The Men

The Men are a Brooklyn group formed in 2008 by Nick Chiericozzi, Chris Hansell and Mark Perro. They begin as an abrasive post-punk and punk trio, then gradually widen their sound to include noise rock, country-rock, soul, psychedelia and more accessible song structures.

Early releases and breakthrough

Before adding drummer Rich Samis, the band self-releases We Are the Men and Immaculada, along with several tapes. Their Sacred Bones debut, Leave Home, arrives in 2011 and brings them wider attention with its harsh noise rock sound. The following year, Open Your Heart becomes a breakthrough record and marks a clear move beyond straight punk, mixing country, psych and surf influences into their aggressive style. That album also includes Samis and bassist Kevin Faulkner.

Expanding style

The Men continue to change direction across a run of closely spaced releases. New Moon and the Campfire Songs EP appear in 2013, when engineer Ben Greenberg, known for work with Hubble and Zs, spends a brief period in the group. Their fifth album, Tomorrow's Hits, pushes further from hardcore roots toward blue-collar rock influences associated with Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. In 2016, Devil Music turns back toward a more confrontational, experimental noise-rock approach.

Later albums and collections

The band return to Sacred Bones for Drift in 2018, described by the group’s history as the most eclectic release to that point. That same year, they also issue Hated: 2008-2011, a collection bringing together material from early releases and previously unreleased recordings. Mercy, released in 2020, draws on styles ranging from country to 1980s arena rock. New York City, issued by Fuzz Club Records in 2023, goes back to noisy, abrasive rock and roll and to a more punk-driven approach.

Line-up and identity

The Men are anchored by a stable line-up after their early changes, which helps them keep shifting style from record to record. Their recorded history includes self-released material, work with Sacred Bones, and later releases on Fuzz Club Records. The project is also listed as a Human League spin-off under the same name, though the Brooklyn group is the main act associated with this entry.