I’ve always found a growing obsession with the things I love. I’d anchor it on the more positive end of where fandom may lie, because I’m not one to cross parasocial lines or fully excavate the lives of the artists I admire. When a good piece of art impacts my life, I want to deep dive on the creative process, what that piece of work means to the people who create it, and above all, I want to share it around with the people who I think would enjoy it. When I first heard Good Teal last year, I felt that obsession kick in again.
I was led on to the group when a friend shared the music video for “Parasites!” around this time last year. It blew the doors down, in my opinion, offering a fresh and ambitious take on hardcore as someone who doesn’t always find interest in the genre. Since then, they released a self-titled record in 2025, along with a handful of music videos, and a documentary about making the album; all produced, directed, and edited by the band themselves. I thought it would be a while until the band had something new to share, but this June they dropped a new split EP with Noir Benny that fully explores the possibilities of a collaboration between hardcore and rap.
I was grateful to get some words from the GT camp, not only from vocalist Reg Mason but from collaborator and rapper Noir Benny as well. Their unlikely introduction into the collaborative process is about as batshit as the world just is these days.
Noir Benny: ‘So l found Good Teal through an A.I. Peter Griffin account and I posted their music on my story shouting them out. Reg then saw it and found the EP I had and showed love back. Then we linked in Baltimore for the first time ever and recorded some shit together and from then on we worked on so much music we were like yo we gotta collab officially. At first we were talking about a song then I said let’s do a split and everyone agreed and here we are.
My favorite part of the collaborative process was definitely the lock in session we had in January during a blizzard in Baltimore. We got so much done and had so much fun just working, we literally did not get sunlight for 36 hours.‘
Circling back to their music videos, the homegrown flare and impressive eyes behind the lens showcases another feat of a band pushing creative intrigue further. Their music video for “Excusing the Hurt” was mostly shot in first-person POV, whereas “Bittersweet” showcases their New Jersey roots drenched in riveting color gradings throughout. They dropped a new video for their single “Company!” which features tons of captured live footage from friends and fans alike. Reg Mason discusses the conceptualization and making of further:
‘Our guitarist, Curtis and I shoot/edit all of our videos but since we’re in the band, we called our friend André Hemmitt who we’ve worked with in the past. We expanded the operation into a 5 man camera crew with even some of the audience capturing the show as well. We quite literally used every angle that we could, adding a mixed media flair to it.
I also shot a bat signal out on my Instagram before the show asking people to bring any kind of crappy camera they could find, the older the better. We had someone shoot the show on a 3DS, VHS cameras, iPhones all the way to the Sony’s, bigger DSLRs, and 360 cameras. It all felt like we’re under surveillance in the best way.‘
The band were able to do a small tour supporting the new release, bringing along Noir Benny for the ride as well. They’ve got more shows and fests coming throughout the year and are plotting any move to bring their music to more audiences as hardcore thrives in the community of a live setting. Even the name of the band represents the catharsis and connection one feels when letting out all the pain and anger when going to a concert, whether it’s moshing out one’s demons or letting the music speak to the soul.
The live engagement means ‘getting to finally give people a chance to experience it in real time‘ to Mason, who adds that ‘we’ve been very lucky to build something real without really playing the algorithm game. I think it’s really affected our listener retention.‘ Benny on the other hand shares that ‘it’s definitely been the reactions from everyone who has seen us do the songs from the split for the first time. It’s not often you get hardcore and hip-hop packaged in a way that we did it so I think streaming it was one thing but seeing it live definitely blew some people’s minds.‘
Did I mention this band is from New Jersey? I’m proud to call it my home state, but North Jersey and South Jersey feel worlds away from each other. I’m from the bottom half, so going to the Philadelphia DIY scene was critical to my musical development. North Jersey, however, has been building its own scene within metal and hardcore that I’ve only discovered in recent years. Whether it’s the local venues or bands showing the love, Good Teal is yet another added character to a space that needs more attention. Reg was able to share his thoughts on the NJHC movement and what it means to the band.
‘I find it paramount. Getting to fly the flag of a scene with as rich of a history in heavy music as Jersey has been something I do with pride. I’m super biased but I feel like there’s a certain air to Jersey that I can’t quite find anywhere else. The way the community rides for one another and the people I’ve met from all walks of life has cracked my worldview right open. I thought shit like this only happened in support groups.‘
Good Teal is a band that’s formidable in both sound and identity that most artists take years to uncover. The group comes from different musical backgrounds and previous efforts, but they are chugging along steadily with a vision and purpose like none other. They make me think of where hardcore can go when broken free of its rigid structures – just look at the success of Turnstile and their approach to the genre gaining a wider audience. Good Teal are on the path, wholly unique and fueled by their distinct passions, and that’s why I can’t shut the fuck up about them. Their DIY nature, their catalogue full of unexpected turns we’ve both seen and haven’t as their future awaits. Get on board now, folks. I’ll end with some words on what’s coming next from the group/Benny:
RM: ‘Already writing for GT II :). Maybe do a movie or a project on the side to get the juices flowing again before taking another big dive. We’re hitting a few summer shows and then doing a run in October on our way to The Fest in Gainesville. We’re all really stoked about that in particular!‘
NB: ‘I’m currently working on a follow up to my EP I dropped last year called RAPSTAR, hopefully to come out late ‘26 or early ‘27. I’m also getting ready to drop some singles I’ve been sitting on. I’m really just trying to work on as much music as possible right now, a lot of it with GT in some way, some of it not but high output is my thing right now.‘
Good Teal is…
Reg Mason: Vocals/Bass
Alex Gold: Guitar
Shane Stanton: Drums
Curtis Grayson: Guitar/Backing Vocals
Instagram | Bandcamp | YouTube
Artist photo by Jordan Mikhail
