Photo Credit:  Jonathan Vivaas Kise

Norwegian progressive metal masters Rendezvous Point return with 'Don't Look Up' - their first new single in five years.

Watch the video to 'Don't Look Up' here: https://youtu.be/KjbAG35Z71E

Stream the single here: https://orcd.co/rendezvouspoint_dontlookup

Fuelled by their collective love for hard-hitting, in-your-face music that seamlessly blends punchy rhythms with soaring melodies and atmospheric undertones, the five-piece around Leprous drummer Baard Kolstad, keyboardist Nicolay Tangen Svennæs (Ihsahn, Bernhoft, Emilie Nicolas), singer Geirmund Hansen, guitarist Petter Hallaråker and bass player Gunn-Hilde Erstad, embarked on a journey of creating music that was meant to explore the limits of progressive metal and traverse into uncharted territory. With each member bringing their unique talents and perspectives to the table, the band promises to push the boundaries of their artistry even further, inviting listeners to join them on the journey.

Singer Geirmund Hansen comments on the new single 'Don't Look Up': "Regardless of all the warning signs around us, humankind continues to destroy earth’s resources. It feels like we don’t care about tomorrow as long as our decisions benefits today. 'Don‘t Look Up' is also a story about how our longing for personal glory can destroy our relations to others and the outside world."

The band comment on the video: "The music video for 'Don’t Look Up' is a satirical take on the screen addiction in today’s society. One can also interpret the theme in a wider sense pointing out that we often have difficulties seeing the bigger picture when we focus only on what is right in front of us. What happens to our identity when an objective truth no longer exists? A big part of the video is shot on the location where Edvard Munch took the inspiration for his painting ‘The Scream’“.

Rendezvous Point are:

Geirmund Hansen - Vocals
Baard Kolstad - Drums
Nicolay Tangen Svennæs - Keyboards
Petter Hallaråker - Guitar
Gunn-Hilde Erstad - Bass

Rendezvous Point online:
https://www.facebook.com/RendezvousPointOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/rendezvouspoint

Photo Credit: Kamil Parzychowski

Feral wilderness prophets Sunnata, (sanskr. noun emptiness, voidness) have announced their fifth full-length album Chasing Shadows will be self-released on 10th May. Ahead of the album, the band have released their beguiling new single 'Chimera' with accompanying music visualiser. 

Check out ‘Chimera’ here: https://youtu.be/If-6kQYxw78

Pre-order Chasing Shadows here: https://sunnataofficial.bandcamp.com/album/chasing-shadows

Sunnata commented on the new single: "'Chimera', the opening track from Chasing Shadows, manifests the presence of duality across the entire universe. Just like a mythical hybrid creature, the song is a bizarre mix of different genres and ideas, glued together into a compelling passage. From a blast beat and Pattonesque vocals, through a ceremonial trance-inducing build-up to a heavy, rock n rolling riffage, 'Chimera' proves to be an amalgamation, binding those pieces together to form a single entity.

"The song’s lyrics bind many paradoxes together, posing them as something inherent to reality. Dreamy recall of hinduistic Maya sets the tone of the piece - an ever-evolving appearance, an ever-changing shape. The cycle of life - the one who comes from the horizon and goes away - is prevalent like an imperative. Those who try to deny it and shape the world to their individual needs are fighting for the cause that is unreachable. 

"The evolution binds units together, but also sets them apart. Paradoxes are part of us. Only the one, who is born and dead at the same time, prevails."

The four piece Warsaw-based doom metal magi have been paving their own way to higher metal skies since their 2014 debut Climbing The Colossus. Their spellbinding sophomore album Zorya (2016) made the band gather even more momentum with regard to the European alternative heavy scene. Third album Outlands (2018) brilliantly brought out even more character, confidently crossing the frontier of progressive doom to land in even more melancholic and mind-expanding alleys. Fourth release Burning in Heaven, Melting on Earth (2021) was their most transcendent, melding together all the heaviness, intensity and tenderness into a graceful, cross-pollinating form, to create something incredible that grabbed the attention of fans and press worldwide, demanding attention and respect.

