Nasty (band)

Lore & Background

Nasty was founded in November 2004 in Kelmis, Belgium, by former members of Van Damme. Due to backlash against their aggression, they relocated to Eupen. Their early years were spent associating with the West Flanders hardcore scene H8000 and its central record label GoodLife Recordings. Their debut album, Declaring War, was released in 2006 via Fuck This Recordings. The band subsequently switched labels and released their second album, Aggression, on February 16, 2008, via Beatdown Hardwear and distributed by Goodlife Recordings. Give a Shit, released on July 10, 2010, was also released via Beatdown Hardwear and distributed by Goodlife Recordings. Their fourth studio album, Love, was released on February 28, 2013, via Beatdown Hardwear, a change partly due to dissatisfaction with the previous label's promotional efforts.

Beatdown Hardwear is the band's own imprint, not an external label they signed to in the traditional sense. They released Love (2013), Shokka (2015), and Realigion (2017) through it. During this period, they toured extensively, including the Taste of Anarchy Tour in 2013, a European tour supporting Deez Nuts in December 2013, and the EMP Persistence Tour in January 2014. In 2020, they signed to Century Media Records, which released Menace (2020) and Heartbreak Criminals (2023). In 2025, they co-headlined a tour of Australia alongside Paleface Swiss.

Reader's Guide

Nasty's significance lies in their role as a prominent act in the European beatdown hardcore scene, evolving from the H8000 collective to international recognition. Their music, characterized by breakdowns, death metal grooves, and blast beats, built upon traditional beatdown sounds while incorporating more metal elements over time. Lyrically, they are known for antifascist and anarchist themes. Their label progression—from Fuck This Recordings and Goodlife Recordings to Beatdown Hardwear and finally Century Media—reflects their growing reach. They have toured with major acts such as Suicidal Tendencies, Terror, and Deez Nuts, and headlined the Impericon Never Say Die tour. Their eight-album discography and consistent touring have cemented their place in the hardcore scene, influencing later bands and maintaining a dedicated following.

Did You Know?

• Nasty was formed by former members of the band Van Damme.
• They relocated from Kelmis to Eupen due to backlash against their aggression.