BIO
Trace Remains sonic auteur Joey Vesely has spent two decades sharpening his melodic post-hardcore vision, and recruiting the right people for the cause. In previous bands, Vesely and his bandmates have toured the country, and worked with legendary Fugazi drummer Brendan Canty. They’ve also played in beloved bands within Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s vibrant DIY scene, centered around the non-profit co-op venue The Mr. Roboto Project.
“This music is in our blood. Every opportunity we have to take the stage or have your ear is a blessing, and we make sure we throw down with maximum energy,” says Trace Remains founder/singer/guitarist Joey Vesely.
The five-piece band’s critically-acclaimed debut album, Leverage the Tides was tracked at Pittsburgh’s iconic The Church Recording Studio, and co-produced by the band with its longtime producer Dave Hidek (Paul Luc, Zao, The Clarks).
Trace Remains mine the frenetic artiness of post-hardcore; the moodiness of post-punk; and the tunefulness of alt-rock and indie-rock. Theirs is a melange of lacerating guitars, discordant melodies, and cathartic song arrangements which sometimes yield to stately string or piano-lavished passages. “There is an intensity and aggression in our music, but there are always earworms lurking about—we’re Beatles fans,” Vesely reveals.
The 9-track record garnered rave reviews nationally and internationally including Ladygunn, Earmilk, Grimy Goods, Rival Magazine, Germany’s Kaltblut Magazine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Spain’s METAL with New Noise Magazine has gushing that Trace Remains sounds “if Dave Grohl took over as Fugazi’s frontman.”
With their new Zero Hour EP due July 17, 2026, Trace Remains expands on the themes first introduced on Leverage the Tides while pushing into a sharper, more exploratory sonic space. The EP blends the force of alternative rock with emotionally charged arrangements, layering guitars, drums, bass, synthesizers, strings, and analog textures like a vintage Maestro Echoplex.
“I do think ‘Zero Hour’ is a distinct evolution for us in terms of songwriting capabilities, production, and sonic exploration,” says Vesely. Across the EP, Trace Remains returns to the place where life often begins again: after something has ended, after the road you were on no longer works, after loss has forced everything back to zero.
Trace Remains formed in 2017. The band’s name has archeological and detective work connotations, loosely referencing the practice of piecing together past debris to study lost ancient empires or make sense of crime scenes. As an added layer of coolness not lost on the guys, the words “trace remains” appear in the song “All Through A Life,” by Fugazi co-founder Guy Picciotto’s emotive hardcore band, Rites of Spring. In addition to Vesely, Trace Remains is rounded out by guitarists Joel Grimes and John Perry, bassist Anton DeFade, and drummer Chris Hawthorne. Previously, the group has issued a pair of singles.
“Even though we’ve been grinding it out for a long time, I still have a lot more to give,” Vesely states. “I don’t have a choice in the matter—I just have to play this music.”
For booking please contact: traceremains@gmail.com
PRESS
“Pittsburgh band Trace Remains delivers an epic debut album” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“Trace Remains is a captivating post-hardcore band whose music is thrilling, melodic, and explosive.” – Earmilk
“This five-piece outfit distils the frenetic energy of post-hardcore, the brooding textures of post-punk, and the infectious hooks of alt-rock into a sound that’s both cathartic and catchy.” – Kaltblut
“The [music] has the experimental style of…Fugazi…but with a clear sense of pop-melody like if Dave Grohl took over as Fugazi’s frontman. It’s angular, powerful, and yet easily accessible with it’s pop elements.” – New Noise Magazine
“Their songs are a powerful combination of rough guitars, passionate melodies, and forceful arrangements, occasionally softened by piano interludes. The band’s music is a dynamic interplay of light and shadow. Their sound can shift from moments of quiet reflection to explosive bursts of energy.” – Ladygunn
“These…tracks could easily serve as the soundtrack for a contemporary western film…Not all songs are made for movies, but these fit perfectly.” – Metal Magazine
“Musically…hard-hitting and anthemic, filled with gritty guitar riffs, grunge infused basslines and clashing rock rhythms. Soaring and climatic vocals that are unapologetic and confident…” – Earmilk
“Their [music] is equal parts mosh pit fury and introspective agony.” – We Found New Music
“Trace Remains…is here to redefine [post-hardcore] with their melodic take. Their sound isn’t just about raw aggression; it’s a captivating blend that throws in catchy hooks reminiscent of alternative and indie rock, all delivered with the raw energy of a post-punk band.” – Rival Magazine
“[The band] unleashes powerhouse sonics and melodic earworms with fiery abandon.” – Grimy Goods