Two years into their journey, Screwed Ends are no longer simply figuring out what kind of band they want to be. With a new EP on the horizon, the East Coast-based group is embracing a heavier hardcore direction while refusing to let genre boundaries dictate what their music should sound like.
Their evolution has been gradual rather than calculated. While their first EP leaned more heavily into metalcore, the band’s newer material moves further toward hardcore, bringing a more aggressive energy to songs centered around struggle, loyalty, real-life experiences, and the need for emotional release. Instead of trying to fit neatly into one scene or sound, Screwed Ends are focused on making the music they genuinely want to play.
That mindset has become increasingly important as the band has grown. What started as a relatively new project has developed into a recognizable name within the local scene, with members now experiencing the surreal feeling of seeing strangers wearing their merchandise and recognizing them outside of shows.
As Screwed Ends prepare to introduce listeners to their next chapter, we caught up with the band to talk about genre, finding their identity, the East Coast hardcore scene, writing beyond heartbreak, getting heavier, and what they hope this new EP says about where they’re headed.
Refusing to Be Defined by a Genre
You describe yourselves as teetering between hardcore and metalcore. Is that a line you’re intentionally walking, or do you actually dislike the idea of having to choose a side?
For Screwed Ends, the answer is less about deliberately standing between two genres and more about refusing to put themselves inside a box.
“It’s more so us not wanting to define ourselves into a genre,” the band explains. Their first EP leaned more toward metalcore, while the newer material has moved in a heavier hardcore direction. Rather than treating that evolution as something that needs to be justified, they’re simply following wherever their creativity takes them.
“Ultimately we just want to play what we want and hope people like it.”
That philosophy has allowed the band to evolve naturally. Instead of deciding what Screwed Ends should sound like based on expectations from either scene, they’re giving themselves the freedom to experiment and develop their sound release by release.
Still Figuring Out What Makes Screwed Ends Different
What is something Screwed Ends does that you don’t think another hardcore or metalcore band could convincingly replicate?
It’s a difficult question for a band that still considers itself to be in the process of discovering its identity. Rather than making a bold claim about having something nobody else can do, Screwed Ends are honest about the fact that they’re still growing.
“That’s tough for me to say because we are still growing and figuring ourselves out,” they admit.
The band is actively experimenting with different approaches while searching for the elements that will eventually become unmistakably Screwed Ends.
“We do all we can to stand out, but keep trying different approaches. I’m sure we will find it soon though.”
There’s something fitting about that answer. After only two years, the band’s identity doesn’t need to be completely finished. Their willingness to continue testing ideas could ultimately become one of the most important parts of their development.
When Screwed Ends Became More Than a New Band
Two years in, when did you realize Screwed Ends had stopped being “a new band” and had actually become a name people recognized?
For Jon, that realization came from some surprisingly ordinary moments.
“For me, Jon, it was when I started seeing random people wearing our merch ‘in the wild,’ as we like to say, or getting recognized at a store or the mall for being in the band.”
Seeing someone wearing Screwed Ends merchandise outside of a show is a completely different experience from seeing people wearing it inside the venue. It demonstrates that the band’s identity has started to exist beyond the immediate circle of people attending their performances. Being recognized in everyday places adds another layer to that realization. The band isn’t simply performing for the same familiar faces anymore; people are beginning to recognize the members and associate them with the music they’ve created.
What the East Coast Scene Has Taught Them
What’s something the East Coast scene has taught Screwed Ends that you probably couldn’t have learned anywhere else?
Having experienced both the Texas and East Coast scenes, the band has had the opportunity to see firsthand how different local music communities can operate. For them, one of the biggest differences has been support.
“Having been in the Texas scene and now East Coast scene, the biggest difference I’ve seen is real support. Bands pushing each other further.”
That sense of community has changed their perception of what a local scene can be.
“It taught me that there truly are local scenes that care.”
For an emerging band, that kind of environment can be especially meaningful. Instead of viewing other bands solely as competition, Screwed Ends have experienced a scene where artists can encourage one another, share opportunities, and collectively push the community forward.
Bringing Something New Without Losing the Scene
Do you think being accepted by a scene comes from sounding like that scene, or from bringing something into it that wasn’t already there?
Screwed Ends don’t see it as an either-or situation.
“I think a good mix. Adding something fresh to an established scene is always great.”
