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This is a really special time to be a part of Colorado Hardcore.

Mark – TIME X HEIST

Colorado Straight Edge Hardcore band TIME X HEIST has only been on the scene for a short time but the members have been involved in the music scene for quit a while. Even in that short time they have played a solid amount of shows, including opening up for the Hardcore legends MADBALL. And that was just the bands third gig. In a scene where there is so much talent and various styles, TIME X HEIST stands out with their Youth Crew Hardcore style. That sound can be heard on their 2023 EP ‘The Odds Against Tomorrow’ released through Cimewave Records. The album contains 6 tracks of fast riffs, gang vocals and uplifting positive hardcore. There is a little something on it for everyone. With so much happening in such a short time, I wanted to learn more about the band and find out what was next for the guys in TIME X HEIST. So I reached out to Mark to ask a few questions.

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Sound Shots ~ Who is Time X Heist? How did the band come to be? 

Mark ~ Time X Heist was willed into existence after Robert C and I’s previous band Implied Risk broke up. Short version of the story is that Robert C had some demos in the works for a youth crew band and he sent those over to me to write lyrics. Put together a line up and knocked out a 6 song EP around October of 22. After shuffling some people around we arrive at our current line up which is Robert C on guitar, Robert G on guitar, Rodrigo on bass and Raphael on drums. Lots of R’s here. Then myself, Mark on vocals. 

Sound Shots ~ Time X Heist has a very old school sound. Is that youth crew sound something you guys really set out to do or did it just happen organically? What are some of the band’s influences?

Mark ~ The Time X Heist “sound” was 100% intentional. Before we even started messing around with demos or anything Robert C and I sat down one day and basically mapped out our ideal trajectory of the band. When we were in Implied Risk together we kinda bonded over bands like The First Step, Mindset and Count Me Out. All the early Indecision Records and React! stuff. So we knew we wanted to sound like those bands. Youth Crew but with a big melodic hardcore influence.  

Sound Shots ~ What is the writing process like for the band? Is there one main songwriter or does everyone contribute ideas?

Mark ~ Robert C is the evil genius that has written all the music we have out thus far. I’m in charge of lyrics. We’re getting ready to start writing a full length and that will be a bit more of a collaborative process on the musical side for sure. Both Robert G and Rodrigo are great guitar players so I’m sure they’ll be making some deposits into the riff bank for the new record. 

Sound Shots ~ Obviously being a Straight Edge band you are going to have songs that touch on that topic. And one thing I like about TIME X HEIST is that you don’t come across forceful. How important is it for you to get that message across, but without sounding preachy?

Mark ~ Whenever someone talks about a belief or an ideal they feel passionate about, it’s bound to come off to someone else as preachy. I don’t think there is any real way of avoiding that perception. I’m very laid back when it comes to interacting with people who aren’t sober and I honestly feel like I’ve been preached to more about the “benefits” of drug use way more than I’ve ever talked to another person about being sober. Not to get too deep about it but I feel like a lot of the people who have a big problem with people who are sober or straight edge being “preachy” are the ones that have a lot of insecurities and guilt about their own substance use. The person who our song “You’re Wrong” is about used to hound me constantly about being sober. They were always trying to convince me that it was “strange” or “divergent” that I didn’t smoke weed or drink with my friends. That song is basically my clap back at that person or any other person that’s come at me like that about being straight edge. A lot of what I say in our songs about being straight edge is MY response to OTHER people, rather than me trying to convince other people how to live their lives. 

Sound Shots ~ What other messages or topics do you want to express through your music?

Mark ~ Belief of self but also realizing that you can’t always do it alone and sometimes you need to lean on the people around you. Being yourself and having to fight sometimes to live your truth. It’s ok to like sports. It’s ok to not like sports. Go to therapy. Coffee is 100% Straight Edge and most importantly Robert C just wants everyone to know that Bad Religion is the best band ever. 

Sound Shots ~ What is your take on the current Colorado music scene? Are there any bands that are really standing out to you right now?

Mark ~ Keep in mind this isn’t an all encompassing view, this is just from my perspective. I’ve lived here a pretty long time and seen a lot of changes in the Colorado Music scene and more specifically the Hardcore and Punk scene. For hardcore this is the best it’s ever been since I moved here in 2004. Denver used to be this place that got a lot of touring bands coming through but there weren’t a ton of strong locals. Bands like Fight Like Hell and Killing Kings could usually pull a good crowd on their own but it was more about the touring bands coming through. Now it’s kinda flipped and we have lots of local bands who can headline shows all day and we don’t really need bigger touring bands to pull kids out. Sewerslide is a band that immediately comes to mind when we’re talking about Colorado bands that are really killing it here. Moral Law just did a cool East Coast tour, Destiny Bond, Direct Threat, Wide Man and Public Opinion who are touring their asses off, same as Destiny Bond. Lots of cool shit happening here right now. You even have killer scenes in Colorado Springs (Mouth For War, SEG, 10tothaChest), Ft Collins (Wolfblitzer, Rukus, Copper Teeth) and Pueblo (Cortez) right now which is so so cool. For anyone outside Colorado reading this or anyone who lives here and wants to get a better feel for what’s going on just follow Convulse Records and Convulse Records Presents on social media. This is a really special time to be a part of Colorado Hardcore. Also shout out to The Dendrites, America’s best current Ska band. 

Sound Shots ~ You have already done quite a lot in such a short time as a band. What does Time X Heist have planned for the future? Any new music the fans can look forward to?

Mark ~ July 7th we have a split coming out with a band from the UK called Without Love. We each did two original songs and a cover for the split. Vinyl Pre-Orders for that should be dropping mid-June along with a track off the split available for streaming from each band. We’ve also been asked to throw in a track for an international youth crew compilation that will probably be coming out before the end of the year or early next year. As far as shows go we’re gonna be playing a lot between July and August with some good local shows and a short West Coast run. In November we’re headed out to Tulsa to play Flyover Fest and we have a HUGE show lined up for December that we can’t talk about yet but details for that should be coming out soon! 

Sound Shots ~ When others hear your music, what is one thing you hope they take away from it? 

Mark ~ The belief that they can do whatever that thing is that they want to do. Start that band you wanna start. Make that zine you’ve been talking about. Quit that job you hate. Give up drinking. Take up golf. Whatever that thing is, just go for it. 

Sound Shots ~ You’ve already shared the stage with Madball which was great, and you will be playing with H2O and Gorilla Biscuits. What would be your dream gig to play?

Sound Shots ~  Any last thoughts or messages you would like to share?

Mark ~ The only way this works is if we all work together. If you love hardcore and want to see it continue to grow, play your part as best you can. Go to shows, hype up the bands from your area, make zines and art, LEARN TO PLAY THE DRUMS, or just buy music and merch from your local bands and locally owned record stores. It’s really not that complicated and it’s not a competition. 

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There you have it. A little insight into the band TIME X HEIST and some of the exciting things they have coming up. I for one am super stoked to hear some new tracks and see where they take the band. I will also agree 100% with Mark that the scene in Colorado is the strongest it has been in years. Especially for the more energetic, aggressive, and heavy styles. I have been to a lot of shows the past few years and there are so many great bands out there right now. Make sure you are following TIME X HEIST to stay up to date and get out there and support them and the rest of the scene.

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Article & Photos by Ethan Cook - @defenderoftheriff

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