Angel Du$t graduated from the same school of hardcore as bands like Turnstile, Militarie Gun, and Candy, whose riffs are heavy enough that they get away with coloring well outside the lines of the genre. It comes as no surprise, then, that the shape-shifting collective formed by Trapped Under Ice vocalist Justice Tripp has featured members of two of those bands within their ranks over the years, nor that the breakout crossover success of Turnstile has paved the way for Angel Du$t to burrow deeper into the broader alt-rock landscape.
Their new album Cold 2 the Touch is made up of 11 songs that dance between the poles of hardcore-punk and power-pop that AD$ generally cling to, with the band citing everything from the rave-rock of Happy Mondays to the “monster riffs” of Stone Temple Pilots as influences for this record. Beyond that, Tripp cites the proto-hardcore of The Velvet Underground and the sounds of The Beatles’ “evil acoustic guitar” as inspirations this time around, demonstrating how the band doesn’t just reference a broad scope of influences, but also tends to focus on their songs’ most interesting details via their own unique perspective.
With the record out today via Run for Cover, check out their full list of influences below with the playlist they crafted for us and their commentary on each track.
JUSTICE TRIPP
The Velvet Underground, “Rock & Roll”
You speed this track up a little and throw the guitar through a Marshall amp and we got a contender for earliest hardcore music.
Death Threat, “Death at Birth”
Inarguably the best hardcore song ever written.
The Beatles, “I’m Only Sleeping”
Constantly inspired by the evil acoustic guitar on this one.
Turnstile, “Magic Man”
This is peak minimalist writing Turnstile brain. Makes me want to throw away every riff I’m writing and just sing the heaviest thing on a note or two in a big ass room.
CIVIC, “The Fool”
Best rock track of 2025
Agnostic Front, “With Time”
This song alone is responsible for multiple AD$ riffs.
Chris Spedding, “Video Life”
Jim wasn’t available, so I added my favorite song he plays in the van.
ZECH GHOSTRIBE
Happy Mondays, “God’s Cop”
They turned the rock show into a rave. My favorite band (tied with Bad Brains).
Bad Brains, “Sailin’ On”
No explanation needed. My second-ever tattoo when I was 18 was “SAILIN’ ON” across my chest.
Black Sabbath, “Electric Funeral”
First song I learned on guitar.
Parliament, “Flash Light”
Ignites the dance floor.
Anti Cimex, “Hatred”
Inspires violence.
STEVE MARINO
The Feelies, “Let’s Go”
I think there was definitely some Feelies energy tapped into for “I’m the Outside.”
Stone Temple Pilots, “Sex Type Thing”
STP are my standard for trying to write monster riffs.
Sepultura, “Inner Self”
I’m not a mosher, but I would take a header off the stage to this song.
Laffing Gas, “Pressure”
Numerous times I’ve been working on a riff and think, “This is too close to a Laffing Gas riff.”
NICK LEWIS
Black Sabbath, “Symptom of the Universe”
Has everything I love about music: devastating riffs and Bill Ward is playing his drums like they owe him money.
AC/DC, “Riff Raff”
Hauls serious ass—huge rock track that could shake clubs and stadiums. Their ability to keep the groove without sacrificing speed/energy is what sets them apart.
Misfits, “All Hell Breaks Loose”
Speaks for itself.
Black Flag, “I’m the One”
I love when a band can make a song sound sweaty.
Slayer, “Necrophobic”
The song that made me wanna play fast.
Guns ’n’ Roses, “It’s So Easy”
Another huge rock anthem that a million people can sing together but still has the ferocity and danger of a sketchy bar band.
