NO WEAPON
PHOTO CREDIT: DESTINY MATA
1. Thanks for this interview! Would you please introduce yourself, tell us where you’re from, and what you do in No Weapon?
My name is Nate, and I am from Brooklyn, New York. I am the vocalist of No Weapon.
2. Tell us a bit about how the band came together—your origin story, if you will.
The band came together in the summer of 2025, although I’ve wanted to start my own band for years after spending so much time drumming in other projects. The band’s name came to me while I was at church listening to my mom deliver a sermon. At one point, she said, “No weapon formed against us shall prosper,” and I was like, “That would be a killer band name.” Later, I recorded drum tracks on my phone at my friend’s studio where I often jammed and sent them to Jerry, our bassist. A few days later, he added bass and guitar parts to the recordings. Then I shared the tracks with Gian, our guitarist, and since we had already talked about playing together in a band, things started coming together naturally. Earlier this year, our former drummer, Ian, and guitarist Sir and Cam stepped down, but soon after, Dee, who also plays drums for FUGU, joined us and helped keep the energy and momentum of the band going strong.
3. What about your hardcore origin story? Who were your gateway bands and what drew you to the music and scene?
My hardcore origin story started when I was 10 years old. I remember watching Biohazard’s “Punishment” for the first time and feeling completely hyped by it. Years later, in high school, I started getting into bands like Sick of It All, Bane, Snapcase, and Suicidal Tendencies. Back then, I discovered most of my music through YouTube and Pandora. What really drew me into hardcore was watching live videos of my favorite bands and seeing the energy of the crowd. The stage dives, pile-ons, sing-alongs, and overall intensity fascinated me. I always imagined myself being at those shows, but at the time I didn’t have the connections or know where to find that scene. It wasn’t until college that things changed. I finally met friends who regularly attended and booked shows throughout the city. Once I got my introduction to the hardcore community, I was able to experience firsthand what I had spent years watching online.
4. Talk to us about the band’s mission and values.
The mission of No Weapon is to promote strength through community while also encouraging people to find strength within themselves. Our name comes from the biblical phrase, “No weapon formed against us shall prosper,” but we want that message to resonate beyond its religious origins and speak to anyone who has ever been overlooked, underestimated, or treated as less than. We want people who come to our shows not only to move, mosh, and connect with the energy of the music, but also to reflect on their own experiences and the challenges they have overcome. When people sing along to our intro, we want it to be more than just a catchy lyric. It’s a reminder that no matter what obstacles, hardships, or opposition they face, those things will not prosper against them.
5. Talk to us about the importance—centrality—of community in hardcore and in activism.
Community exists to provide protection from the outside world, but it also creates a sense of family among people who may have started out as strangers and came together for a common cause. It gives marginalized people a space to exist, express themselves, share their art, celebrate their joy, and simply be present for one another. With activism, you’re speaking against fascism and bigotry through your lyrics and music, making it a weapon and telling people to stand up for what they believe in.
6. What have been the major highlights of the band’s existence so far, and what do you have coming up that we should be keeping an eye out for?
Some major highlights have been releasing our single “Right to Live” this year, playing at Break Free Fest in Philly, and debuting at Punk Island last year, playing in the Bronx for the first time, and Nate Fest, which was my Birthday show, thank you to Danielle for putting it together. We also have music in the works, maybe a couple of splits with friends in the scene next year.
7. What bands are you putting on your NYHC Mount Rushmore?
● Sick of it All
● Warzone
● Judge
● Leeway
● Madball
8. A promoter with unlimited funds and artist access, as well as access to a time machine, is putting on a show. They have approached No Weapon to play, and you get to choose the other four bands or artists, at their peak, from any era. Who are you playing with?
The bands would be: Terror, Killing Time, Shutdown, and Floorpunch.
9. What is one modern hardcore trend you love, one you hate, and one you wish would come back?
● I love when bands yell out where they’re from; just represent your hometown.
● I hate when people hate on bands who want to do something different with their music; I enjoy when HC bands can be creative and weird with their art.
● Not a wish, but I want to see more Nazis and abusers kicked out of shows.
10. Thanks so much for your time. Any last words or shout-outs?
No Weapon Formed Against Us Shall Prosper.
Shout Outs: ● Lake Lanier ● Xtinguish the Code ● Maafa ● Foxtails ● Brickarms ● Pillowbiter ● Cocaine Mitch ● Fugu ● No Values ● Ferment ● Take Care of my Bones ● Umiris ● Burn Him ● Majunche ● 100 Hour War ● Boil ● Dog Breath ● Brass Knuckle Brigade ● Gassed ● God’s Favorite ● Soji ● Ache ● Dead Vixens ● Pucker Up! ● Bleed The Gods ● Enzgiri ● Commitment ● Good Teal ● Muelas ● Eevie Echoes and the Locations ● Under The Sun Collective ● Studio 1917 ● Hood Park Presents ● Uncharted Music Mag ● Two Step Verification ● Cooked Magazine ● No Bullshit ● Leg Drop Productions ● Grey Matter Records ● Break Free Fest ● Punk Island ● Fuck You DIY and ● Quemalo Fest
[Ed. note: you can read my respective interviews with Gassed and Xtinguish the Code here and here]