Dukes Hardcore Honeys Close Encounters 18 A File
The "Close Encounters" spin-off within the Dukes universe takes the characters out of their usual rural, car-chase-heavy setting and places them into science fiction and paranormal scenarios. The title is a direct nod to Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but the "18A" suffix carries specific weight:
Below is the official setlist (with timestamps) and a quick breakdown of the moments that defined the night: dukes hardcore honeys close encounters 18 a
| # | Song | Time | Notable Moment |
|---|------|------|----------------|
| 1 | Signal Initiation | 00:00 – 04:12 | Intro begins with a low‑frequency rumble and a sampled “beep‑beep” that mimics a radar sweep. The crowd erupts as Duke shouts “Phase one, commence!” |
| 2 | Circuit Breaker | 04:13 – 07:08 | First full‑blown hardcore assault; Riley’s guitar work features rapid palm‑muted chugs synced to Mia’s hyper‑fast blast beats. |
| 3 | Neon Aurora | 07:09 – 09:45 | Mid‑tempo anthem with a soaring synth lead from Eloise; the lyric “We’re lit like a star in the void” became a chant among fans. |
| 4 | Sub‑Zero Transmission | 09:46 – 13:02 | A surprise acoustic interlude—Duke and Jax play a distorted, reverb‑drenched version of an unreleased demo. |
| 5 | Contact Point (Part I) | 13:03 – 16:57 | Heavy breakdown paired with a projected visual of an alien landscape; the crowd’s “honey‑comb” wave formation earned a standing ovation. |
| 6 | Gravity Collapse | 17:00 – 20:31 | The band’s 2023 smash hit, performed with an added live‑sax solo from a guest musician, adding an unexpected jazzy edge. |
| 7 | Close Encounters 18 A (Title Track) | 20:32 – 24:00 | The centerpiece—features a spoken‑word “debrief” by Duke over a pulsating electronic backdrop. A massive laser show synced to the beat painted the venue in cyan and magenta. |
| 8 | Afterglow | 24:01 – 27:45 | A melodic outro with layered vocal harmonies; fans were handed glow‑sticks that pulsed in time with the music. |
| 9 | Encore: Cosmic Fury | 27:46 – 30:10 | A high‑octane finale that left the house shaking; the band thanked the “crew on the ground” (the audience) for “receiving the transmission.” | The "Close Encounters" spin-off within the Dukes universe
Key musical takeaways
Formed in 2017 in Portland, Oregon, Duke’s Hardcore Honeys (often shortened to DCH) started as a three‑piece trio: front‑man Duke “The Vortex” Malone (vocals), guitarist Riley “Rift” Ortega, and drummer Mia “Pulse” Navarro. Their early releases—Spitfire Circuit (2018) and Neon Blitz (2020)—earned them a reputation for fusing old‑school hardcore with electronic distortion, glitch‑style sampling, and lyrical themes that oscillate between personal catharsis and dystopian futurism. Formed in 2017 in Portland, Oregon, Duke’s Hardcore
Since then, the lineup has expanded to a five‑member ensemble, adding bassist Jax “Gravity” Lin and synth‑programmer Eloise “Echo” Duarte. Their 2023 album, Quantum Collapse, broke streaming records for an independent hardcore release and cemented their place as one of the most innovative acts in the scene today.
