TRUE TOUGH

Year founded – 2019
City – Kyiv (Ukraine)
Language – Ukrainian
Genre – metalcore, hardcore

True Tough is a hardcore / metal band founded in Kyiv. The group is regarded as one of the heaviest acts in its genre and one of the brightest names on the modern Ukrainian punk scene. The band tours actively and has already released a number of singles along with two EPs. Band members:

Rostyslav Morvaniuk – guitar;
Roman Tkachuk – vocals;
Denys Kyrychenko – drums;
Dmytro Shport – guitar;
Dmytro Vavilov – bass.

History

The history of True Tough began in Kyiv, where the band started as a local project before evolving into one of the most prominent representatives of the new wave of Ukrainian heavy hardcore. The group officially formed in 2017, choosing beatdown hardcore as its primary genre.

The musicians spent their first two years searching for their own sound, experimenting with different approaches, shaping their creative philosophy, and laying the foundation for their future style. The year 2019 became a turning point, as the band's permanent line-up was finalised and its debut single was released. From that moment on, True Tough launched an active touring career and confidently established themselves on the Ukrainian heavy music scene.

Origin of the name

The name True Tough fully reflects the band's worldview and character. Within hardcore culture, it serves as a manifesto of strength, honesty, and resilience (true meaning genuine, tough meaning strong and uncompromising). The musicians deliberately chose a name that can be interpreted as a call to remain true to oneself and to endure even life's hardest blows. This idea runs throughout the band's work, defining its style and finding expression in most of its songs and live performances.

Creative journey

True Tough's first major release was their debut EP, which came out in 2020 and became a powerful statement from the young band on the Ukrainian underground scene. The central idea of the record was the belief that every person encounters circumstances that try to pull them into an abyss of fear, yet only they themselves are capable of overcoming their own inner barriers. On 19 September of the same year, the band further expanded its audience by performing a major concert in Kyiv alongside Sick Solution from Vinnytsia and the Kyiv metalcore band Break the Habit.

In 2021, the band's discography was expanded with the EP Panopticon, followed in 2023 by the EP Invaders Will Die, which demonstrated a significant evolution in their sound. On this release, True Tough blended hardcore with death metal, introducing much lower growled vocals and making the guitar parts more technical, complex, and aggressive.

The musicians took another important step in 2024. The band completely abandoned the older foreign-language versions of its songs, removing them from streaming platforms. Instead, the musicians reissued the iconic EP Panopticon in Ukrainian, enhancing it with a modern and even heavier metal sound.

In 2025, the band unveiled the track Cold Truth, the first single from its upcoming full-length album. The release became an uncompromising statement of the band's unwavering principles while also marking a return to its original sound, now elevated to an entirely new technical level.

Musical style

True Tough's musical style continues to evolve, although heavy hardcore remains its foundation. Music media and critics often refer to the band as the «capital's mosh machine», as their live performances are distinguished by exceptional energy, aggression, and powerful interaction with the audience.

The musicians openly admit that they have always aimed to go beyond music being merely a hobby and to make it the main pursuit of their lives. They fully understand that they remain an underground act simply because they work within a genre that has never been part of mainstream culture in Ukraine.

Over the years, the band's sound has undergone a noticeable transformation – from raw classic beatdown hardcore through experiments with metallic deathcore and death metal to a return to its roots, now backed by a much higher level of musicianship. Constantly searching for new forms, refining the intensity of their sound, and experimenting with song structures has allowed the band to develop its own distinctive identity.

Evolution of the sound and lyrical themes

As the band members themselves explain, after exploring different directions, they realised they wanted to return to classic beatdown hardcore because it best conveys the spirit of protest and direct expression. Thanks to this approach, True Tough sound equally convincing both in the studio and on stage. Their headline shows consistently attract full venues, while their festival performances regularly become some of the most energetic events on the heavy music scene, including the Dark Stage at the Faine Misto festival.

The band's work centres on complex human emotions, aggression as a way of coping with stress, inner struggle, and the social issues of modern society. Every track becomes an honest reflection in which the musicians' personal experiences intertwine with themes that resonate deeply with many listeners.

Social engagement

True Tough demonstrates an active role not only within the music industry but also in public life. Charity work and support for Ukrainian defenders have become an inseparable part of the band's activities. The musicians use every concert as an opportunity to help the Defence Forces of Ukraine, regularly organising charity performances and participating in major festivals.

Another important area of their work is supporting members of the Ukrainian hardcore scene who are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The band regularly organises dedicated fundraising campaigns for them. During one of their charity tours, the musicians managed to raise 170,000 hryvnias, which were directed toward the military needs of fellow musicians and friends defending Ukraine. For True Tough, creativity has long become not only a means of self-expression but also a practical tool for helping the country.