If you’ve been craving that early-2000s post-hardcore sound — the kind that made you want to throw your phone across the room and scream-sing in your car — then it’s time to get familiar with I Promised The World. The Texas-based five-piece have just signed to Rise Records (yep, that Rise Records — home to scene heavyweights past and present) and announced their self-titled EP, arriving January 16th, 2026.
Their first single, “Bliss in 7 Languages,” feels like a time machine to the MySpace era — only with sharper production and a modern emotional punch. Think soaring screamo choruses, Midwest emo guitars, and enough angst to power your old iPod for a week. It’s nostalgic in all the right ways, but still feels like something completely fresh.
Talking about the signing, the band said, “It’s an unreal feeling to be signed to Rise, a label that has history with many of the bands that have inspired us along the way. We hope this record connects to both old and new listeners by giving nostalgia and an improved version of our sound.”
That sound — produced by Jon Markson (Drug Church, DRAIN, Stay Inside) and Adam Cichocki — hits that sweet spot between raw emotion and digital-age chaos. It’s equal parts passion project and sonic evolution, crafted by a band whose oldest member is only 21. In short: they weren’t even around when From First to Last ruled PureVolume, but they sure know how to capture that energy.
There’s also a deeper layer here. I Promised The World formed in 2023 after vocalist/guitarist Caleb Molina lost his father to COVID-19. What started as an outlet for grief has grown into something powerful — a tribute, a catharsis, and now, a movement. “This band is an extension of my dad’s memory,” Molina shared in past interviews, “but also a celebration of life and moving forward.”
Since forming, the band have already shared stages with Deafheaven, Midrit, and Koyo — and they’re now set to join Koyo on tour across the U.S. this November. Not bad for a group who’ve been together less than two years.
The upcoming EP features five tracks — Proud, A Pure Expression, Bliss In 7 Languages, Future Worth Dying For, and Emerald Waltz — and from the sound of things, it’s going to scratch that post-hardcore itch we didn’t even realise we still had. If “Bliss in 7 Languages” is any indication, this is one band ready to bring emotion, chaos, and catharsis roaring back into 2026.
So go on — grab your headphones, queue up “Bliss in 7 Languages,” and relive that golden age of scene music. The only thing missing is your old studded belt.
