HardLore: Madison Watkins (Year of the Knife)

On June 28th, 2023, every band’s worst nightmare became reality for our good friends in Year of the Knife - they were involved in a horrific van accident while on tour, which put the band on hiatus and ultimately lead to vocalist MADISON WATKINS being in in critical condition, suffering major physical trauma, experiencing over a month of memory loss and fracturing nearly every bone in her body.
After months and months of uncertainty, impossibly hard work on her end, triumph of her indomitable and incomparable human spirit, and endless support from her husband Brandon, her family, her doctors, the hardcore community and beyond. We are so grateful to say, our very good friend Madison Watkins is finally here as our very special guest.
Enjoy these two hours of triumph and insight into one of the strongest people we know.
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#HardLore #MadiWatkins #Yearoftheknife
00:00:00 - Start
00:00:08 - Preview
00:00:48 - Introduction
00:03:25 - Is there a long road ahead?
00:12:45 - Talking about what happened
00:16:18 - What brought you peace?
00:17:24 - What about our new album?
00:18:30 - No Love Lost
00:20:40 - Have you started writing?
00:21:03 - Thoughts on US Healthcare
00:21:57 - How many surgeries?
00:23:07 - Getting back in a van...
00:24:30 - Before becoming Madison Watkins
00:28:28 - Former interests
00:30:25 - Early days of going to Hardcore shows
00:31:35 - This is Hardcore
00:33:53 - Before Year of the Knife
00:37:58 - First tour ever
00:39:33 - Adapting to Touring
00:41:53 - Writing music
00:44:06 - First Tour Filling in as Vocalist
00:46:06 - Vocal Warmups
00:47:14 - Who do you do?
00:51:01 - Vocal Recording Debut
00:53:30 - Writing Dynamic
00:59:27 - Lettermoshed
01:03:49 - Delaware HC Mt Rushmoore
01:06:31 - Straight edge
01:08:11 - The last call before the accident
01:09:13 - First meal after the hospital
01:11:28 - Candy corpse
01:15:17 - Dream YOTK return line up
01:19:03 - Guest Q & A

[@fcaioki7949]

Colin legit almost made me cry with that introduction 😂

[@codylee3652]

had to spinkick the tears away for real

[@C_Seamus]

I am sitting in public transport and i needed the spunkuck against the quivering lip and involuntary tears.

[@JiggyWilson]

You ain't kidding.

[@CloakedDnb]

I WAS AT WORK BRO, ACTING LIKE IM WIPING SWEAT AWAY LMFAO. GOOD GOD GOT ME SIDEWAYS

[@XFroFroX]

Madison “Wolverine” Watkins 🫡

[@LifeDrain001]

The real WeaponX

[@JohnEvans-xg2bp]

This title better stick

[@particlejim]

Wolverine Watkins!

[@corycourtney8923]

LogKins

[@okaight7248]

crazy guest, Glad she is healthy

[@joshholton7542]

“There are certain things you forgot, but you never forgot me”. … never would have guessed Hardlore could bring me to the verge of tears ❤

[@deadlydoodlestx]

the hard cut right after she said it so we couldn't see Colin + Bo absolutely lose it too lol incredibly sweet moment

[@jbasti227]

Fucked me up real good

[@DR_DINGLENUT]

So happy to see Madi healthy and getting stronger everyday. BTW, is that pinkest room in hardcore?

[@enidrollslaw]

Madi is a JOY! And you guys did an amazing job ❤

[@cedthebear3664]

Wow so happy to see her doing great ❤❤❤

[@paulderbyshire6953]

Madison Watkins may just be the sweetest person on the planet

[@PureNoiseRecs]

YOTK Forever

[@metalxhead]

Two minutes in and I have tears in my eyes, trying not to cry. I wore my Madi shirt the last two or three days. Unbelievable strength, positivity, and support from everyone. Love you guys and the community

[@whoisdin]

33 minutes in and i'm already overwhelmed by her positivity. what an absolute stellar of a person.

[@CallieCore]

Man. The fact that she essentially had her entire body exploded and came out the other side of it still an absolute ray of sunshine in seemingly every situation is just unreal. Next time I'm feeling grouchy or upset about something I need to just remember to take a page out of Madi's book.

[@amberobsidian113]

I was thinking the same thing while crying watching this video. The world needs more people like Madi.

[@sakuya3976]

The thing madi said about not worrying how you sound and just having fun really helped me right now. My band plays our first show this saturday and I sing and play bass but I've never sung in a band before, therefore I'm really nervous.

[@FilthyJazz]

Incredible, so happy this episode exists.

[@gab_a_gool]

Madi, what a sweet and kind spirit. I’m so glad she’s doing well.

[@cedthebear3664]

Year Of The Madison ❤

[@picklehorse635]

MADI WE ARE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU AND YOTK!!!

[@rockerguy890]

how is she such a wonderful person?????

