Synopsis

Sick Of It All perform "Scratch The Surface" in their practice space, surrounded by friends and fellow hardcore fans. The video captures the communal energy of a New York hardcore show through a constant rush of movement, staged mosh-pit action, crowd interaction and shots of people dancing along to the song. Rather than presenting the band as distant performers, it emphasizes participation, fun and the scene's shared identity, with women appearing prominently alongside the male-dominated aggression often associated with hardcore imagery.

Factoids & Trivia

• EastWest financed videos for both "Scratch The Surface" and "Step Down" after signing Sick Of It All. The band retained creative control over the project.

• The video was filmed in the band's practice space and featured Sick Of It All's friends rather than relying on a conventional concert setting.

• Lou Koller said the group wanted to make a performance video that showed hardcore as more than aggression. They were deliberately aiming for a communal atmosphere and wanted to show that women were part of the audience and scene.

• The band viewed many contemporary hardcore videos as overly similar to rap videos in their emphasis on aggression. "Scratch The Surface" was conceived as a more relaxed and celebratory alternative.

• The video debuted on MTV's "Headbangers Ball" on December 10, 1994, helping bring the New York hardcore scene to a wider television audience.

• "Scratch The Surface" was initially regarded by the band as a light, improvised song from a jam session. They were surprised when EastWest chose it as a single and commissioned a video.

• The song became the title track of the band's 1994 album, their first release with bassist Craig Setari. The album remains Sick Of It All's best-selling record and was important in expanding the band's audience beyond the established hardcore underground.