The Hardcore Therapist 88- Patrick Kitzel

On this episode of The Hardcore Therapist, I had the pleasure to speak to Patrick Kitzel is the founder of Reaper Records—a label that defined a generation with landmark releases from bands like Trapped Under Ice, Terror, Backtrack, Turnstile, and more. While Reaper’s legacy is firmly cemented in hardcore history, Patrick hasn’t slowed down one bit. He’s now channeling his passion for underground culture into Tribal Publishing, a platform that continues to preserve and celebrate hardcore’s DIY roots.

His latest work includes Cut & Paste—The American Hardcore Fanzine Book, a 336-page deep dive into the zine culture that helped shape the American hardcore scene, featuring over 400 fanzines and contributions from iconic voices like Al Quint, Mike Gitter, and Porcell. And just ahead is the second edition of Collected Obsession!, spotlighting over 400 vintage hardcore t-shirts from the collection of Desperate Measures' Ryan Bannahan. With books like these, Kitzel is documenting the scene with the same intensity and authenticity he brought to Reaper.