California hardcore band Initiate have announced their new EP, With Love // With Rage, set for release on August 7 via Blue Grape. The project follows the band's acclaimed 2023 album Cerebral Circus.
Reflecting on the EP's concept, vocalist Crystal Pak explained: “When I looked back at the lyrics, everything read as a letter... I intentionally wrote these songs, so they spoke to these two opposing feelings: Love and rage.”
The lead single, "Numb the Pain," showcases Initiate's blend of crushing hardcore and melodic post-hardcore, while pushing their sound into more introspective territory.
Watch and listen to the new song below.
Speaking about the track, Pak said: “We all wondered, ‘What would it sound like if Clairo wrote a Quicksand record?’” She added that the song embraces vulnerability over intensity, using acoustic and melodic elements to create “something more personal and reflective,” while expanding the band's sound without losing its core identity.
Following the EP's release, Initiate will spend the second half of the year on the road, including a tour alongside Senses Fail and Koyo through December.
INITIATE: 2026 TOUR DATES
7/25–7/26—Long Beach, CA—Warped Tour
8/21–8/22—Montréal, QC—Warped Tour
9/11–9/13—Edmonton, AB—Purple City Music Festival
10/23–10/25—Gainesville, FL—The Fest
11/14–11/15—Orlando, FL—Warped Tour
11/19—Los Angeles, CA—Belasco *
11/20—Las Vegas, NV—House of Blues *
11/21—San Diego, CA—Observatory North Park *
11/23—Portland, OR—Crystal Ballroom *
11/24—Seattle, WA—Neptune Theatre *
11/27—Salt Lake City, UT—The Depot *
11/28—Denver, CO—Summit Music Hall *
11/30—Dallas, TX—Echo Lounge & Music Hall *
12/1—San Antonio, TX—Aztec Theatre *
12/2—Houston, TX—House of Blues *
12/4—St. Petersburg, FL—Jannus Live *
12/5—Atlanta, GA—Buckhead Theatre *
12/6—Nashville, TN—Brooklyn Bowl *
12/8—Chicago, IL—House of Blues *
12/9—Cincinnati, OH—Bogart’s *
12/11—Detroit, MI—Saint Andrew’s Hall *
12/12—Toronto, ON—Opera House *
12/13—Montreal, QC—Théâtre Beanfield *
12/15—Boston, MA—Big Night Live *
12/16—Philadelphia, PA—Theatre of Living Arts *
12/18—Brooklyn, NY—Warsaw *
* with Senses Fail & Koyo
Photo by Bella Petro