Chasing Shadows sees Sunnata expanding their sonic spectrum with their most complex record to date. Exploring both the most extreme aspects and subtle incarnations of their essence, Chasing Shadows is a mind-altering doomscape painted with everlasting, captivating stories. Hitting high notes in the eyes of fans and journalists, from here Sunnata are free to roam wherever.

Commenting on the album: "The fifth album for a band like ours is no joke. We are extremely proud on one hand, but also exhausted on the other as the creative process pushed us to the current limits. It’s the most complex and longest Sunnata record to date. Filled with nuances, genre blends and confident expansion of the band’s sound spectrum. Anyone familiar with our discography can easily tell that both change and experimentation are part of our nature, but at the same time - the constant need to push ourselves outside of the comfort zone, go beyond - is what stretches one's limits. Maybe this is why we liked the title so much - we are chasing the uncatchable -  shadows, illusions, visions and try to frame them with our musical language." 

Known for their expressive and atmospheric live performances, Sunnata have already taken part in various international festivals and been invited to open for Mastodon, Paradise Lost, Entombed AD, Rotting Christ, Sleep, Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats and The Sword. To celebrate the album release Sunnata will hit the road this summer on the following dates. 
 
May 10: (PL) Warsaw - Hybrydy - Release Party
May 13: (CZ) Brno, Kabinet Muz
May 14: (HU) Budapest, Robot
May 15: (AT) Salzburg, Rockhouse
May 16: (DE) Jena, Klub Kuba
May 17: (BE) Liege, La Zone
May 18: (UK) London, Desertfest 
May 20: (FR) Lille, La Bulle Cafe
May 21: (BE) Brussels, Le Lac
May 22: (NL) Nijmegen, Merelyn
May 23: (DE) Dresden, Ostpol
May 24: (PL) Poznan, 2Progi
May 25: (PL) Cracow, Studio
May 31: (DK) Esbjerg, Fuzztival Esbjerg
Aug 17: (UK) ArcTanGent 

Tickets available at:  https://www.atonal.agency/tickets

Sunnata are:
Szymon Ewertowski - guitar, vocals
Adrian Gadomski - guitar, vocals
Michal Dobrzanski - bass guitar/synth
Robert Ruszczyk – drums, percussion

For more information, follow the band online:
https://sunnataofficial.com
https://facebook.com/sunnataofficial
https://instagram.com/sunnataofficial
http://sunnataofficial.bandcamp.com/
https://youtube.com/user/sunnataofficial/videos 
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6oHuHx6xpW7IfamYXWFfmy?si=_vas1atoRdSL5Qns8xvIUA 

Chasing Shadows Tracklisting

1. Chimera
2. Torn
3. At Dusk (Interlude)
4. Wishbone
5. Saviour's Raft
6. Adrift (Reprise)
7. The Tide
8. Hunger
9. Through the Abyss (Interlude)
10. The Sleeper
11. Like cogs in a wheel, we're trapped between waves of distorted time

Photo Credit: Jana Kuhs x Coregraphy

German metalcore band Rising Insane have revealed their new single 'Reign', alongside re-signing with label Long Branch Records.

'Reign' is the first glimpse of Rising Insane's forthcoming new album, scheduled for release in the summer.

Watch the video to 'Reign' here: https://youtu.be/A1XsEwUvpLQ
Stream the single here: https://orcd.co/risinginsane_reign

Singer Aaron Steineker comments: "When people hide their true selves for fear of rejection and hatred, they get into an unsolvable conflict with themselves, to the detriment of their mental health. With 'Reign', we want to encourage people to stand up for themselves and let go of what drags them down."

With over 20 million streams worldwide and top placements on some of the most influential playlists, including Kickass Metal, New Core and All New Metal, Rising Insane have recently created quite a buzz. Backed by numerous tour dates, 2024 is set to be a big and important year for the band. 

