Highly Suspect

Born on the Cape Cod local scene in Massachusetts, Highly Suspect took shape in 2009 around Johnny Stevens, Rich Meyer and Ryan Meyer, initially performing covers before asserting a more personal songwriting voice after relocating to Brooklyn. The trio sits at the crossroads of alternative rock, hard rock and blues rock, with a grunge-tinged aesthetic marked by thick guitars, taut rhythms and often abrasive vocals. Highly Suspect drew attention with the EPs The Worst Humans (2012) and Black Ocean (2013), then broadened their audience with Mister Asylum (2015) and The Boy Who Died Wolf (2016), two records that established a direct, nervous and melodic format. With MCID (2019), the band shifted its center of gravity toward a more hybrid approach, incorporating elements of hip-hop, pop and electronic music without abandoning its rock core. The group returned to a tighter, rougher approach on The Midnight Demon Club (2022) and continued along that path with As Above, So Below (2024). From rock clubs and American alternative circuits to larger stages, Highly Suspect has built a career defined by shifts in tone while retaining an immediately identifiable vocal and instrumental identity.