I recently got chatting to Farhan & Joe from Glasgow outfit Resist. Resist have recently came onto the scene in Scotland with their debut single ‘End The Occupation‘ last summer and are due to release their debut EP imminently.

Farhan, who in the last few years moved to Glasgow from his home country of Bangladesh for international studies found solace in the hardcore community in Glasgow and is here to make a statement in the scene.

Resist focus their efforts on anti-fascist and anti-colonial themes. Making listeners aware of the history of the effects of British imperialism on Farhan’s home country.

Standing up for what’s right, is key in their message and that is what HARDCORE is about.

Read the full interview below!

FIRST OF ALL WHERE ARE YOU GUYS BASED & HOW DID YOU ALL MEET?

Farhan: We’re based out of Glasgow and met kinda sequentially. I moved to Glasgow for my masters in late 2023, without really knowing anything about the local music scene.

I had a few extreme metal bands back home in Bangladesh but wasn’t necessarily looking to form one here, however, seeing some of my favourite bands live and going to local hardcore shows gave me the itch again.

That’s when I put up a post on the GHC (Glasgow Hardcore) facebook group looking to join a band – that’s how I came into the original lineup which would later become Resist. 

Joe: Yeah so I met Farhan when I originally put an ad out to start a hardcore band and the bassist at that time found him on Facebook.

We only did a few practises and the vibe was more Modern Metalcore leaning and we weren’t feeling it. It kinda fizzled out and me and Farhan found Dylan and the old drummer we had.

He left, Ben offered to fill in and was just too good that we had to keep him, haha!

WHAT WAS THE SCENE LIKE WHERE YOU WERE GROWING UP & HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN IT?

Joe: Not gonna lie, when I was younger and getting into heavy music, I was a metal guy and was listening to Metallica, Machine Head and Mastodon and only got into hardcore in the last few years, so I can’t comment.

However, its important to shout out just some of the bands like Divide, Broken Oath and By My Hands that were representing Scottish Hardcore back in the 90s and 2000s.

For me though, I just got bored with the focus on technically and soullessness of a lot of metal bands and hardcore actually made me feel something emotionally and physically, both in sound and lyrically…I regret not finding it sooner.

Farhan: Bangladesh’s underground scene is dominated by extreme metal, we don’t really have any punk/hardcore bands. My band Klon Rx was practically the only one.

Similar to Joe, it started with bands like Metallica and Linkin Park for me as it does for most folks, but I got into punk and hardcore pretty early on too from playing Tony Hawk games as a kid.

At the same time, I was getting into grunge, thrash, death. black and all sorts of metal, so I really just wanted to be involved in extreme music without much concern for the particular subgenre – I liked and continue to like just about everything.

THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A DUMBASS QUESTION BUT HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME RESIST?

Farhan: Nah good question and I think a band’s name usually says a lot about them.

I already had an idea of what I wanted to write about; as a brown student from a third-world country, I think I had a unique perspective on immigrant struggles and the racial tension here in the UK.

To me, hardcore is inherently political and standing up for what’s right, so I wanted to focus on anti-fascist, anti-colonial themes, and I wanted it to come from someone like me whose country still feels the lingering effects of British imperialism.

I wanted to express this rage and feeling of rebellion in one word, and that’s how “Resist” popped into my head – it tells you everything you need to know. 

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND TO SOMEBODY WHO HASN’T HEARD YOU BEFORE?

Joe: Too metalcore for hardcore kids and too hardcore for metalcore kids, haha.

It’s kinda in-between panic chord style Metalcore and Metallic Hardcore, small bit of death metal in there too… I just try and throw everything at the wall and see what feels good and fun to play.

Farhan: Yeah what Joe said. I’m much of the same; I use a lot of different vocal styles and just do what feels natural or fun to me.

You’ll find elements of a lot of things with our sound but it’s rooted in hardcore values. I think of Resist as music I’d march on the streets and protest with hahah.

WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES YOU’VE BEEN FACED WITH?

We’ve been very fortunate to have a steady upward trajectory since we started playing shows but, to be honest, I feel like the biggest challenge we’ve faced as a band so far is navigating a fractured scene here in Glasgow.

Certain bands and people don’t really gel well with each other but we’re big believers in supporting every part of the scene as one, united community.

As long as you’re not a cunt and you share the same values as us, we’re cool with you. 

WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR ALL TIME FAVOURITE ARTISTS?

Joe: My favourite band of all time is Metallica. Ride the Lighting to The Black Album are the best things in heavy music (even Load and Reload got a few bangers).

Besides Metallica, my favourite bands are probably Trapped Under Ice and Hatebreed. I have a soft spot for singer-songwriter stuff like Bruce Springsteen and Jeff Buckley too.

