Full disclosure: Josh, the drummer for Solshade, became a full-time writer for Heavy Blog earlier this year. However, we would have been thrilled to do this premiere regardless as we have been fans of the band since their great debut EP Retrospect back in 2022. Since then, the band has gone on to get signed by one of the most consistent newer labels in the business, Silent Pendulum Records, and with that we are happy to present the first single from their upcoming debut full-length album Proxy, out 9.12.2025
Like their new label-mates Cryptodira who also put out a nice little EP recently, Solshade operate in that niche realm of metalcore that feels genuinely progressive without simply relying on the tropes that this subgenre has become known for over the last 15 years. And that is not exclusively a knock on djent, the new single “Gavagai” employs plenty of that here. However its use here is nostalgic of the early golden-years of the style's influence on metalcore of acts like Structures, with a bending prominent low-end that really emphasizes the element of rhythmic grooves and bounce. On top of this is a balanced contrast of manic rage, and ethereal beauty akin to some of the best of early Northlane mixed with the mosh-worthy metallic aggression of newer acts like Boundaries. This is accentuated through both the shifting screams and frenetic mathcore riffs that build into blissful atmospheric harmonies coupled with strong airy clean vocals that feel like they’re floating above the chaos. All this wrapped in a tight 4-minute run-time makes for an efficient banger of a single that leaves us waiting impatiently for the whole thing to drop in September.
Stream “Gavagi” above and pre-order Proxy today from Silent Pendulum Records with vinyl going live at 1PM EST. If the whole album is on par with this track it’s sure to be one of the standout metalcore records of the year, combining modern metallic mathcore elements for a refreshing spin on an old-school progressive metalcore sound.