s
usually where we connect. Right now, I’m settling into this chapter and seeing where it goes. More music is being written. We’ll see how this one plays out and what comes next.”
You can follow Criminal Hero on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube.
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