Rising Insane are:

Aaron Steineker - Vocals
Ulf Hedenkamp - Bass
Sven Polizuk - Guitar
Florian Köchy - Guitar
Robert Kühling - Drums

Photo Credit: Jake Ten

UK tech-metalcore upstarts Eschalon have released their new single 'Shallow', along with a music video courtesy of Jake Ten. The song reflects on childhood trauma experienced by the band's vocalist Brad Makinson, who was buried alive by his tormentor.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/w0LehYst9KQ

Stream the song here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/eschalon/shallow-feat-haydn-connolly

UK technical metalcore outfit Eschalon launched in late 2023 with their award-winning debut single 'Helios', which saw the group achieve over 120,000 YouTube views and 45,000 Spotify streams worldwide. 

'Shallow', featuring Haydn Connolly (In Fear, Amber Palace), delves into the darker side of the band's broad and unique take on metalcore. With equal measures of visceral brutality and breathtaking serenity, the track is a no-holds-barred sonic assault that effortlessly weaves between the calculated violence and ethereal beauty within Eschalon’s sound.
 

Vocalist Brad Makinson comments: "Embedded within the lyrics of 'Shallow' lies a deeply personal journey of survival. As a child, I endured an onslaught of physical, mental, and emotional torment inflicted by a bully. Paralysed by fear, I bore the weight of my anguish in silence, trapped in a cycle of isolation and despair. Even those closest to me remained unaware of the depths of my suffering, as I struggled to reconcile the betrayal of a “friend” turned tormentor.

"The most harrowing chapter of my story unfolded one day at a local playground, where my innocence was smothered and my childhood dreams turned to nightmares. At the age of ten, I found myself face to face with my own mortality as I was coerced into digging my own grave, only to be buried alive by my tormentor. Thankfully, there was a passerby who intervened, pulling me from the clutches of death and sparing me my early grave. 'Shallow' looks at the visceral aftermath of that traumatic event, a searing indictment of the scars it left me with and the festering loathing that consumed me in its wake.

"In the conceptual representation of this within the video, Max (vocals) takes on the role of the saviour, as he stands by my side in the video, battling the darkness and negativity. His presence embodies the power of companionship and support, illustrating how reaching out to a friend can be a lifeline in times of isolation and despair. Scenes within caves throughout the video echo the themes of loneliness, darkness, and isolation, mirroring the depths of anguish I've felt. Yet, amidst these caverns of despair, Max's presence as the saviour shines a beacon of hope, reminding us that even in the darkest of times, the help of a friend can guide us back to the light.

"This song serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of hope, friendship and reclaiming your narrative from the depths of despair." 

Founded in Cambridge by Simon Garrod and Miles Taylor, Eschalon has been a behind-the-scenes project for many years. Throughout lockdown, the band finished writing multiple bodies of work before recruiting the right members for the job, which eventually saw the culmination of what we know as Eschalon today.

They started recording with Meyrick De La Fuente of Floodgate Audio in late 2021 to create their all-encompassing auditory and visual onslaught. Mixing dissonance with serenity, the band draw from a wide range of influences, fusing multiple genres to create a dense and chaotic soundscape. 

Check out Eschalon's debut single 'Helios' here: https://youtu.be/6CTtOftgYSY

See the band live in the UK this year:

Mar 23: Cambridge The Six Six Bar [SOLD OUT]
Mar 30: Stafford The Dog House
May 04: Norwich B2
May 30: London 229
May 31: Wakefield Vortex
Jun 01: Bolton Alma Inn [SOLD OUT]
Jul 20: Birmingham The Flapper
Nov 02: Oxford The Bullingdon

Tickets here: www.eschalon.co.uk

Eschalon are:
Vocals: Brad Makinson, Maximo David
Guitars: Simon Garrod, Callum Smith
Bass: James O’Donoghue
Drums: Miles Taylor

FFO: Monuments, Northlane, Architects, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Agent Fresco

Eschalon online:
https://linktr.ee/eschalon
https://www.facebook.com/Eschalon
https://www.instagram.com/eschalonuk

Artwork by GraphicsFix

London hardcore newcomers False Reality have dropped their crushing new single 'Opposites React', which features a collaboration with hyped australian hardcore band Speed.

