Nicole Brice
Dec 3, 2025
Subliminal Landmines are back with a new, harder-edged sound.
The Louisiana music scene is brimming with great bands, and one that is set to make a significant comeback in 2026 is the Lafayette-based punk band Subliminal Landmines. After a brief hiatus due to lineup changes, the band is back with a new, harder-edged sound and is ready to take the stage by storm.
Since their inception in 2017, Subliminal Landmines has continued to grow in scope, with numerous releases all showing a steady progression in sound. When asked about the origins of their band name, founder Grant Duhon explained, "Each of the songs we write has a deeper context, a subliminal aspect to each, and then once the listener connects the dots, and it clicks that you understand what the song is about, it's like a landmine that goes off triggered by realization." The name definitely reflects the essence of a band that never stops gaining momentum.
Subliminal Landmines is more than just a punk band; it is a trio of creative individuals from diverse backgrounds who share a passion for making music and creating art. Initially, the band’s sound was more reminiscent of Green Day and a bit poppier, but over the years, their sound has evolved to embrace the skate-punk aesthetic, in the vein of Pennywise, and has now expanded into the hardcore punk genre. The new lineup features Scratch on vocals, Fry on bass, and Taz on drums.
Recently, Scratch opened a multi-use chill space in downtown Lafayette called The Devil’s Den, which he hopes to house a barrage of shows in the future. As a hydro/hydra lounge and boutique, The Devil’s Den offers numerous beverages and oddities for purchase, including handmade corsets and jewelry, along with game rentals and more. With this new venue, Subliminal Landmines is poised to make a comeback that promises to be even more intense than before. The first show with the new lineup is scheduled for Friday, December 19, 2025, at The Devil’s Den. Mark your calendars and be there!
The band recently stopped by the house to hang out and chat, so take a moment to learn more about what they have been up to as well as what’s in store for 2026.
MaM: So, tell us a little more about this new line-up and how things came to be.
Scratch: We were looking for a bassist and a drummer, and some time had passed, and then my friend Steven ran into Fry one night, and they linked up, and he gave Fry my number. He then hit me up and tried out for bass and fit the spot perfectly. Then we had drum tryouts, and that’s where Taz came in. We then started practicing and writing, and we actually just recorded four new songs.
MaM: Nice! Are you still going to promote Restless Thoughts from Different Cities that came out with the old line-up? I know once it came out, not much else was done in terms of promotion.
Scratch: Well, I kind of plan to promote it, but for the most part, it’s just a release that is out there because we don’t have any physical copies. We had those songs in the vault for over two years, and we didn’t want to sit on them.
MaM: It’s such a great EP. So, let’s talk to your new members, Fry and Taz. Guys, no last name? Just a first name?
(nodding)
MaM: (to Fry) How long have you been playing bass, and what got you into it initially?
Fry: Well, I tried out guitar, and it was cool, but I like bass because I’ve always heard it prominently. I actually found Gorillaz, first off, and I started playing acoustic bass. Then I saw Red Hot Chili Peppers and Primus, and I always wanted to learn the hardest song to practice. That taught me you could do vocals while playing bass, so I’ve been trying to freestyle while playing bass.
MaM: (to Taz) How long have you been playing drums?
Taz: Three years. I had a drum set for a long time, and finally got to practicing on it. One day, I just looked at it and started. Played it, liked it, upgraded to the set I have now.
Scratch: Fry has his own signature bass style. You can hear him slapping that bass.
Fry: Double thumb is what we’re doing a lot of on this new stuff. Lowkey. I’ve been adding little strums and whatnot, too. I like to keep the action low so it’s a bit more rumbly. So, I’ll do some complex fingerstyle if I’m going to play fingerstyle, and it usually works out. You don’t hear enough slap in punk. It’s criminally underrated.
MaM: (to Grant) So, you’re going by Scratch now? Why the persona change? Take us through that.
Scratch: It’s a nickname I’ve always had, but when we brought Fry on, I was like, you know, it would be cool if we each had our own identities tied to the band, and I actually came up with a last name, too, as I was creating a character for The Devil’s Den. For the PS4 profile, I put Scratch as the first name, but then I needed a last name, so I picked Wilson because who can make it happen? Scratch WILL SON! It just rolls off the tongue.
(laughter)
MaM: (looks to Fry and Taz) Are you guys going to add a last name to match Grant’s?
Fry: I started with Fry Lock. So, like Fry’s locked in.
MaM: That’s awesome!
Fry: I have an adlib that I’ll do a lot, where I’ll spell out my name F-R-Y.
MaM: Well, think about the whole gimmicky nature of previous bands choosing personas over their real names. Look at The Ramones, and The Donnas … I love when bands do that. It brings it full circle.
Taz: I guess I need to find a last name now.
Scratch: Mine naturally made itself. I didn’t actually think of it. The universe gave me a circumstance. It was like choose your last name, and Wilson was the first thing that came to mind.
MaM: It’s almost as if you could change your whole persona within the band and make it to where people don’t know your real name.
Scratch: So, with The Devil’s Den, I introduce myself as Scratch. That’s just my persona downtown [Lafayette]. I don’t really want people knowing my real name because I’m meeting a lot of people every day.
MaM: So, let’s talk new venue. How did this all come about?
Scratch: Well, so the name, obviously, has been floating around for a while in my head, but as a restaurant originally. A spicy food-based restaurant, actually, but it just didn’t work out that way. When The Grouse Room closed down, I was thinking about how Lafayette has lost another music venue, and what an opportune time to do what I do on a bigger scale or more consistently, not just once a year like Radfest. If I could house an event center where people can hang out, host events regularly, and host Radfest, then that would be it. But you can literally walk out of The Devil’s Den, and Parc International is right there. Right in our backyard.
MaM: Tell us a little more about the venue.
Scratch: I looked into The Grouse Room when it closed down, and I didn’t know whether they wanted a lease or if they were trying to sell it. They wanted to sell it, so then I saw a building two doors down, and when I tell you universal synchronicities with this building … things kept lining up and happening to make it happen.
MaM: That’s usually how it works out.
Scratch: The building was already red and black. The main wall inside, an original, beautiful brick wall, was basically sculpted by Fry, Taz, me, and a couple of other people. We got a crowbar and a hammer, chiseled off the rest of the wall to expose the brick, and then I basically revamped that whole building. It’s red-lit inside; it has this vibe. We’ve been getting some foot traffic. Basically, it’s just an awareness period right now, but a lot of peace and love went into those walls.
MaM: So, what’s on the horizon for 2026? Tell us about the new music.
Scratch: Yeah, the new stuff is a little more hardcore punk. It’s all recorded, four songs. My vocals are more aggressive, too. We recorded with Ben Finley at The Shed Sound Hole, and we hope to have it released by January or February 2026. I hope to be booking regular shows at The Devil’s Den, not just for Subliminal Landmines, but also for other bands, and to do some fashion shows there, too. All kinds of things will happen in 2026.
As Subliminal Landmines continue to carve out their place in the Louisiana music landscape and beyond, make it a point to check out their first live show with the new line-up on December 19, 2025, at The Devil's Den in Lafayette, LA.
To learn more about Subliminal Landmines:
Spotify:
Subliminal Landmines | Spotify
Apple Music:
Subliminal Landmines - Apple Music
Facebook:
Instagram:
Subliminal Landmines (@subliminallandmines) • Instagram photos and videos
YouTube:
"Where's My Coke?" - OFFICIAL VIDEO
*All photos by Gary Governale
Questions or comments? Hit us up at mixedalternativemag@gmail.com.