Portraits of Past has risen—or perhaps the Bay Area hardcore act never truly died?

For the past 30 years, Portraits of Past has been a touchstone in the evolution of hardcore. The group’s discography—anchored by a single full-length album and EP—may be abbreviated, but it continues to resonate with new generations of screamo and post-hardcore musicians and fans alike.

Long before they were labeled a legendary hardcore band, they were just a group of teenage friends from the Bay Area—skateboarding after school, obsessing over Metallica tapes, and hauling gear into garages. They made regular pilgrimages to Berkeley’s 924 Gilman Street, ground zero for the ‘90s punk revival, where groups played with a raw conviction that made the impossible feel within reach.

“We all always thought we would start a band,” says guitarist Rex Shelverton. “When we first went to Gilman, it wa