Breaking the Silence with Barriers | Mental Health and Hardcore

Barriers is one of those bands that wears its heart and its trauma right on the sleeve. In this interview, I sat down with frontman Jack and guitarist Tom to talk about what it means to put your whole self into music. What came out was raw, honest, and exactly the kind of conversation the metal community needs more of.

We covered everything from how the band formed after a decade apart, to the therapeutic power of heavy music, to what it looks like to live with mental illness without being defined by it.

If you're a fan of hardcore, honesty, or anything that leaves a scar and still moves forwarD, this one’s for you.

Reuniting After a Decade

Jack and Tom talk about how Barriers came together after ten years of no contact. What started as a low-stakes jam session quickly became something more.

"We didn't plan to be a band again. We just wanted to play music like we used to. But the vibe was still there, heavier, maybe a little older, but real."

Making Room for Mental Health

Both Jack and Tom open up about their personal mental health journeys. Jack speaks candidly about living with OCD and PTSD, while Tom shares how music helped him manage anxiety and burnout.

"Being in this band is one of the only times I feel okay. Like, really okay. Not masking, not performing, just… present."

This isn't just surface-level awareness talk. It’s the real stuff, the kind that leaves you quiet when the conversation ends.

Lyrics That Actually Say Something

We break down lyrics from a few key Barriers tracks and how they function almost like journal entries, raw, unfiltered, and uncomfortable in the best way.

“If someone hears these lyrics and realizes they’re not alone in their rage, or their grief, or whatever’s tearing them apart - that’s worth more than any stream count.”

Balancing Honesty with Burnout

One of the most powerful parts of this interview was hearing how the band navigates staying emotionally honest without burning out.

"We’re not trying to be anyone’s therapist. But we are trying to not lie, not to ourselves, or the people listening. And that takes work."

A Therapist’s Take

This interview hit hard, not just because of what was said, but how it was said. No polish. No PR lines. Just two men being deeply honest about the wreckage they've walked through, and the music that helps them make sense of it.

What stood out to me most was the way Jack described OCD not as a quirky personality trait, but as a relentless mental weight. And the way Tom talked about playing shows not as escape, but as confrontation. That’s what healing often looks like, not peace, but presence.

And in a genre that sometimes prizes invincibility, Barriers reminds us that vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s a weapon.