One Step Closer

One Step Closer, hailing from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, are making waves in the melodic hardcore scene. This straight-edge quartet has quickly garnered attention, landing on Stereogum's "Bands To Watch" and earning praise from BrooklynVegan as "one of the most exciting new bands in hardcore." Currently signed to Run for Cover Records, their debut album, This Place You Know (2021), received widespread acclaim.

Musically, One Step Closer blends classic DC emo with the raw energy of youth crew and the accessibility of late 90s melodic hardcore. As Upset Magazine's Rob Mair aptly described, their sound draws inspiration from hardcore's rich history while refusing to be confined to any single subgenre. Their songwriting incorporates elements of indie rock, post-hardcore, and even shoegaze, creating a unique and captivating sound. Influences range widely, from the emotive intensity of Turning Point and Inside Out, to the melodic punk of Blink-182 and Green Day, and the hardcore grit of Have Heart and Bane, alongside the post-hardcore nuance of Title Fight and Mineral. This eclectic mix has cemented One Step Closer's position as a truly exciting force in modern hardcore.