EPIMETHEUS SHARE “DRIFT BEYOND” FROM DEBUT FULL LENGTH
PERSEUS 9
SELF-RELEASED ON 6TH FEBRUARY 2026
Bristol-based three piece Epimetheus offer a new taste of their forthcoming debut, with the Philip K Dick inspired, “Drift Beyond.” Their debut full-length Perseus 9 is to be released on 6th February 2026. Preorders are now live on Bandcamp, as are presaves on other platforms.
About “Drift Beyond”, Ben (vocals, bass) says;
“I wanted to write a track that felt completely different to the rest of the album, while retaining the vital ingredients that make a song feel like an Epimetheus song. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of combining the filthy dirge of doom metal guitar textures with a more accessible, pop-influenced song structure – weaving in shoegaze influence throughout the track was a perfect way to marry the two. Lyrically, I was very taken by the idea of grief as laid out by Philip K Dick in Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said.
“This very much served as the basis for my lyrics on “Drift Beyond”, which explore the idea of grief being reciprocal – two parties accompany each other as far as they can possibly go on this plane of existence and then part, taking with them a piece of each other. From my perspective, it’s more so about bereavement rather than a breakup, but I wanted the lyrics to be nonspecific enough that people could relate them to their own lives.”
WATCH THE VISUALISER FOR “DRIFT BEYOND” BELOW:
The difference between heaviness and aggression is crucial when entering Epimetheus’ orbit. The sound of Epimetheus is crafted via heady repetition, churning basslines and unexpected melodic hooks which drift in and out of the noise. “The kind of people that come to our shows will appreciate the fact that the guitar sounds like a train derailment,” says Cillian. “Our tone is a huge focus – that element is very present in our identity. People often ask how we do it with just the three of us.”
Embarking on a debut album would not have been possible without the open-mindedness of Bristol audiences, and the chameleonic nature of the band. Staples of the local scene, they often found themselves on the same bill as bands of other genres. “I think that’s kind of informed some of the album, in a way,” says Ben. “Because we were coming at this with the knowledge that we’d be playing this music in front of all kinds of people, not necessarily metalheads.”
The balancing act between being approachable for a more general audience and remaining heavy has resulted in a sound which draws melody from within the mix, a thick wash of shuddering guitar and mantric basslines serve as an inescapable cyclone from which Ben’s vocals emerge like dust particles floating through nebula.
Perseus 9 album cover
PERSEUS 9 TRACK LISTING:
1 – EARTHBOUND
2 – COALESCE
3 – DRIFT BEYOND [visualiser]
4 – HELD NO MORE
5 – PERSEUS 9 [visualiser]
6 – CALLING
7 – TERRAFORM
In keeping with the raw quality of their renowned live shows, Perseus 9 was recorded live in practice rooms using a small flight-case with a total of 16 inputs – just enough for the drums, room mics and two guitars to go simultaneously. “We wanted to make something that sounds exactly like we do live,” says Cillian. Engineering duties were performed by Stan Braddock in the room, and then mastering was handled by Conan alumnus Chris Fielding.
When it comes to lyrics, the band take inspiration from pulpy sci-fi writers from the 1970s, with Philip K. Dick being a key influence. Primary lyricist Ben comments that he wanted the sci-fi influence “to be a vehicle to address more real things,” citing themes of betrayal, grief, and dreams as cornerstones of the record. Each song has a scene to set – from the very first moments of the album there’s a sense of narrative with the opening line, “Warning – system fail”. But the song ends with imagery of earth and stars, and the curious open-ended note of “And now they’re waiting,” the specific and vast transpiring side by side.
“All of the songs on the surface are like little nuggets of sci-fi, either a story or a vibe. But one of the reasons why sci fi is such a great genre is because it taps into so many normal things,” adds James. “It has relatability without being relatable.”
Epimetheus will play an album launch show at Exchange in Bristol on 7th February. Tickets can be purchased here.
Epimetheus is:
Ben Price (vocals, bass) he/him
Cillian Breathnach (guitar) they/them
James Jackson (drums, vocals) he/him