At the same time, they recognize that sounding familiar isn’t necessarily a negative thing. A band can share characteristics with other artists within a genre while still finding ways to make those sounds their own.
“Sounding a certain way can be a good or bad thing,” they explain. “Like ‘wow they’re just doing what every band is doing’ or ‘wow! These guys sound the same but still make it different.’”
That distinction is important for Screwed Ends. They aren’t interested in completely abandoning the sounds that connect them to hardcore and metalcore, but they also want their music to have its own identity within those communities.
Moving Beyond the Story of One Relationship
What are you trying to say on this EP that you couldn’t have written two years ago when Screwed Ends first started?
The band’s first EP was heavily rooted in a specific emotional experience. Much of the material focused on an ex and a toxic relationship, making the project intensely personal and emotionally driven. The upcoming EP expands that perspective.
“Lyrically the first EP, well most of it, was about an Ex, a very toxic relationship. So it was very emotionally driven.”
This time around, Screwed Ends have stepped outside of that single experience.
“The next takes that element out of that pocket for the most part. Still songs about struggle, loyalty and real life topics but not confined to a single scenario.”
That broader approach reflects the band’s growth over the past two years. Instead of revisiting the same emotional territory, they’re exploring different experiences and subjects that can resonate with listeners in different ways. The band’s motivation is straightforward: they want to make music for the people who connect with it, regardless of outside criticism.
“We are going to show that we are here to make music for those that want to hear it and not care about what the people who talk shit say.”
Finding the Right Kind of Heavy
Is the new EP becoming heavier because you’re angrier, or are you becoming more comfortable experimenting with how heavy you can actually get?
The increased heaviness isn’t necessarily the result of the band becoming angrier in their personal lives. Instead, it’s a direction they consciously wanted to explore.
“It was just a direction we felt like exploring more.”
That heavier sound also serves a purpose beyond the recordings themselves. Screwed Ends want their music to provide an outlet for listeners who need somewhere to put their own emotions.
“Make angry for people that need that emotional, mental maybe even physical release.”
For them, the physical element isn’t about something negative. They’re talking about the energy that happens when a heavy song comes alive in a venue.
“By physical I mean getting people hyped up at shows to throw down and have fun.”
That connection between recorded music and live performance is clearly important to the band. The songs aren’t only meant to be listened to; they’re meant to be experienced in a room full of people, with the energy becoming something shared between the band and the audience.
And while this EP establishes a heavier direction, Screwed Ends aren’t promising that they’ll stay there forever.
“Who knows what songs after our next releases will sound like.”
Once again, the band comes back to the same philosophy that has guided their evolution: they’re going to make the music they want to play and hope people connect with it.
Taking Risks Without Overthinking Them
What’s one risk you’re taking on this EP that might divide listeners but feels completely necessary to the band?
Interestingly, Screwed Ends don’t feel like they’re taking any major risks simply for the sake of making a statement.
“I don’t think we are taking any risks really. None that would make a difference anyway.”
It’s another indication that the band isn’t approaching this release with the goal of satisfying expectations or deliberately breaking them. They’re simply following their creative instincts.
A Stronger Chemistry
If the first Screwed Ends release represents who you were, what does this EP reveal about who you’re becoming?
More than anything, the new EP represents a stronger connection between the members themselves.
“It’s gonna show that our chemistry is stronger now than it was 2 years ago.”
That chemistry is perhaps one of the most important developments a young band can experience. Two years of playing together, writing together, performing, and learning how each member works can fundamentally change the way a group creates music. But Screwed Ends aren’t looking at that growth as the destination. They’re already thinking about what comes after the local scene.
“It’s gonna show that we are breaking through the local scene and ready for more of the country to find us and support what we are doing.”
For a band that once considered itself new, that represents a significant shift in perspective. Screwed Ends have begun seeing their music reach beyond the people immediately around them, and the next EP is another opportunity to expand that audience.
They may still be figuring out exactly what Screwed Ends sounds like, but that’s part of what makes this stage of the band’s journey so compelling. They’re refusing to be confined by genre, expanding their lyrical perspective beyond one painful chapter, and leaning further into the heaviness they want to create.
For now, Screwed Ends aren’t interested in predicting where the music will take them next. They’re focused on making the music that feels right today—and letting the audience decide where it takes them.
Leave a Reply