We all suffer. Acknowledging this is the first of the four noble truths laid out by the Buddha himself, the OG. The root of all suffering is desire, and in a world centralized around greed and the lust for power, one can benefit greatly from embracing the principles of Buddhism. Personally, I have begun to revisit my Zen studies and mindfulness practices, both to aid in my own mental health journey as well as dealing with the cycle of increasingly batshit bonkers news from the United States and across the world. At the heart of this chaos, Washington D.C., a new hardcore band emerges, holding true to the extant text of the Buddha’s teachings; both the band and those texts are called Sutras.
Here is a taste of what’s to come, the latest single from Sutras upcoming record, The Crisis of Existence out April 16, 2025 via Tomb Tree.
Not only is pursuing what the band calls ‘Dharma Punk’ an exciting idea, but their music is just as exciting, fusing traditional D.C. and East Coast hardcore sounds with touches of crust, sludge, and notably on “Karma To Burn” shoegaze/post-rock elements. Imagine a combination of the emotive hardcore of Rites Of Spring with the energy of Modern Life Is War diving head first into an Envy recording session and you’ll get the picture. Or just listen to this banger yourself. Do what thou wilt, but cause no harm. Take no shit, either. Fuck. Just be mindful and embrace the impulses and fleeting moments of suffering. Sutras will scream our suffering in beautiful unison while lush guitars and hammering drums carry the weight.
Sutras is Tristan Welch (guitars/vocals) and Fredrick Ashworth (rhythm section), both veterans of the D.C. hardcore and experimental music scene who make raw, introspective and wildly creative hardcore informed by grief, addiction, heartbreak, and mental health battles. In other words, they know suffering. The band says of “Karma To Burn”:
‘My mind, my body and my words seem to act in ways that are not always in line with my spirit. Similar to the thought of ‘why do bad things happen to good people’ – I often wonder, in regards to myself, ‘why do good people do bad things.’ I’ve grown to a conclusion, of sorts, that my mind, my body and my words are separate from my spirit or my soul. I’ve grown to embrace the concept of karma, and with that, I’m burning off lots of bad things […] I think that cycle is going to be going on for a while. With this song, I’m hoping it will all end soon. In this song I’m trying to work through things without destructive nihilism but without attachment to what’s causing suffering.’
Less attachment, less consumption, less desire will lead to less suffering, and therefore better karmic returns. “Karma To Burn” is a call to action, a mantra to endure the challenges that life, in particular life in 2025, has and will continue to throw at us. It is also a rare feat of kick-ass hardcore and dreamy shoegaze, a reminder that all things are interconnected, musically, spiritually, and physically, and that though there seems to be divisions and separations, it is only through unity, community, and mindfulness that we shall overcome life’s suffering. Sutras teach us this.
