Hard Launch Press had the opportunity to pick the ingenious brains of False Hydra just before the debut night of ‘Evermore,’ their first show of 2026. False Hydra is a metalcore band based out of Cincinnati, OH. Presenting both melodic yet aggressive choruses while fusing slow and heavy, anticipating breakdowns, their discography is admirable. Featuring Logan on vocals, Konnor on lead guitar, Jonny on bass, Bryan on drums, and Sam on rhythm guitar/vocals.

With a new album set to release in May, they shared thoughts on inspiration, memories, and what to expect in 2026.

Photography by Hannah Faith

Bryan (Drummer) : Outside of the band, we all get into other hobbies, and a lot of us really enjoy tabletop games like DND. The creature called the False Hydra just so happens to be loosely related to music, as it sings its own song before it feeds. Tell me that isn't metal!

What originally inspired the name “False Hydra”?

Bryan: Metalcore and death metal bands like Currents, The Black Dahlia Murder, and I Killed the Prom Queen. I love all these styles of drumming. A lot of the metalcore aspects of our drum patterns fuse with the syncopated rhythms you’d hear in metalcore, while also using the more fast-paced and extreme parts of death metal.

Konnor (Guitarist): I've always been inspired by genres like punk and hardcore, specifically Title Fight, Pierce the Veil, and Knocked Loose. I also transcribe ideas from other genres and figure out how to integrate them into our sound.

Who inspired your sound?

Jonny (Bassist): My musical influences come from all over the place! I’ve been a classic rock fan for a long time (Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath), but over the years I’ve drawn most of my musical taste and influence from alternative rock (Deftones, Alice in Chains, Tool), contemporary metal (Currents, Spiritbox), and J-rock (Tricot, AKFG).

Sam (Rhythm Guitarist/Vocalist): We’re stoked about our performance tonight! When Spiral Groove launched their new venue, Hybrid Moments, we had the opportunity to practice in the space before it opened to the public. We think it’s an excellent addition to the Cincinnati scene. It gives local artists a chance to share their passions with the community outside of music, and it’s the perfect place for the start of our 2026 plans. With the debut of our new single, “Evermore,” we’re expecting tonight’s performance will be full of high-energy moments, mosh-inducing riffs, heavy breakdowns, and face-melting solos. We’re also looking forward to sharing the stage with a new hardcore group, R.A.A.W. As their name implies, they offer a raw, explosive style; they’re really the perfect choice to kick off the show.

How are you guys feeling about tonight's show at Hybrid Moments?

Sam: “Evermore” is the second single off of our first studio album, Nothing Is the Same. When we wrote this song, we wanted to create something that would pump up the energy and get the crowd moving. At first, that was really the only inspiration we had, but once the song was nearing completion, we began to create a story of settling the score with someone who wronged you. Logan had a big hand in narrowing down the theme. He wanted people who were tired of being walked on or taken advantage of to really resonate with it as a stand against people who think they can hold you down. You'll get to see how that’s depicted in the music video, which came out with the single today!

Tell me about your new song “Evermore”—what was the inspiration behind it?

Sam: It goes without saying that we’re pumped to perform “Evermore” on its debut night. We're also looking forward to playing our first single, “Blizzard,” with a few other fan favorites from the upcoming album. If you've been to any of our live shows before, you know what we’re talking about. If you haven’t, you’re in for a treat.

Logan (Lead Vocalist): I hate to state the obvious, but I always love performing “Blizzard.” Tonight, though, is all about “Evermore,” and I think everyone is really going to enjoy it!

What songs are you most excited to perform tonight?

Jonny: We’re super excited to show off our new single to the crowd tonight! It’s typically the last song in our set and is an incredibly strong finisher. It’s one last big punch of energy to send the crowd off for the night. The double feature of “Let Me Fall” and “Grimace” is also a crowd favorite that lets us showcase our more melodic side before transitioning into our most popular headbanger.

Konnor (False Hydra Guitarist)

Photography by Hannah Faith

Logan: I think our message truly is: be yourself. Have fun, be you, and be proud! You only have one life; don't let other people tell you how to live it.

Is there a message that your band wants the audience to hear?

Sam: We believe in connecting through music. As a powerful, emotion-invoking medium, it lets you express who you are and how you feel about the world around you. When people go to concerts and performances, it creates a community founded on these emotions. Find what makes you move, find what you connect with, and be true to yourself. Most of all, have fun with it!

What is your most memorable moment as a band so far?

Sam: We've made so many good memories since we first formed the group. The five of us are truly good friends outside of the

band now, but this project is how we first got to know each other. Our first show was a huge milestone for us, performing for our loved ones in a friend's basement. In 2024, we were able to release an original song (“Blizzard”) as our first single. Last year, we got the chance to open for 156/Silence at Madison Live, which was definitely one of the most exciting shows we've had the opportunity to play so far. Lastly, we've had the privilege of working on more original music, creating new music videos, and finishing our first studio album. It's definitely something we'll all remember, and we can’t wait to share more of those milestones with our fans.

Jonny: Filming the music video for “Evermore” has been the most memorable moment for me. It was such a fulfilling creative process, and we were able to involve so many talented people. Seeing everyone give their all made it clear we were doing something really special. We also got to light things on fire! What’s not to love?

Logan: The most memorable moment for me was playing with 156/Silence. Being able to share the stage with such a talented group was incredible! Runner-up is filming the “Evermore” music video.

Bryan (False Hydra Drummer)

Photography by hannah Faith

Photography by hannah Faith

Sam: Expect 2026 to be another exhilarating year. First and foremost, our new single, “Evermore,” dropped today with a matching music video. Additionally, we officially have a release date for our first album, Nothing Is the Same. Mark your calendars for 5/16/26! Our roadmap for shows in 2026 is still developing, but we're on the prowl to find venues that connect with our music so we can continue performing this year.