The Flex | |
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 The Flex performing in 2022 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Rick Flex (2012) |
| Origin | Leeds, West Yorkshire, England |
| Genres | Hardcore punk, tough guy hardcore |
| Years active | 2012–present |
| Labels |
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| Spinoff of | Violent Reaction |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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The Flex (formerly known as Rick Flex) [1] are an English hardcore punk band from Leeds, West Yorkshire. In an article by NoEcho, they were cited as one of the progenitors of the New Wave of British Hardcore. [2]
The band formed in 2012 under the name Rick Flex from members of other UK hardcore bands (including Arms Race and Violent Reaction), [3] playing different instruments to those that they were used to, [4] for the original guitarist Rick Savage's birthday party, however due to in-band tensions, he was eventually replaced by then-drummer Liam Fox and Tom Pimlott of Violent Reaction was recruited to play drums. [5] On 10 May, they released their debut demo. [6] In February 2013, they opened for Rotting Out on their UK tour. [7] On 23 March 2013 they released their debut EP Scum On The Run through Video Disease and Milk Run Records. [8] In May 2014, they toured the U.S. with Violent Reaction. [9] [10] On 19 March 2015, they released their second EP "Flexual Healing Vol.5: Do Ya Think I'm Flexi?" [11] and 23 March released their third EP Don't Bother with the Outside World. [12] Between April and May of the same year, they toured the U.S. supporting Red Death, [11] followed by a European Headline tour in June and August. [12] On 1 June 2016, the band opened for Power Trip at the Boston Music Room in London. [13] In April 2018, they played Damaged City festival in Washington D.C., [14] [15] followed by releasing their EP Flexual Healing Vol 7: Perhaps the War is Over? Perhaps it's Peace? on the 19th of the same month. [16] [17] In June 2019, they opened for Have Heart at their matinee Leeds reunion show. [18]
The band have been described as hardcore punk [7] [19] and tough guy hardcore. [16] [20] Their music is influenced by the sound of '80s New York and Boston hardcore like Agnostic Front and SSD. [21] Max Cussons of Contactmusic described their sound as "clobbering two-stepping punk". [22] Gav Russell of CVLT Nation described them as "a band who trim away all the fat to leave a no-frills, 80’s infused hardcore battering of the finest order". [4]
| Nominated work | Year | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wild Stabs in the Dark | 2014 | CVLT Nation - Best UKHC Album | #4 [4] |