Watch the visualiser here: https://youtu.be/0Lh3pEsoF8Y

Comprised of individuals deeply rooted in the underground music scene, False Reality are a London-based hardcore band that formed in 2023. Renowned for their thrash infused, hardcore crossover sound and fiercely energetic performances they draw influences from bands such as Trapped Under Ice, Broken Teeth and Backtrack as well as early era Sepultura and even Deftones.

Having recorded their forthcoming EP with producer Steve Sears Jr (Gallows, TRC, Prowler, Conjurer) the band are set out to prove why they stand apart, delivering a release that is, in equal parts blistering - as it is poetically cathartic. Lyrically delving into the complexities of life, exploring themes of betrayal, societal values, and tragedy. The first single to drop 'Opposites React', is a groove driven, empowering track that features vocals from jem of Aussie hardcore band Speed.

On 'Opposites React', vocalist Rachel Rigby comments "I feel excited to release this song and to have been able to share it with my friends in Speed. This song is about feeling trapped in a box for so long to then finding your voice and feeling like you have a say for the first time. I’m happy with how the catchy hook and riffs allow the song to come from a place of power, not doom and gloom".

False Reality have carved out a distinct identity, leaving an imprint on audiences who have witnessed their performances. Having already shared the stage with the likes of Speed, Jesus Piece, Madball, Buried Alive and Static Dress, garnering support both locally and nationally, False Reality are solidifying their status as one of the most exciting acts in the UK heavy music scene.

Catch the band live:

Mar 20 - London, Black Heart w/ Ignite
Mar 21 - Liverpool, Quarry w/ Cruelty, No Relief
Mar 23 - Southend, Ironwork, w/ Cruelty, No Relief, Rhema
Mar 29 - Leeds, Boom w/ Rough Justice, Grove Street, Overpower + more
Apr 12 - London, Black Heart w/ The Hell
May 18 - Ashford, The Star Inn w/ Final Nail, Convulsion
Jul 26-28 - Levelshulme, Levy Punk Weekender w/ Pizza Tramp, Perp Walk, Ikhras + more
Aug 30-31 Tourquay, Burn It Down Festival w/ Rough Justice, Cauldron, Going Off, Overpower + more

False Reality are:
Rachel Rigby - vocals
Dave Connolly - guitar
Louis Dale - drums
Joe Cornwell - bass

False Reality online:
https://linktr.ee/falserealityukhc
https://www.instagram.com/falserealityhc

Photo Credit: Andy Ford

Following the release of their most brutal, vicious, critically-acclaimed album, 2023’s Negative
Energy, UK alt-metal trio VEXED return with the video for the most poignant track on the album, 'It's not the end'.

The song is a tribute to a deceased loved one, acknowledging struggles in the grieving process.

Watch the single here: https://youtu.be/arHU6AKYVWs

Vocalist Megan Targett on 'It's not the end': "How do you carry on living when someone you love dies? The grieving process knows no concept of time, and death becomes the sole point of reference to navigate life. 'It's not the end' pays tribute to those we have deeply loved and lost, while also acknowledging the pain and loneliness that accompany those beautiful memories."

VEXED received incredible praise from national and international press for Negative Energy.
Top nods include being named one of the best albums of 2023 by Metal Hammer UK, the anthem
'Anti-Fetish' airing on BBC Radio 1 Rock Show and SiriusXM Liquid Metal, and 'Trauma Euphoria'
being spun on Kerrang! Radio’s Fresh Blood show.

