The Witzard

Let's just get a few things out of the way here first and foremost: Yes, KŌYŌ is a Long Island Hardcore (LIHC) band. Yes, they're soemtimes referred to as "Melodic Hardcore,' as well. Yes, KŌYŌ has six members. Yes, their frontman is as ripped as The Incredible Hulk. Yes, their bassist is a semi-professional wrestler. Yes, one of their EP covers is a allusion to Taking Back Sunday's Tell All Your Friends. Yes, KŌYŌ's music is often compared to Taking Back Sunday & The Movielife. To any effect, KŌYŌ is back with their second single for their new label home, Pure Noise Records. Earlier this week, KŌYŌ dropped their new single, "Straight North," whicj features Joey Chiaramonte, T.J. Rotolico, Harold Griffin, Mike Marazzo, Sal Argento, and Steve Spanos. "We just put out a brand new single, "Straight North," with an accompanying video. Thank you all to have already listened. if you haven't, check it out here . Like a lot of the ba...

Koyo (oftentimes stylized as either KOYO, KŌYŌ, or KOYO LIHC) are a Long Island-based Hardcore, Punk, and Emo revival—sometimes, described as "Stony Brook Hardcore"—band featuring current and ex-members of Adrenaline, HANGMAN, Rain of Salvation, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Soul Provider, and TYPECASTE. KOYO have been together since about 2020 and its current line-up features Joey Chiaramonte, Mike "Marazzo" Marazzo, T.J. Rotolico, Harold Griffin, Steve "Spanos" Spanos, and Salvatore "Sal" Argento. KOYO's sound primarily harkens back to early 2000's Long Island Melodic Hardcore/Emo and evokes bands such as Taking Back Sunday, The Movielife, Glassjaw, and RIVAL SCHOOLS. KOYO released three EP's between 2020-21, Painting Words Into Lines, Short Beach Sessions, and Drives Out East, issued by The Coming Strife Records, Reconsider Records, Life & Death Brigade, DAZE, and Triple B Records. Each EP was released in multiple color variants,...

KOYO 2020 Promo - CREDIT: Tyler Andrew KOYO is a new Long Island Hardcore (LIHC) band hailing from Suffolk County. KOYO—which appears to mean "come here" in Japanese—consists of Sal Argennto, Joey Chiaramonte, Harold Griffin, Mike "Marazzo" Marazzo, TJ Rotolico, and 21-year-old pro wrestler Stephen "Steve" Spanos. Collectively, five of KOYO's six members have spent time playing with Adrenaline, HANGMAN, Rain of Salvation, SeeYouSpaceCowboy, Soul Provider, and TYPECASTE in recent years; arguably, some of the most frantic, guttural, ear drum-shattering Punk/Hardcore bands active in the scene today. KOYO make a very specific brand of early 2000's Emo/Melodic Hardcore that harkens back to, according to Chiaramonte, Taking Back Sunday, The Movielife, Silent Majority, Glassjaw, Crime In Stereo, Brand New, and Capital. Exclaim! compares KOYO's sound to Title Fight & Lifetime and I would even go as far as to list Vinnie Caruana's new band, C...