Philadelphia’s VARIALS — Skyler Conder, vocals; Shane Lyons, guitar; Mike Foley, bass; Sean Rauchut, drums — re-entered the chat in a massively metallic way in 2025 by announcing their new album WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES. The album will arrive on February 27 via Fearless Records. Today, they release the brand new single and video “The Hurt Chamber.” Watch the official music video below:
 The song moves at a measured and deliberate pace, and it’s one of the most melodic songs in the band’s catalog. With this track, Varials, known for erecting impenetrable walls of sound and for trafficking in pure metallic fury, prove that heavier-than-granite music doesn’t always have to mean fast. Heavy can also be slow and steady — and memorable. The beautifully eerie, keys-driven fade out could serve as the background music in the creepiest scene in your favorite psychological thriller. “The Hurt Chamber is a song strictly about being addicted to a high that is inevitably difficult to break,” says Conder. “Whether that be love, drugs, or a certain type of situation, you become blind to what’s happening, all of the bad disappears because it always feels amazing. But it’s doing nothing but harming you throughout every time you become close to it. The ache becomes a salvation of sorts. You enter the hurt chamber and you never want to leave.” Conder cut his vocals for the single in one take, and on his first try. That’s a rarity but the immediacy is felt in the song. And it just…worked. The band recalls, “We debated amongst ourselves on trying different ideas and melodies and adding/changing small things, but ultimately decided the original take was too good and shouldn’t be messed with.” WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES TRACK LISTING:
Where The Light Leaves
No Lie Untouched
Illusions of Loss
Conscious Collapse
Your Soul Feeds
The Hurt Chamber
[wouldyoufollowme]
Silent Demise
Blissful End
Romance II
Metanoia
I’ll Find the Dark
[intothequiet] ABOUT VARIALS:
Varials deliver hardcore ferocity, monstrous breakdowns, and nu-metal groove with an adventurous atmosphere and unapologetic purpose. Born in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, Varials embody East Coast attitude and determination, pouring every ounce of struggle into their songs. Their fourth album, Where the Light Leaves, arrives with explosive energy and focus. Varials first established their place in the modern heavy landscape with Pain Again (2017) and In Darkness (2019). Tracks like “Romance,” “Empire of Dirt,” and “Anything to Numb” became anthems, blending metalcore strength with raw honesty that deeply resonated with audiences. Scars for You to Remember (2022) expanded that vision, further cementing their reputation as one of the most emotionally intense acts of the modern era. Produced by longtime collaborator Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Dayseeker, The Plot In You), Where the Light Leaves signifies a new chapter. An often chaotic and experimental process—creating dozens of demos—resulted in 13 songs that capture Varials at their most powerful and creatively ambitious. The performances are deliberately raw, embracing imperfections to forge an immediate, human connection. Guttural heaviness paired with new melodic textures delivers a sound that is both punishing and expansive. As demonstrated on tours with Knocked Loose, Wage War, and Kublai Khan TX, among others, Varials are a fierce and formidable live band, and that energy is reflected in Where The Light Leaves. —— NEW ALBUM WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES ARRIVES 27TH FEBRUARY
VIA FEARLESS RECORDS —— | 