Don't miss the band on tour with Carnifex alongside Revocation and Aborted: 

Mar 16: DE Köln Essigfabrik
Mar 17: DE Berlin SO36
Mar 19: SE Stockholm Slaktkyrkan
Mar 20: SE Gothenburg Brewhouse
Mar 21: DK Copenhagen Amager Bio
Mar 22: NL Hengelo Metropool GZ
Mar 23: UK London Electric Brixton
Mar 24: UK Manchester Club Academy
Mar 25: UK Bristol SWX
Mar 27: FR Paris La Machine du Moulin Rouge
Mar 28: BE Sint-Niklaas Casino
Mar 29: CH Pratteln Z7
Mar 30: DE Karlsruhe Substage
Mar 31: DE Munich Technikum
Apr 01: IT Milan Legend
Apr 02: AT Vienna Arena
Apr 03: CZ Prague Palac Akropolis
Apr 04: PL Wrocław Zaklęte Rewiry
Apr 05: DE Leipzig Hellraiser
Apr 06: DE Hamburg Markthalle

Purchase tickets from: https://lnk.to/NECROMANTEUM-EUROPE24

Check out VEXED's recent singles:

'Trauma Euphoria': https://youtu.be/nDJkqEPFqww
'X my <3 (Hope to die)': https://youtu.be/fxMBSXSOhJU
'Anti-Fetish': https://youtu.be/BrVx05brvIk

Stream/purchase Negative Energy here: https://lnk.to/VEXED-NegativeEnergy/napalmrecords

VEXED formed in 2019, consisting of vocalist Megan Targett, guitarist Jay Bacon, drummer Willem Mason-Geraghty and bassist Al Harper. The band quickly made a name for themselves across the UK metal scene with their hard-hitting sound and dynamic live performances.

Turning heads with their debut singles - including the fearsome 'Elite' featuring Thy Art Is Murder’s CJ McMahon - VEXED quickly created a palpable underground buzz. In 2020, they signed with the independent label Napalm Records, and released their debut full-length album, Culling Culture in May the following year.

Culling Culture features ten tracks that showcase VEXED's signature sound, which combines punishing breakdowns, technical guitar riffs, and Megan Targett's fierce vocals. The album's lyrics explore themes of societal issues such as mental health and social justice and have been praised for their honesty and relatability.
 
The album was a commercial success and received widespread critical acclaim. VEXED's live shows have also garnered a reputation for being intense and energetic, with the band earning support slots with notable acts such as Spiritbox and In Flames, among others.
 
Now VEXED look to their second album, to be released 23rd June via Napalm Records. A punishing listen, from haunting intro track 'PTSD', which sets the stage of dread ahead of the carnage to come, all the way through 'Lay down your flowers' featuring Alpha Wolf vocalist Lochie Keogh and intense finale 'Nepotism'.

Like the best bands, VEXED on Negative Energy blends fury with emotion. 'Default' displays lead singer Megan Targett's high-soaring clean vocals juxtaposed against her menacing deep growls, while the album's most emotional offering, 'It's Not The End', serves as a magnificent dedication to a loved one passing away, truly manifesting their legacy.

A stunning, devastating musical conduit - Negative Energy ventilates VEXED's pain-stricken burdens and breathes life into their fresh approach, delivered with a thunderous vengeance.
 

VEXED are:

Megan Targett - Vocals
Jay Bacon - Guitar
Willem Mason-Geraghty - Drums

VEXED online:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
Website
Napalm Records

Tracklisting:

1. PTSD
2. Anti-Fetish
3. We don't talk about it
4. X my <3 (Hope to die)
5. Panic attack
6. Lay down your flowers
7. There's no place like home
8. Extremist
9. Default
10. Trauma Euphoria
11. It's not the end
12. DMT
13. Nepotism

Austrian guitarist Max Dornauer, aka Waxamilion, has released a music video for new single 'Noseblunt', taken from his second album Random Notes which was released on 29th December. 'Noseblunt' follows 'Pawn Island', another jaw-dropping video revealed last month. 

