Jade Dust – Grey Skies

As I’m typing this out, Tony Rettman—the man behind No Idols blog/label and author of three hardcore history books—just dropped a piece for Bandcamp Daily celebrating some of Dischord Records’ best hidden gems. Legendary label like Dischord may always be on everyone’s lips for all the right reasons, but newer bands that carry that torch rarely get their due from the mainstream music/punk press. Which brings me to Portland, Oregon’s Jade Dust. I’d only given their 2021 demo a passing glance, but after hearing nothing but love from my friends in I Recover, who toured the West Coast for eleven shows with them last year, I figured it was time to dig into their brilliant LP, Grey Skies.

As you might expect, this record embodies the Dischord spirit in the best possible way. Eight quick cuts brimming with heartfelt intensity, channeling everything from defiant optimism to quiet resignation. Jade Dust keep it sincere, avoiding sentimentality even when their lyrics veer more into poetry instead of predictable hardcore sloganeering. These tracks barely cross the two-minute mark, ensuring immediacy reigns supreme, recalling “Revolution Summer” heroes like Rites of Spring and Embrace. Hell, when I spoke with Dan from I Recover last year, we bonded over our mutual Sarah Kirsch love, and Jade Dust absolutely taps into that same vein of hardcore urgency (think of bands like Fuel and John Henry West).

But the standout here is “Awe of Myth,” clocking in at almost four minutes and adding a dose of piano beneath the slower building momentum. For me, it’s a track with exceptional Moss Icon-meets-Yaphet Kotto dynamics, grounding the whole record and injecting pointed social critique directly into the veins. Lyrics like “You stood in awe of a myth” call the bullshit on neoliberal narratives and empty progressive posturing. “The house always wins when you’re playing their game” sums it up perfectly, delivering a direct hit without resorting to empty rage. Unfortunately, the band doesn’t seem to perform that song live due to the use of three guitars and a piano.

And, as a bonus, Grey Skies throws in two choice covers (Ignition and Articles of Faith) that blend seamlessly with the band’s own material. Rather than dilute the record, these tracks underline Jade Dust’s lineage. I love it when people discover new bands through DIY Conspiracy, and this record is an essential addition for anyone who’s ever had Gravity, Ebullition, Peterbilt, or Dischord releases on rotation. If you dig those classics, Grey Skies will hit you exactly right.