State of Alert

The Profile

State of Alert (S.O.A.) was an American hardcore punk band from Washington, D.C., active around 1980–1981. The group recorded the No Policy EP for Dischord and featured vocalist Henry Garfield (later known as Henry Rollins) and guitarist Michael Hampton.

No Policy was released on Dischord Records. Henry Garfield later became known as Henry Rollins. Michael Hampton later played in Embrace and One Last Wish (as referenced in contemporary accounts).

The DeBaser review praises No Policy as raw, primal hardcore contained in a compact runtime. Henry Garfield's vocal presence (later Henry Rollins) and Michael Hampton's guitar work are highlighted. The EP is framed as a foundational piece of early Washington D.C. hardcore.