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/lTIc_2NblOc

Stream the album here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/waxamilion/random-notes

Max comments: “'Noseblunt' is quite similar to the previous single 'Pawn Island' in the sense that it’s also short (2:19) and structured in three different, non-repeating parts. At the start it is very much sounding like myself again, like my typical catalogue. It then veers into a guitar solo that could as well be AI generated. The outro is very non-typical for my style. It’s based on chopped up samples and features more old school hip-hop sounding drums, instead of the typical modern 808 style drum sound that I usually go for. The sample from Nelly's 'Dilemma' is kind of an easter egg for the more engaged and attentive listener. 'Noseblunt' is the first tune on the album and meant to make the listener curious for the rest of the record.”

Max "Waxamilion" Dornauer, hailing from the serene landscapes of Austria, is a musician known for his easygoing style and knack for blending genres. Starting his musical journey at the tender age of six against the backdrop of the Alps, the jazz-influenced guitarist has grown into an experimental songwriter and a production fanatic.

Operating under the alias Waxamilion, Max has built a devoted fanbase through a DIY approach. Collaborating with notable artists like Jack Gardiner, Charlie Robbins (Artificial Language), Marcos Mena (Standards), Forrest Rice (Covet), Stephen Taranto (The Helix Nebula), Richard Henshall (Haken), Wes Thrailkill, Travis Orbin, and Dan James Griffin has added depth to his musical repertoire.

Max's musical fusion is a laid-back blend of RnB sophistication and the rhythmic vibes of progressive rock and metal. He effortlessly merges angular guitar lines with mellow hip-hop beats, crafting an engaging sound that occasionally ventures into exhilarating spontaneity.

Taking his tunes on the road, Waxamilion achieved a notable milestone by playing a support show for Unprocessed in Los Angeles in April 2023. This experience, coupled with captivating audiences in the United States, Mexico, and India, highlights Max's commitment to expanding his reach on the global stage.

Notably, he released his sophomore album, Random Notes, on 29th December 2023, marking a new chapter and his first album available on vinyl, adding an extra layer of warmth to his musical catalog.

Waxamillion online:

Instagram |Facebook |TikTok 

Random Notes track list:
 

1. Noseblunt
2. Steezy
3. Pawn Island
4. Vanish
5. Freistil
6. Random Notes
7. Unnatural Selection
8. Feelium
9. Knusperity

American progressive metal troupe Artificial Language have released their new single 'Rain Follows'. It's the second track to be taken from their dynamic third offering, Distant Glow EP, which is set for self release on 22nd March 2024.  

'Rain Follows' is streaming everywhere now, watch the visualiser here: https://youtu.be/91mBYino-oU

The band comment: "'Rain Follows' is written from the point of view of an avaricious farmer. Due to his self-interest and belief that rain always follows the plow, the soil is now loose for the wind to lift and fill the air. When confronted by the son, the farmer seeks the son's compliance for when the community turns on them both." 

Founded in 2015, the Californians exude a musical performance full of feeling, littered with jaw dropping vocal melodies, virtuosic ensemble playing, mind-bending riffs and a crushing rhythm section, bringing to the fore a hugely evocative, contrasting and inventive prog-orgasmic soundscape.

Forthcoming release Distant Glow EP is a bold and complex record, pushing the boundaries of technical musicianship, song construction, sonic production and more. Artificial Language's finely-crafted and fully mature songwriting delivers beyond musical excellence – the songs on offer across the EP are written with interwoven multiple themes. An exploration of the consequences of choices that are made languish at the surface. Lyrically set during a dust bowl-like apocalyptic event which centres around a father and son tangled in a web of conspiracy, the EP explores coincidental events during his son's birth, the father must make a choice to believe whether his son is an innocent soul or a harbinger of annihilation. 

From the killer high energy opener, 'Two Faced Star', until the very dying moments of the boldly aggressive 'Skinwalker', a dark piece about manipulation written from the point of view of a cult leader, which brings the Distant Glow EP to a thrilling conclusion, Artificial Language scale musical heights and demonstrate remarkable creative drive, eschewing the hallmarks of a future classic in the progressive genre.

Elements of prog metal in the vein of Leprous and Haken meld with stadium-filling anthems not far removed from Muse, with the musical eclecticism and wit of Between The Buried and Me.