Farhan: I am the biggest fucking Deafheaven fan and Sunbather is quite easily my favourite album of all time.

I just think that’s as good as music gets, but the Dillinger Escape Plan and Black Flag are pretty close to the top too, call it a three-way tie because I’ll flick between the three depending on my mood and time of the day!

Lil Peep and Joji are two others you may not necessarily expect me to name, but they’re also peak in my books.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SHOWS YOU’VE REALLY ENJOYED BEING A PART OF & DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE VENUE?

Joe: Playing Core fest has been the highlight so far. We got added last minute when someone dropped out and I was expecting no-one to turn up but it turned out to be the biggest show so far.

We played well and got a good reaction… a fair bit of moshing too which is what I care about the most, haha!

As for favourite venue, it has to be the Audio Lounge. It’s an incredibly important venue for the history of Glasgow hardcore, so it’s a privilege to have played it and attended some amazing shows there.

Farhan: Yeah Core was definitely a highlight. We’ve played a few shows with them and they’re always good fun.

We’ve had the privilege of supporting a lot of great bands like Stress Positions, Heavy Hitters and Sidestep that have come through Glasgow on these shows.

My favourite venue would also be Audio Lounge – that’s where I saw my first local hardcore show and it’s such a staple of the scene, we’re all very fortunate to have a place like that. 

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR DREAM TOUR TO GET RESIST ON?

Joe: For me, it would be a dream tour would be with bands like Haywire or Angel Du$t. Just so I could watch incredible shows every night.

I think we’d fit on a bill with bands like Longgoodbye, Killing Me Softly or Sanction who are some of my favourites doing the metalcore thing right now.

Farhan: Oh man, too many. Hardcore? Haywire, Drain, Final Resting Place, Gulch, Scarab, Militarie Gun. Old 80s hardcore punk heads like Descendents, Circle Jerks, TSOL etc.

Within the UK I fucking love Ikhras and there’s a new band from my fellow immigrant brothers in Mashaal, sharing the stage with those guys would be mental.

Outside hardcore? Deafheaven, Full of Hell, Converge, Better Lovers to name a few, otherwise this will go on forever.

WHAT HAS BEEN SOME OF THE CRAZIEST EXPERIENCES YOU’VE HAD TOGETHER?

Joe: We’re a pretty chill, nerdy band so there’s been no crazy antics i’m afraid!

Closest thing would be us accepting a show on a few hours notice and asking Ben to fill in without knowing the songs at all. It was kinda a disaster but it’s fun to look back on now that we’ve come so far with him in the band.

Farhan: Yeah we’re all relatively tame guys you know. Most thrilling shit I experience is folks tryna guess where I’m from or butchering my relatively simple name or tryna figure where my accent’s from.

It’s always a good laugh because no one ever gets these things right, but now I’m giving it away with this and previous interviews!

HOW IMPORTANT IS REPRESENTATION IN THE HARDCORE COMMUNITY?

Joe: I feel representation of minorities and working class people etc is THE most important thing in hardcore, almost moreso than the music.

Hardcore is counterculture and is built on representing that. Farhan is from Bangladesh and its very important for him to represent that and raise awareness of issues going on there.

For me, I’m not straight edge but I feel an affinity with others that don’t want to do drugs or drink like myself. It feels like a community I can be comfortable in.

Farhan: Yeah easily the most important aspect of hardcore for me. Representation is very important and I am, at least to my knowledge, the only brown guy in this scene.

I hope that inspires more people who look like me to be a part of this. I’ve had a few people who share similar views come up to me after shows and tell me how much the message behind the band and the songs mean to them, that’s my favourite part of any show and that’s why I do this shit.

Everyone should feel like they have a place here, that’s hardcore. 

HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE HARDCORE SCENE CHANGE IN RECENT YEARS?

Joe: On a bigger scale in Glasgow and the UK hardcore is in a great place.

Northern Unrest are absolutely killing it putting on amazing shows and getting bands over from the US.

The bands they are in like Despize, Demonstration of Power, Nothin’ but Enemies etc are all incredible too.

There’s loads of great folk in the UK like MCHC, Conviction Records, Unit-E and Kings of the North doing wonders for hardcore.

On a smaller scale, since we started, it seems like the scene has fractured a little bit like I said earlier, but hopefully things eventually get sorted out in the future.

Being divided doesn’t help bands or promoters, it’s a small scene so we should all try to pull each other up. 

WHO HAS BEEN SOME OF THE LARGEST INFLUENCES IN YOUR SOUND?

Joe: We try to incorporate influences for each of us in the band. The first songs were influenced by the like of Guilt Trip, Hatebreed, Converge and Knocked Loose.

For future writing, we’re feeling like stripping the non-linear songwriting back a little while adding a little death metal in there.

We’ve added a second guitarist so that will affect the writing a lot. I’m open to seeing where it goes.

