- The Bolton Common -

Hardcore Mission Holds True
By Laura Cyr Burgess, Correspondent
Sun May 04, 2008, 01:31 PM EDT

Bolton - Charity food drives and rustic barns may not be what most envision when they think of hardcore and metal music. But in the case of Hold True Recordings in Bolton, both of these images are accurate.

Hold True, which is now in its fourth year of operations, is a metal, hardcore, grind and thrash music label that was started by Bolton native Ethan Caless after he completed his service with the United States Marine Corps. While its mission is to support the New England bands involved in this specific music scene, it is also becoming known for its involvement with military-based charities.

Last summer, Caless worked with the Quinsigamond Valley Community Center in Worcester to put on benefit concerts in support of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation and the Operation: Military Kids Emergency Food Program. He has remained involved with these two causes over the past year and has stayed engaged in the effort to raise both food and awareness for Operation: Military Kids.

"It's been a good opportunity to bring a group of genres out to help in the community," Caless said. "People don't always expect it from this group. People have a negative preconception towards hardcore metal music, but the music is a positive force. We wanted to raise its profile and show the stereotypes aren't true."

Caless added that as a veteran, combining his work and passion for music with the military charities "just seemed like a natural thing to do."

Operation: Military Kids is a collaboration between the United States Army and leaders within local communities to support families affected by a loved one's deployment. Caless said that providing food is an important part of this group's mission since families often struggle financially when a member is serving overseas.

"Military families don't make a lot of money," Caless said, adding that families of reservists can often get hit the hardest since, when they are deployed, they most often will not be making as much as they did in their regular job.

"It can be catastrophic to families, especially with food prices continuing to increase more than inflation," he said.

Caless first became involved in the hardcore music scene when he was a student at Nashoba Regional High School. He joined a local punk band, started purchasing some recording gear and organizing concerts in the region, and it all grew to where he is now.

Hold True's recording studio is in the upstairs of a barn in Bolton. They also have a print shop for screen printing. Caless said they are currently working on recording the ninth album that will be released under the Hold True label; they have three bands signed, and are looking for a fourth.

Music from the label can be found in area record stores like Newbury Comics, and Caless said that the mall retail store Hot Topic has also picked up one of the label's newest albums and will be selling it in stores in the northeast. The music is also available on iTunes and other MP3 sites.
CDs released under the label can also be purchased on their Web site, HoldTrue.com.

Caless, 30, runs most of Hold True's operations and manages the Web site, bands, recordings, marketing and other activities needed to build relationships within the music scene. He does this while working a day job as an EMT in the Boston metro area, and is a volunteer EMT in Bolton as well. He said he also has interns who help with the work from time to time as well.

The music industry is one that has seen drastic changes over the past few years, and Caless said that interest in the hardcore music scene has also seen highs and lows. But, he said, he is committed to the label and its mission, despite challenges.

"It's always changing. The challenges we face change as we grow," he said, adding that one consistent challenge is just trying to raise awareness about the music and the bands that Hold True works with.

He said that one of the biggest motivating factors he has to see the label succeed is just personal drive.

"I just wanted to create something bigger than myself," Caless said. "I hope to have something that one day I can look back on and be proud to have created."