[@thehalfnerd2221]

Saw YOTK on their run with Creeping Death a few days before the accident. I wasn’t feeling up to it but I pushed myself since I was so excited about Madi becoming the vocalist. I’m so glad I went to that show and I’m so glad that this episode can exist now.

[@blltz4410]

Every time I miss a show like that I regret it. Glad you went!

[@deadlydoodlestx]

"But you never forgot me" 11:05, then the immediate hard cut to just Madi so that we can't see Colin + Bo absolutely losing it 😭 Dear god I started tearing up, man, this episode is an emotional one! MADI IS THE REAL HARDLORE WARRIOR

[@joshw9736]

She is so bad ass and amazing. YOTK Forever.

[@DungeonHunters]

Madi you truly are WOLVERINE! Hope for nothing but success for you moving forward! Awesome Episode Y’all!

[@ziggystardust3432]

So glad Madison is doing good.

[@corycourtney8923]

Seeing Madi on here and healthy means everything. I wear my YOTK shirt when I need strength. Love ya'll.

[@infinitepossibility]

She is such a sweetheart. A truly wholesome episode

[@CoffeeLyfe]

MADI FOREVER

[@squalgod8410]

You can tell Madison is such a nice person.

[@StraightPunkEdge93]

This is just the best thing to hear early in the morning! Madi, you fucking rule!!!

[@Draketopher]

So happy to see Madi make such a great recovery. Really amazing guest.

[@loridawn_wotp]

Can’t keep a hardcore woman down! So happy Madi is back and ready to tear it up again! All love and strength to her and the YOTK family!!

[@VinnyChezni]

So happy to see her on. I'm glad she's back and healthy

[@Ryan-31]

What a lovely, Beautiful soul she is. I'm so happy to see her so doing so well. ❤

[@FurioGiuntaBurner]

Listened when it dropped on spotify and now watching this. Pretty inspiring, makes me not wanna be a piece of shit.

[@jimmysuplex]

This was the Master Killer of awesome, emotionally powerful Hardlore episodes. Wolverine Watkins!

[@ryanbeitler3231]

What a lovely person

[@sideshowbob8220]

Happy to see she and the rest of the band are good.

[@michalwitka9158]

stop cutting the fuckin onions, im dying over here.

[@Jon-vn9sn]

Glassjaw and Deftones are the two reasons I got into hardcore too.

[@eddiebeil190]

Deftones is an obvious, I mean like one of my favorite bands EVER, but Glassjaw NEEDS to be talked about more. I mean Sammy fucking siegler drummed on the first record. One of the greatest bands to EVER do it

[@nivek5352]

This video needs much more attention

[@JiggyWilson]

Absolutely unbreakable. YOTK forever 🙏🧡🖤🙌

[@Flacoisbored]

What a badass

[@DrTabarnak]

She's fucking awesome. What a trooper! Telling death "fuck you, I'm not ready to go yet. I'm fighting back." That's HARD-lore.

[@veganhatebreed]

when i introduced my wife to hardcore Madi was one of the first people to show her kindness at a show I’m happy she’s doing great

[@diskomvort]

Def my favorite episode right here! Good to see Madi back!

[@Edzilla3]

Shes a fucking warrior

[@landondefever1187]

So glad you're doing well, Madison!!!

[@KMKimo]

Damn she looks amazing! Bless

[@bigdavedta1]

Madison is an absolute legend.

[@davidmesa3651]

20 mins in and I’ll already getting emotional.

[@jesshayes668]

Madi is a queen

[@wheaty39]

I cried my ass off at the beginning wtf. Great to see her doing so well!

[@rubix_429]

This ep is sick as fuck

[@rnbwsmtl]

this episode was so good - very happy to see this very genuine and amazing lady doing so well!

[@MrMaccelinho]

WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS? sooo great to see her

[@scottgajewski3925]

Fuck I'm only 24:48 in and I already love Madison! She is the nicest, most humble and down to earth person ever! So fuckin happy you and the band got through everything!

[@vincek6613]

She's so nice she genuinely answers Colins dumb questions

[@x.BRAiNZ.x]

Big love!

[@fromny9422]

i remember pulling up to the Colorado springs date and hearing about this when it happened was so sad, but happy to hear madi is doing well! get back out here soon! we need YOTK in CO!

[@justinbudach5008]

Love the Chelsea Wolfe shirt

[@TasteTheRambo812]

gahleee what a great few moments to have in this shit day. So glad to see this. thanks Bo and Colin so glad to see this pod.

[@abigbeautifultomorrow1026]

I've watched this 3 times. She is the best human being.

[@alexandriaveil2436]

#QUEENOFHARDCORE🖤

[@wttruax5816]

She is such a ray of sunshine

[@therealcooterbrown]

YOTK FOREVER. Madi is a living legend.

