The Freeze

Hardcore outfit the Freeze came together on Cape Cod toward the end of 1978. Although often grouped with the broader Boston hardcore community alongside outfits like SS Decontrol, the band never lost touch with its Cape origins. That separation was underscored most clearly by the name of their first 7-inch, the 1980 release “I Hate Tourists.” After inking a deal with Modern Method Records, the group appeared on three of the label’s compilations—Wicked Good Time, Vol. 2; This Is Boston, Not L.A.; and Unsafe at Any Speed. Their first proper album, Land of the Lost, surfaced in 1984 and prompted a long stretch of road work. Rabid Reaction arrived two years later, accompanied by another round of touring, yet the band officially disbanded in 1989. A one-off benefit gig in 1990 prompted a reunion; the members re-formed, moved to Taang! Records, and issued both their earlier recordings and the fresh LP Misery Loves Company the following year. By 2005 the only constant original member, vocalist Clif Hanger (born Clif Croce), was once again leading the group through occasional shows around Boston.