Quicksand have deep roots in New York hardcore, with members having spent time in beloved bands like Gorilla Biscuits, Youth of Today, 108, and Burn. Their first two releases, Slip and Manic Compression, are classics of post-hardcore. In 2017, Quicksand returned after over 20 years off with Interiors, which leaned heavily into mid-tempo tracks that sought to conjure classics like “Fazer”, the opening track on their classic debut, Slip.
The same approach applied to 2021’s Distant Populations. Both are solid records, worthy of the Quicksand name, but not as exciting as the band’s first two releases, Slip and Manic Compression, which are post-hardcore canon. Now, the band returns with Bring on the Psychics, and it is a blast of energetic songs with an upbeat, throwback posi-core message. It’s a welcome return from an iconic band that still burns with an urgency.
During the hiatuses, bassist Sergio Vega spent time with Deftones and drummer Alan Cage played with cult punk faves Seaweed. Lead singer and guitarist Walter Schreifels kept busy with the catchier Rival Schools and Walking Concert projects. He still plays shows with some of his old hardcore bands, too, and you can hear that energy in this collection of songs.
Opener “Get to It” explodes from the speakers with a posi-core message about moving forward now, an update that will make the old heads think about the Gorilla Biscuits classic “Start Today” and “Fazer”. Lead singer Walter Schriefels’ lyrics seem in conversation with those early records, a reminder that time waits for no one. The most instantly memorable lines are, “The days go by so fast”, “Get to it / Time is running out”, “We can’t live under / For too much longer”. This urgency applies to not wasting time on people who drain time, too, as Schreifels says on “Cool Guy”, “Projecting confidence at someone else’s expense”. This track has the patented Quicksand heavy groove and is a highlight. The same goes for “In Full Color”, with its mid-tempo chug.
It’s not just pulverizing riffs, although most Quicksand fans would have been fine with that. “Crystallize” and “Supercollider” are among the catchiest songs in the band’s songbook, taking a moment to breathe. “Days You Run To” is even quieter and clocks in at just under six minutes. These are no pale imitators of past successes. These songs crackle with energy and purpose. Producer John Markson, who has also helmed key releases for Drug Church, Drain, and GEL, keeps it unadorned and heavy, as it should be.
“Moving Forward” is an almost poppy track with a steady, driving riff, an unexpected late-album surprise. The title track is the closer, and it takes familiar sounds and shakes them up a little. If these two tracks are the indicators of the next chapter, the future sounds bright. Quicksand are still standing where peers have fallen off drastically. Their patented sound is evergreen. Smart, upbeat lyrics and chugging riffs will always find an audience. Bring on the Psychics is a satisfying return from a canonical band that sounds alive with purpose.