WE CAN’T ALL BE MUSICIANS 24/7 SO WHAT JOBS/CAREERS DO YOU GUYS HAVE?

Joe: I’m a car parts delivery driver. Its a very busy and somewhat physical job but I get to listen music and podcasts in my van for a lot of my day so I can’t complain…means I’m probably the default driver if we ever got to tour though, haha.

Farhan: I’m a Project Manager at a biotech company. I basically help develop drugs. My master’s here was in Precision Medicine, so my life outside of music is pretty intense scientific shit. I’ve always enjoyed the juxtaposition! 

HAVE YOU GOT ANY HOBBIES/INTERESTS THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH THE PEOPLE?

Joe: I’m the boring guy in the band, so playing guitar and writing music is my main hobby tbh. I do try and go to the gym as often as I can to try and not be a total slob.

Farhan: Pro wrestling is a big one. Kind of a lifelong love affair and I tried being a part of it for a bit, but I decided hardcore did enough damage to my body.

Video games, collecting pokemon cards, bit of photography here and there. 

YOU RELEASED YOUR DEBUT SINGLE ‘END THE OCCUPATION’ LAST SUMMER. WHAT WERE YOUR INFLUENCES FOR THIS TRACK AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

Joe: Farhan can better answer this for the lyrics and meaning, musically I think the goal on that track was to simplify the riffs and structures and have it be short and sweet.

We recorded the drums at our drummer’s college and we did the guitar/bass and vocals at home and sent it off to Farhan’s friend Digs to mix and master.

Farhan: I wanted our first single to address the biggest injustice in the world right now, which to me is Israel’s continued genocide of the Palestinian people.

I make it a point to speak about it every show and a portion of our t-shirt sales always goes to PCRF and other Palestinian aid organizations.

To some degree, the message is even more important to me than the music and I want Resist to truly be about resisting all forms of oppression – other singles which we will be releasing soon will follow in the same vein. 

FARHAN, HOW HAVE YOU FOUND THE HARDCORE COMMUNITY IN GLASGOW SINCE MOVING OVER FROM BANGLADESH?

Farhan: Yeah man like I said before, we don’t really have a hardcore scene back home. For whatever reason, it just never translated although I know people who enjoy punk/hardcore.

I was a part of the extreme metal scene there with my first band Tundraught which was a black metal band, and the second Klon Rx being a blackened hardcore band but still accepted into the general extreme metal scene.

Glasgow has been great for the most part, I’ve found the hardcore scene to be largely welcoming. Of course, no scene is without its flaws, but I prefer focusing on the positives and I think Glasgow is very rich not just in terms of hardcore but extreme music in general.

I’ve also gotten to experience just about every band I’ve ever wanted to see live, whereas in Bangladesh, international acts almost never come through so that’s I’ve fulfilled a lot of my dreams in a very short time thanks to Glasgow. 

HAVE YOU GOT ANY SHOWS COMING UP THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO PLAYING?

Farhan: We’ve just announced a show on the 4th April at the Garage Attic in Glasgow supporting False Reality!

We played 16 shows last year since debuting in February and we thought it might be a good idea to focus on getting the EP released and writing new tracks to start off the year.

We’d really like to make our way down south this year so any promoters in England reading this, hit us up! 

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM YOU GUYS IN 2026?

Joe: We’re currently focused on finishing up an EP which will hopefully be out sometime this February.

We’ve also added a second guitarist so we’re gonna get him up to speed and concentrate on writing a new batch of songs. Besides that, like Farhan said, it’d be sick to play some shows outside Scotland this year.

There’s plenty of amazing hardcore scenes all over the UK and we’d like to represent our scene in your town. 

FINALLY, HAVE YOU GOT ANY OTHER ARTISTS/FRIENDS YOU THINK THE PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT?

Joe: First and foremost, I want to shout out the band Woodhall. We’ve become close friends with them and they are just the best bunch of guys I’ve met in the scene who make endlessly moshable music. Big love!

As for the bands, if people don’t already know them, then check out Bathed in Sin, Test of Patience, Lights Out and Shot Down in May, to name a few from Scottish Hardcore.

Farhan: Yeah on top of that, big shout out to some of Bangladesh’s finest, both new and old – Torture Gorgegrinder, Warhound, Nafarmaan, Goddamn, Old Witch Cemetery, Kaizen and so many others.

There’s a lot of ridiculously talented musicians back home and if you’re ever interested in learning more about my scene, just hit me up.

I wanna spread it to more people and give it the recognition it deserves!

You can catch Resist on the Glasgow date for the False Reality and Overpower Tour on Saturday 4th April at the Garage Attic. Tickets are available via the link below (unfortunately its ticketmaster…)

Tickets Here

Until next time, I’ll catch you in the pit!

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