[@wecomai]

Respect

[@jamesalfredburchiii4599]

No Love Lost was my favorite album from 2023, and one of the best of the decade. So glad to see Madi back. Hardest person in hardcore.

[@tfwordschannel]

Glad Madi is doing better and hoping the rest of the band is too. This was an awesome talk. Really liking this podcast and keep up the great work.

[@hilmanzee]

I'm so happy for Madi! The podcast is awesome too!

[@anthonyletitin]

Colin is alarmingly flexible

[@KyleHarmer]

YES!!!! I'm not crying...wait, dammit, yes I am

[@adyshaw8507]

I met a couple of years ago at Outbreak in Manchester. Post set she was a the merch stand. Even in those couple of minutes interaction, I could tell she was great. I followed her progress post accident and this is a so heartwarming to watch. I can not wait to see THE KNIFE again!

[@Jondus850]

This was soooo cool to see!! YOTK 🫶

[@jxcobaniki6709]

The whole van accident thing reminds me of the story behind the band Misery Signals. They've been a big influence on bands like Counterparts and paved the way for modern metalcore. It would be really sick if you guys had someone from the band like Jesse, Stu, or Ryan on this podcast.

[@IH8YH]

I was at the Dortmund show when Maddie first did full vocal duties tour, and everyone was like "no tyler? thats weird" and then they played and everyone was like... dammmmn she should do that full time! utterly convinced

[@hannahkozlovic1715]

I was really hoping you guys would do an episode with Madi, this is fucking awesome. I’m so relieved that they’re doing well after the extremity of that crash. She seems like such an incredibly wonderful and positive person, just based on this episode alone.

[@chaseonthefly]

Upcoming YOTK shows will sell out in seconds

[@budrothefox3666]

Madi is a literal Angel.

[@oscarharrison1667]

The most wholesome episode, hope there’s a Miles warspite episode in the future . HC community in recovery worldwide has been amazing to see !!

[@zacharybean9191]

[@Veeto]

year of the knife forever. everyone being okay after all this insane incident brings way too much joy to me. intro made me want to sob like a baby.

[@diazable]

madison for the win!!!! glad the band her are all okay

[@mycoachknowsthesheriff8396]

HARD LOOOOOORE

[@tempurasupplyco]

being from slc, nearly every hardcoreguy, gal and kid actually didnt realize until like the next morning, they left i think it was the urban lounge, otw to denver and honestly word got quick, wasnt even like 12 hours, im glad their fine and there can be more, years of the knife!

[@posicore]

Madi’s voice reminds me of Zooey Deschanel #yotk YOTK‼️

[@CH-ml4rz]

I can hear that!

[@VolumeSe7en]

I don’t know if I was misinformed over the last year but this whole time I thought she had brain damage! It makes me so happy to know that she recovered physically and wasn’t robbed of her cognizance. When she said she never forgot Brandon during the recovery process I almost lost my shit. I hope YOTK gets to tour and she can keep following her dreams!

[@brettwodon5896]

she did. its pretty amazing that she's recovered to the state she's in now

[@_antisocial__]

Madi truly is Iron Woman yotk cannot be stopped

[@js6527]

This rips so hard and I will support this band no matter fucking what from this day forward.

[@andrewpussycat5287]

when Bo pulls out some history i’m so fucking Lored

[@TheCollisionofworlds]

HELL YES

[@vincek6613]

When the ghost inside got in their accident, their record label donated album sales to the recovery too

[@andytuck99]

who up harding they lore rn?

[@x93tilinfinityx]

I fuck w Madi on the snack foods for movies.

[@JohnEvans-xg2bp]

Sorry, getting here a little late after the moshing beatdown I received and participated in last night watching Momentum, Judiciary, Sunami, and Kublai Khan TX in Milwaukee...damn I'm old

[@anthonyletitin]

I feel you brother, saw Magnitude and Field of Flames last weekend as was fucked up

[@badandy4452]

I meant Madi would not even know who she. When Year of the Knife was opening up for Knocked Loose, she was at the merch booth and she was selling her own stuff with candy corpse and she had like a pink hat that said Kawaii on it and I just thought it was fucking awesome and I bought it and she was just so sweet and excited that I bought something from her brand.

[@lich_hand]

YEAR OF THE KNIFE FOREVER.

[@deadmanwithpitchforkarms8376]

I'm so glad she is doing fine! I really love the "traditionally girly" room Madi is in lol (I can't really make out what it is but there's a Sailor Moon-themed something on the wall lol, I guess it's a skateboard?). Pretty intense contrast compared to her vocals and the music she sings on

[@kschvrch]

BABY IS THIS LOVE FOR REAL???

[@random-bs1gh]

is it weird to start moshing in my room alone everytime the intro begins?

[@LILDIRTNAPX]

!BINDING OF ISAAC MENTIONED! 29:15 actual best game of all time lol

[@getdrippy4416]

What a band. I think Madi is such an interesting vocalist. For me her vocals changed the way I followed the band.