{"product_id":"initiate-with-love-with-rage-devil-dog-exclusive-12-ep","title":"Initiate 'With Love \/\/ With Rage' (Devil Dog Exclusive) 12\" EP","description":"\u003cp\u003e12\" EP - \u003cspan\u003eCoke Bottle Clear (Devil Dog Exclusive) \u003cbr\u003e🚛 - Digital release August 7th \/ Vinyl expected to ship September 2026\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eA thin line separates our most extreme feelings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Across this line,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ew\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ee express grief and joy, confusion and confidence, and hate and love with the same amount of passion\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e and vigor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eInitiate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003esonically channel opposite ends of a vast emotional \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003econtinuum\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. Anger and wrath overflow from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eserrated\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e riffs, pit-splitting breakdowns, and cathartic screams, whereas \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eaffirmations of comfort, assurances of friendship, and promises of forever \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eare beamed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ethrough otherworldly chord progressions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ewaths\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e of keys,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e and\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eethereal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e vocal transmissions.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Elements of hardcore, alternative, metal, and indie \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ecoalesce like colors in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e kaleidoscope, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003efissuring, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003efragmenting\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e and fusing back into focus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Following widespread acclaim, packed shows, and millions of streams, the quartet\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e—Crystal Pak [vocals], Michael Morales [bass], \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eDraven\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Carter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e [guitar]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, Manning Gray \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e[\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eguitar\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eand John\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eHodge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e [\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ed\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003erums]—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003estrike an uncanny \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ebalance between sounds and emotions \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eon their 2026 \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eWith Love\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e\/\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eWith Rage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e EP [Blue Grape Music].\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“When I looked back at the lyrics, everything read as a letter, either to another person in my life, my friends\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e or myself,” reveals Crystal. “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eHowever, a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e letter to a friend would be signed off \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e‘With Love’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e not \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e‘With Rage’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. I intentionally wrote these songs, so they spoke to these two opposing feelings: love and rage. You can tell which \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003etracks\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003espill \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eto which \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eside\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e2025’s “Too Much” saw the group expand their sonic palette, layer shimmering sonics over fuzzed-out riffing and seething vocal paroxysms and illuminating the expanse of Initiate’s rapidly evolving vision.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eKicking off another chapter, they attracted Blue Grape to their corner and hit the studio with longtime collaborator \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eand producer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eZach Tuch\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e [Silverstein, Knocked Loose]\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ein order \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eto record \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eWith Love\/\/With Rage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eWidening \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ethe\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eir\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e collective palette,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e musicians\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003enodded t\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eo inspirations as diverse \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eas\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Hum, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eDeftones\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eJane’s Addiction, Rage Against The Machine, and Failure as well as longtime favorites Paramo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ere.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e “We all wondered, ‘What would it sound like if Clairo wrote a Quicksand record?’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e,” the vocalist laughs. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eFor the first time, Crystal\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003econtributed guitar and bass, adding another dimension \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ealtogether\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eThe single “Numb The Pain” illuminates these dynamics. Echoes of clean guitar give way to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ean\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e uneasy\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e detuned\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e crunch. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eB\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ereezy strumming anesthetizes the blunt force trauma of screeched confessions a la \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e“Tried to erase myself in my head…like I never…like I never happened\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Her \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003edivine \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eharmonies careen over a delicate bridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003emelting into\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e a final explosion.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“There are \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ecountless\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e songs about brotherhood,” observes Crystal. “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eI’m saying\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e‘Here’s a love song for my friends’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. During this time in my life, I really leaned on my friendships to get me through everything. I could never \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eadequately express \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ethe amount of gratitude I felt for these people, so I decided to write a hardcore song about loving \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ethem\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. The screaming and the singing are dancing around the middle of the song\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, which is my favorite part\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eJohn recalls. “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eAfter Mike played the riff,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003et\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehe drums came easily. To me, it’s the perfect rock song.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eSetting the tone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ea\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003egalloping punk beat\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e tramples swells of feedback on t\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehe opener “Burn After Reading\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e You can practically hear Crystal grit her teeth as\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e her\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e acidic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003edelivery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eburns right through a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e whole\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e layer of distortion\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, going on to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003elament, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e“Can’t recognize the person I became\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e‘Burn After Reading’ \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003erepresents\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e both \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eLove\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eRage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e,” she goes on. “It’s a breakup song, and it’s super personal to me.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“I was on the hunt for pretty chords, so it would sound a little different,” Mike reveals. “It has some aggression, but it’s\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ebeautiful in places.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eUneasy cymbals skitter, and a frantic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003echug\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003enearly sputters out of control on the venomous “Delusions\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Crystal notes, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e“It’s my anger at the system, but I’m also making sure this anger doesn’t blind me from the joys in the world\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eThen, there’s “Shadowboxing.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e The rhythm slows, guitar trudges a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ehead\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e, and Crystal admits, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e“I don’t want to die. I just want to disappear\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e She elaborates, “This is like written documentation of the way my brain works and how dark it can get when you’re in a dark place. You’re basically boxing with yourself.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“Future Saving Grace” clearly\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e elucidates\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e Initiate’s evolution. A loose bassline gives the track a distinct \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ebounce\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. From there, i\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003et crescendos towards a call-and-response between melodic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003einstrumentation \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eand guttural vocals\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e punctuated by distant \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003epiano\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e and hypnotic humming.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“It’s definitely anthemic,” Mike says. “Our non-hardcore influences came alo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eng\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e for the ride\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e on this one\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. We definitely went into new territory, and it sounds so big.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“The piano was the perfect ending,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e” Crystal continues\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. “In terms of meaning, it addresses self-love.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eUltimately, Initiate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e embody another kind of heaviness all their own on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003eWith Love\/\/With Rage\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003eHardcore doesn’t\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e have to solely express anger,” Crystal leaves off. “Ther\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ee\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e are so many complex emotions you can have\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e beyond \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e‘Fuck my ex’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e or \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s4\"\u003e‘Fuck the world’\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e. The human spectrum of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ecoexisting feelings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e is massive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e and that’s a beautiful thing.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003e“It’s possible to convey vulnerability with heavy and in-your-face music,” concludes John. “The EP proves \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s3\"\u003ethat.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTracklisting:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e01. Burn After Reading\u003cbr\u003e02. Delusions\u003cbr\u003e03. Shadowboxing\u003cbr\u003e04. Numb The Pain\u003cbr\u003e05. Future Saving Grace\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Blue Grape Music","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56758022242690,"sku":"BGM-034-DD","price":20.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/9494\/0689\/files\/initiatemockinfrontofthecover.png?v=1783605996","url":"https:\/\/devildogdistro.com\/products\/initiate-with-love-with-rage-devil-dog-exclusive-12-ep","provider":"Devil Dog Distro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}