Review: “Pay No Mind” by Hold My Own

“The album is basically what the title track says: don’t pay attention to anyone or anything else. Do everything your own way, no matter what.” ~ Anchit Chhabra 

Rarely have the words long awaited and highly anticipated applied as much to an album as much as they do to “Pay No Mind” from Chicago meets New Jersey Hardcore crew Hold My Own. Why? Put simply it’s been a debut record that feels like its been kept at arms length since the band started out in 2021, vocalist Gregory Falchetto, bassist Kashish Chhabra, drummer Sergio Mendoza with guitarist duo Mike Milewski and Anchit Chhabra opting instead to put out four EP’s and a split while staying on the road. It’s only now that they’ve graced stages around the globe with the likes of Terror, Madball and End It that they’re ready to commit something more to tape. For the purpose they’ve been in good hands with the record engineered, recorded and mixed by Andy Nelson (Pain of Truth, Harm’s Way, Weekend Nachos) at Bricktop Recording and mastering by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Internal Bleeding, Creeping Death) at Audiosiege.

Feeling like a moment from Cheech and Chong with a purple haze and evil laughter before ripping into a classic Metallic Hardcore riff with some whammy bar action “Da Intro” sets the tone for pace, power and energy on “Pay No Mind“, paving the way for the incendiary mosh pit violence of “Deceit 2” perfectly. A whirlwind of percussive battery and barbed riffs, it finds Falchetto pointing the fickle finger of fate and calling out a scumbag piece of shit for what they truly are. The old school energy nothing short of electric with the lessons learned from all those live shows put to good use, flavours of Biohazard and Sick Of It All rising to the surface as it plays out.

A force of nature “March To Your Death” feels like the band have sucked down a crate of energy drinks before laying down two step grooves and gang chants; slowing things down for a breakdown section at the end being an absolute masterstroke. Title track “Pay No Mind” keeps things going at blistering pace, the quintet busting out the staccato riff breaks and gang chants during chorus that is going to get the call and response going with the crowds live. The bombastic bass from Chhabra will put bounce in the mosh pit; those 90’s influences serving the quintet very well. As with all these tracks, once the moshing is over there is a message in a bottle in each tune, that resonates, resistance being utterly futile.

The leads of “Countdown” add another dimension, the pounding rhythms and bass solo fuelling the fire and ensuring the quality of the record is kept going with a song about feeling like you’ve failed but needing to maintain perpetual forward motion. Again it’s something that resonates and in 105 seconds Falchetto talks more sense than a therapist can in 105 sessions. You might even find yourself screaming along with “Countdown! I choke on my own blood!” on the first spin, that’s how addictive this is. The vocal interplay between Falchetto and Chhabra on “Our Kind…” is a nice touch, the shriller moments interwoven with the barks with this one standing out because of the sheer volume of leads.

Philosophically asking questions about why things are the way they are “Om” has the anthemic chorus nailed, some tasty guitar licks adding to the weight and gravity of it. As with a number of songs this one has a little post sample adding a ethereal touch before “Destiny” slaps you across the face in thunderous fashion. The haunting leads and pummelling percussion feel like you’re in a war zone as Falchetto roars about feeling disconnected and numb as he awaits what the world will throw at him next, the music matching the darkness of the lyrical narrative perfectly.

Saving three guest appearances for the final three cuts is an interesting choice but one that works well with “Negative Shit” featuring a guitar solo from Mike Shaw of Fatal Realm being the first to make its presence felt. Fuelling the darkness of atmosphere created by the previous cut, this one goes a shade darker and heavier, throwing down some powerful mosh parts and hitherto unheard growls. It’s about breaking the chains that hold you down and pushing the negative away, moving forward with the clenched fist of defiance and if that doesn’t resonate, nothing will.

George Puda of Bulldoze lends his throat to “The Onslaught“, a track which continues the lyrical narrative from “Negative Shit” and feels like a conjoined twin, never to be separated in the live arena. Stompy riffs, electrifying leads and clanky, loose stringed bass tones bring the message home and it has to be said that one feels like a real nostalgic throwback to a bygone era, the evil laughter a Chef’s kiss moment. One more time around the sun? “N.R.D.” features Josef Alfonso of Sunami and cranks the crossover Thrash vibes with a menacing and sinister main riff before the two step parts come in. Bringing it home with the chants of “No respect due!” as another naysayer is called out is a masterstroke and it has to be said, there is nothing not to like here [8/10]

Track Listing

1. Da Intro
2. Deceit 2
3. March To Your Death
4. Pay No Mind
5. Countdown
6. Our Kind…
7. Om
8. Destiny
9. Negative Shit (ft. Mike Shaw of Fatal Realm)
10. The Onslaught (ft. George Puda of Bulldoze)
11. N.R.D. (ft. Josef Alfonso of Sunami)

“Pay No Mind” by Hold My Own is out 17th April 2026 via Daze