Led perfectly by Shay Lewis’s brilliantly powerful, emotive vocals, and backed by the technical skill and intensity of Victor Corral (guitar), Charlie Robbins (guitar), Josh Riojas (bass), Jonathon Simpson (keys) and Jeron Schapansky (drums), Artificial Language are a group ready to ascend to the next level.

The band self-released their debut album The Observer in April 2017 to worldwide critical acclaim, followed by Now We Sleep in May of 2019 which featured guest vocals from Michael Lessard of The Contortionist on the title track. The band set out on their first tour in spring of 2022, headlining in cities such as San Francisco and Los Angeles. Artificial Language made their European debut in the Summer of 2022 with a UK Tour and performance at the renowned metal festival UK Tech Fest. 

Artificial Language are:
Vocals - Shay Lewis
Lead Guitar -  Charlie Robbins
Rhythm Guitar - Victor Corral
Bass - Josh Riojas
Keys - Jonathon Simpson
Drums - Jeron Schapansky 

Artificial Language online:
https://artificiallanguage.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/artificiallanguageofficial
https://www.instagram.com/artificiallanguageofficial/
https://twitter.com/artificiallband
https://www.youtube.com/@artificiallanguage

TRACKLISTING:
1. Two Faced Star
2. Rain Follows
3. Stranded
4. House of Hoarded Sands
5. Skinwalker

The Wind Covenant are celebrating the release of their new EP, Hiraeth, which is out now via Seek and Strike, with a brand new single and video drop for 'The Straight And Narrow'. 

Watch the 'The Straight And Narrow' video here: https://youtu.be/RYeJk0jMA8E

Orded Hiraeth EP here: https://orcd.co/hiraethep 

The Wind Covenant said of the new EP and single release: "One of the most enjoyable aspects of being a band, for us, is engaging in creative and inspiring writing sessions together. When we began the writing process for Hiraeth, our primary goal was to craft a collection of songs that felt uniquely exciting to us. With this EP, our focus was on creating a solemn, melancholic, and heart-wrenching vibe. We aimed to blend elements from various genres reflecting our musical backgrounds, including melodic hardcore, black-gaze and classical music, while expanding on our metalcore and deathcore roots. The new songs place less emphasis on riffs - although they remain a significant part of our sound - instead, they serve more as a frame than a centrepiece. Throughout the writing and production process, we deliberately prioritised the emotion behind the songs as our guiding compass. This intentional shift resulted in a more personal and unique outcome.

“Our new track, 'The Straight And Narrow,' delves into the unsettling sensation of not belonging, coupled with the disappointment of realising that a situation we once hoped would bring fulfilment ultimately falls short of our expectations. In these moments, there's a yearning for the familiar and secure, a desire to retreat to a place of comfort. However, retreating to what's safe, metaphorically speaking, offers only temporary relief from the discomfort. It begs the question: Is going back to our safe place what’s right for us? Sometimes, we should maintain a determination to persevere despite the challenges. By adhering to the proverbial 'straight and narrow' path, we can strive to live our lives as authentically as possible, clinging to the hope that better days lie ahead. For us, this song encapsulates the idea of always moving forward, even when faced with adversity and uncertainty.

"This song is definitely one of the most heartfelt pieces on the EP. It carries a weighty emotional resonance that combines elements of hope, pain and melancholy. Both in its lyrics and musical composition, it captures the complexity and duality of emotions we all face during pivotal moments in our lives.

"Our main goal is to guide listeners through an emotive journey, inviting them to appreciate not only the genre essentials (impactful breakdowns and riffs), but also the deeply personal lyrics, unique sound elements, melodic intricacies and a solemn mood that transcends genres. If you’re looking for a band that brings a different flavour to the scene, we encourage you to give us a listen."

The Wind Covenant online:
https://www.facebook.com/thewindcovenant 
https://www.instagram.com/thewindcovenant

Hiraeth tracklist:

1. Beyond The Mortal Sight
2. The Wonders We Leave Behind
3. Doomed
4. The Straight And Narrow
5. Devotion