NEKS Release Debut Album 'Point of No Return'

Hardcore has a new name with a familiar pedigree. NEKS is a new band formed by members of Daytrader, Crime In Stereo, Capsule, RILE and Spirits, finally bringing to life an idea that had been brewing for years.

Four of Daytrader’s five members had often spoken about starting another project, but life, moves and other commitments got in the way. In 2023 the timing finally lined up. Despite members being spread across Salt Lake City, Denver, New Jersey and Spain, they began working remotely and recording in sessions that would become their first full-length.

That record, Point of No Return, is out now as a self-released debut.

---

A New Role for Gary Cioni

One of the biggest shifts in NEKS is seeing Gary Cioni, best known as guitarist in Crime In Stereo and Daytrader, step up as the band’s vocalist. He is joined by Matt Mascarenas (RILE, Sunsleeper, Daytrader) and Wes Johnson (Archive Recordings, I Hear Sirens) on guitars, Robert Cheeseman (Spirits, Time X Heist, Test of Time, Daytrader) on bass and Derrick Flanagin (Capsule, Wrong, Daytrader) on drums.

The album was recorded at Sound Acres in New Jersey and Archive Recordings in Utah, produced and mixed by the band themselves, and mastered by Mike Kalajian at Rogue Planet. Artwork is by Jordan Talley.

---

Sound and Themes

Point of No Return blends melody and aggression with an unrelenting bleakness. It nods to bands like Quicksand, Snapcase, Modern Life Is War and Poison the Well, while carving out its own sharp edge.

Lyrically, the record doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects. Songs look at inequality, societal violence and the constant sense of decline in the wider world, while also exploring personal struggles and the disillusionment that comes with them.

With Point of No Return, NEKS arrive fully formed. It is both a continuation of their past work and a bold new statement, tackling the chaos of the world head-on and refusing to back down.

NEKS – Point of No Return is out now, self-released and streaming everywhere.