Varials are officially back in full force, and they’ve arrived with a new single that hits straight in the chest.
The Philadelphia heavy hitters have just shared “The Hurt Chamber,” alongside its accompanying video, giving us another taste of their upcoming album Where The Light Leaves, landing 27 February via Fearless Records.
If you’re used to Varials bringing pure metallic aggression, this one might surprise you. “The Hurt Chamber” slows things down, leaning into atmosphere and melody without losing any of that signature weight. It’s heavy, but in a different way. More suffocating. More emotional. The kind of track that creeps under your skin and stays there.
Frontman Skyler Conder explains the song explores being addicted to something that feels good but slowly destroys you, whether that’s love, substances, or certain situations. That push and pull between comfort and damage runs through every second of the track, and it makes for a seriously powerful listen.
Fun fact too, Conder recorded his vocals in one take on the very first try. The band considered tweaking things afterwards, but decided the original performance was too real to mess with. Honestly, you can feel that immediacy in the final version.
Where The Light Leaves is shaping up to be Varials at their most ambitious yet. Produced by Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Dayseeker, The Plot In You), the record promises brutal breakdowns, darker moods, and new melodic layers, all wrapped up in that raw, human edge they’re known for. It follows 2022’s Scars for You to Remember and looks set to push their sound even further.
With 13 tracks on the album and a reputation built on emotionally charged heaviness, this feels like a big moment for the band. If “The Hurt Chamber” is anything to go by, Varials aren’t just bringing the riffs, they’re bringing the feels too.
Album drops 27 February. Turn it up.
