Isaac Hale, guitarist in American thrash punk band Knocked Loose, selects 10 tracks that are in his current hardcore rotation.

Knocked Loose lead guitarist Isaac Hale is the face of Stone Island’s latest Community Research campaign for AW25. The cult Italian label’s mark on subculture is indelible, but this is the first time they’ve truly tapped into America’s thriving hardcore punk and screamo scene, and we’re big fans of the connection.

 

Isaac joins an illustrious list of stars who’ve been involved in Stone Island’s recent campaigns: from undisputed heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk to rising UK bar slinger Chy Cartier, the brand isn’t holding back on who they work with.

 

To honour the campaign, and the rather nice Ripstop Nylon Jacket he’s wearing in the shoot, we got Isaac to introduce us to the scene that’s made him, selecting us 10Trax that are in his current hardcore rotation.

 

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'Thick Skin' by Stop and Think

This is everything about hardcore you’d need to know in one song. Two parts repeated. A couple chords. Lyrics about standing up for yourself and having real faith in what you believe in. It’s maybe the definition of the genre for me.

'Forget Me' by Disembodied

Disembodied was a band that was able to combine my love of hardcore music and my love of Korn. It’s that sludgy groove and those super dark introspective lyrics that I admire from nu metal through a hardcore perspective. Perfect band.

'Big Mouth' by Gorilla Biscuits

Seeing this live will make you believe it’s the best hardcore song ever written. It’s definitely the hardest Gorilla Biscuits song to me personally. Simple in execution but the catchiest of all time.

'Perseverance' by Hatebreed

This band probably has 50 songs I could have put on this list, but this song was the one that always resonated hardest. It always manages to lift me up and has me feeling invincible. I’m so thankful it exists.

'One With The Underdogs' by Terror

Terror is the greatest hardcore band of all time. Period. They are a testament to everything good about the genre and the message. Still going strong to this day. GOAT.

'Belly of the Beast' by Combust

Definitely want to shine a light on what I think is a modern classic. Combust keeping NYHC alive in 2025 and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

'Still Cold' by Trapped Under Ice

A band that truly is impossible to dislike. Hard as nails on every record but with so much pain tied into the lyrics. Somehow they were able to pull off having the catchiness of more pop music without ever crossing into corny territory. There’s no one like them.

'Can't Stop, Won't Stop' by Madball

No one does groove like Madball. Freddie is straight up spitting on their entire discography. To this day no one in New York (or on the planet) pulls off the groove like this band. New York’s hardest.

'Highlander Mosh' by Who Laughs Last

Hardcore from my favorite city of them all. Louisville, Kentucky.

'The Discipline' by Earth Crisis

Earth Crisis defining one of the most important things in my life. Started in 1989 and still straight edge in 2025. Amazing.