Confronting the dark corners of our world with unflinching defiance, Austin, Texas’s own Starving Wolves have been flipping the sound of punk upside down since 2015.

Describing themselves as: “a heartfelt political punch to the teeth”, Starving Wolves embrace traditional punk elements like aggressive drumbeats and gruff vocals, while blending melodic guitars and singalong campfire choruses into a fusion that is simultaneously catchy and caustic.

The core of the band’s original lineup – frontman David Rodriguez, bassist Zach Volta, and guitarist Josh Langford – have a long history together, having cut their teeth playing together in the Krum Bums in the 2000s. Guitarist Kevin Nguyen & drummer Reeve Allen round out the 5 piece with the chops and versatility to forge their own path forward.

With a relentless touring schedule that kicked off shortly after founding the band, they quickly gained the respect both of their peers and their seniors as a lethal live act. The Casualties were so impressed that they offered David the role of their new lead singer, which he enthusiastically accepted, while making certain he had the energy to fully commit to both bands. When not on the road, the band are in demand both as a hometown headliner in Austin, as well as a go-to support act for legendary bands coming through on tour.

Along with the attention of their fellow punk bands, they have become favorites on festival stages throughout the world, bringing their powderkeg energy to festivals such as Punk Rock Bowling in Las Vegas and FYWROK in Tulsa, among many more. Playing in front of festival crowds alongside diverse bands across a wide spectrum of punk, Starving Wolves have proven time and again that their message and music appeals not only to the niche of streetpunk, but to fans of everything from hardcore, crust, Oi!, pogo, skatepunk, pop-punk, and beyond.

Striving to create a positive, inclusive voice within the punk community and especially speaking up for marginalized voices, the band’s politics are in no way limited to their music, and they consistently put their money where their mouths are, having donated tens of thousands of dollars over the years to such cases as wildfire relief in Australia, families affected by drunk drivers, and especially the support for indigenous people, such as Standing Rock water protectors and mental health/suicide prevention initiatives for native youth such as building and maintaining skate parks on both Apache and Navajo land.

The kickoff track “Nothing More” opens with guitars and horns paying homage to traditional Mexican and Latin American music and is soon joined by militaristic drums, evoking images of a coming showdown in a spaghetti western film. Then singer & lyricist David Rodriguez kicks into a raging punk rock fury by tearing his throat raw singing for the downtrodden of the world: “Raised in fear! Bathed in blood! Crucified, we are reborn!”

This cinematic opening is no accident, says David. “Our goal was to create a scenario similar to a movie.  In normal cookie cutter format you have set up, conflict and resolution. But our record is more of a Robert Rodriguez film. Introduction and characterization, conflict, plot twist and confusion. Just as life has been the past few years. We wanted our listeners to sit back and visualize the music in their minds.”

Indeed, “Nothing More” sets an apocalyptic tone for a raw, relentless punk rock record that confronts widespread social issues like police brutality on “Burn the Stations,” as well as support for those struggling with their mental health or facing suicidal ideation on “Please Listen.” David says the record is an extremely personal one for himself and the band. “I wanted to talk, scream out loud about issues we too often keep inside. I want to have an open conversation with our listeners about suicide, depression, and addiction.”

On “Mixed Blood,” the singer grapples with personal issues of cultural identity, drawing upon his Mexican-American heritage. Singing in both English and Spanish to articulate his experience to speakers of both languages, he connects racism faced by young people to the brutal history of colonialism in the Americas.

“Mixed Blood was very important to me to express what colonization and racism have done over the years and personally how they have affected me: the feeling of having no home or acceptance. I am not from here and I am not from there.”

In crafting the visual identity of the record and its singles, the band actively sought out artists from different countries and of different cultures and genders to unite diverse voices and amplify those who may not often be heard. “Politically we feel that representation of indigenous peoples – which includes Mexican peoples – has been almost non-existent.” says David. “It was extremely important for us to find artists that represented our music and our ideals as well as our ethics.”

Forceful & dark, yet with an undying spirit of resilience, the journey of The Fire, The Wolf, The Fang is ultimately a cathartic experience, and a scream of survival and hope for those left behind in a world that can feel bleak.