Pincer+ - Who Are You When No One's Around
Album Review
Who Are You When No One’s Around is a short, punchy debut from Pincer+ that wastes no time getting to the point. The album blends raw hardcore energy with modern metalcore heaviness, keeping things fast, aggressive, and under three minutes for most tracks. Lyrically, it turns inward, focusing on isolation, anger, guilt, and self-reflection, which gives the chaos a more personal feel. Overall, it’s a tight, intense release that hits hard, says what it needs to say, and gets out without dragging things out.
Overview
Artist: Pincer+
Release Date: December 12, 2025
Label: Greyscale Records / 1126 Records
Genre: Metalcore
Tracks: 8 (approx. 22 min runtime)
Producer: Josh Ang and Nadav Knafo
Track List
Hard 2 Kill
Cold Frame
Concrete Lullaby (feat. noah thomas)
Yours To Erase
Blue Light Overdose
e n d l e s s
Defect (feat. UnityTX)
Who Are You When No One’s Around
Sound and Style
Raw hardcore energy mixed with modern metalcore heaviness
Short, fast songs that hit hard and don’t waste time
Thick riffs and punchy breakdowns throughout
Aggressive vocals with an emotional, personal edge
Dark, introspective tone underneath all the chaos
Stripped-down, intense, and straight to the point
Review
Pincer+’s Who Are You When No One’s Around is a short, sharp burst of aggression that gets in and gets out without messing around. Right from the start, the album feels urgent and pissed off, with tracks that hit fast and don’t overstay their welcome. It’s the kind of record that feels designed to be played loud and straight through.
Musically, the band leans into raw hardcore energy while keeping a modern metalcore edge. The riffs are thick, the breakdowns are punchy, and everything feels tight and deliberate. Even though most songs are short, they still manage to feel complete, packing a lot of impact into a small runtime.
What gives the album some extra weight is the lyrical focus. Beneath all the aggression, there’s a lot of self-reflection going on, touching on isolation, guilt, and inner conflict. It adds a personal layer to the chaos and makes the anger feel more grounded instead of generic.
Overall, Who Are You When No One’s Around is a solid debut that shows Pincer+ knows exactly what they’re doing. It’s heavy, direct, and emotionally charged without dragging things out. If you’re into fast, no-nonsense hardcore with a modern twist, this album is definitely worth checking out.
Notable Tracks
“Hard 2 Kill” – A super punchy track that sets the tone with gritty riffs and aggressive energy.
“Blue Light Overdose” – One of the catchier cuts that still hits hard and shows off their hardcore/metalcore mix.
“Yours To Erase” – A heavier, more emotional song that pairs raw vocals with strong breakdowns.
“Alone With Nothing” – Short and intense, this one drives home the album’s introspective vibe.
“Used Up” – Another standout that’s fast, tight, and packs a lot of force into a small package.
Conclusion
All in all, Who Are You When No One’s Around is a tight, no-frills debut that hits hard and keeps moving. It’s aggressive, focused, and packed with emotion without wasting a second. If you like your heavy music fast, raw, and honest, Pincer+ delivers exactly that.