In this episode, we revisit Fugazi and take a deep dive into In On The Kill Taker, the band’s explosive 1993 follow-up to Steady Diet of Nothing and Repeater. Released on Dischord Records, In On The Kill Taker captures Fugazi at a moment of creative tension and expansion, pushing their sound toward greater complexity, aggression, and emotional intensity. The album reflects a band refining its identity while challenging both punk orthodoxy and the expectations placed on them as one of the most visible groups to emerge from DC's post-hardcore scene.
By the early 1990s, Fugazi had already become a defining force in independent music, known as much for their ethics and live performances as their records. With In On The Kill Taker, Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Joe Lally, and Brendan Canty embraced sharper contrasts, darker lyrical themes, and more intricate arrangements. Songs like “Smallpox Champion,” “Rend It,” and “Cassavetes” reveal a band willing to be confrontational, vulnerable, and musically restless, mirroring the broader cultural unease of the era while remaining firmly rooted in the DC DIY tradition.
For this Season 3 finale, we’re joined by Chris Ryan, journalist, author, and host of The Watch. Together, we discuss why In On The Kill Taker stands as one of Fugazi’s most exciting and enduring records, how it fits into the band’s larger arc, and why it continues to resonate decades later. While we’ve already explored Fugazi’s origins earlier in the series, this conversation serves as a bonus chapter, focusing on a pivotal album that crystallized the band’s uncompromising vision and lasting influence.
Go Further:
Chris Ryan – The Ringer
Dischord Records – Fugazi
Pitchfork Sunday Review - In On The Kill Taker
Wikipedia – In On The Kill Taker
Follow Us:
Social media: @dcrockpod
Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com
Hosts:
Philip Basnight – Broke Royals
Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves
Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight
