Italian melodic death-doom metal act SHORES OF NULL have released “Homesick”, the title track of their fifth studio album, due on October 16, 2026 via Dusktone.
The new single moves closer to the emotional core of a record shaped by questions of memory, belonging and the complicated meaning of home. “Homesick” embodies the band’s characteristic meeting point between brooding heaviness, melancholy and melodic detail, while allowing a more intimate side of their writing to emerge. The song was also the first piece composed for the album, eventually becoming a central reference for its wider themes and atmosphere.
Singer Davide Straccione comments:
“‘Homesick’ was the very first song written for the album, and in many ways it set the emotional direction for everything that followed. I still remember Raffaele coming up with the opening riff while we were on tour with Swallow The Sun back in 2023 and playing it during soundchecks almost every day. From that moment on, it felt like the seed from which the entire record would grow. Because of that, it couldn’t be anything other than the title track. Musically, it’s one of the most reflective and introspective moments on the album. Lyrically, the song revolves around the contradiction contained within the very idea of homesickness itself: the longing to return to something familiar while knowing that what we call ‘home’ may also be the source of our pain. The recurring line ‘My home is dangerous’ embodies that tension between attraction and repulsion, while the question ‘Will I return?’ remains deliberately unanswered. After all, what is home? For some, it’s a place of comfort and safety. For others, it may be a place marked by war, violence, abuse or painful memories. And yet, for better or worse, it remains home, and a part of who we are”.
Preorders:
https://dusktone.bandcamp.com/album/homesick
https://www.dusktone.org
Following the acclaimed “The Loss Of Beauty”, SHORES OF NULL continue to expand their emotional and sonic universe with a record that combines their trademark melancholy with a renewed sense of identity and purpose. “Homesick” represents the band at their most mature, featuring ten songs where every composition carries its own unique character, supported by refined arrangements, streamlined structures and a wealth of subtle details waiting to reveal themselves over repeated listens.
The album features the best production in the history of SHORES OF NULL, giving the band’s music an unprecedented level of depth and impact. The clarity and power of the sound enhance the contrast at the core of their style: music that can be deeply melancholic and decadent, yet capable of delivering moments of energy, intensity and emotional elevation. “Homesick” is a testament to a band that has fully consolidated its position within the melodic death doom scene while continuing to evolve.
Frontman Davide Straccione comments: “Those who have followed Shores Of Null from the very beginning know that our influences touch many genres, but I think those who loved ‘The Loss Of Beauty’ won’t be disappointed. I think ‘Homesick’ brings something fresh to the band, without compromising our sound. So I truly hope it will be well received by those who already love Shores Of Null and by potentially new fans.”
Conceived as a complete listening experience rather than a simple collection of individual songs, “Homesick” moves through a wide range of emotional states: longing, loss, anger, vulnerability and the search for a place to belong. Each track offers its own identity and emotional weight, but the full picture only emerges when the album is experienced from beginning to end.
“I think ‘Homesick’ is meant to be experienced as a whole rather than as a collection of separate songs. It is a record that moves through different emotional states and explores feelings that are deeply personal but also universal,” explains Straccione. “We wanted it to feel immersive, with songs that can hit hard in the moment but also reveal more of themselves over repeated listens.”
The album’s lyrical themes revolve around nostalgia, absence and the many meanings attached to the concept of “home”. For Straccione, home is not simply a physical place, but something far more complex: a memory, a person, a wound, or even a version of ourselves that no longer exists.
“I’m fascinated by themes such as nostalgia, loss, belonging, and the ways in which the past continues to shape who we are. Sometimes inspiration simply comes from observing the world around me. Other times it starts with a question I can’t answer, and writing becomes a way to explore it. With ‘Homesick’, I found myself reflecting on the idea of ‘home’ as something much deeper than a place. Many of the lyrics revolve around that tension between longing and pain, between the desire to return and the fear of what might still be waiting for us there.”
The ten songs featured on “Homesick” were selected from a wider pool of ideas developed during the writing process. SHORES OF NULL allowed the material to evolve naturally, reshaping and reworking songs whenever necessary in order to create the strongest and most cohesive album possible. Producer Marco “Cinghio” Mastrobuono played a crucial role in pushing the band’s vision further, guiding the pre-production process and helping refine every detail.
“For both this album and our previous split, ‘Latitudes Of Sorrow’, we made a conscious decision to devote more time to pre-production with Marco ‘Cinghio’ Mastrobuono. Having someone involved who knows our sound so deeply gave us a valuable outside perspective and led to ideas, details and solutions we might not have reached on our own.”
Recorded at Bloom Recording Studios after an extensive pre-production phase, “Homesick” also features two special guest appearances: Natalie Koskinen of Shape Of Despair on “The Numbing Void”, and Shaun MacGowan of My Dying Bride, whose violin can be heard on “Dreaming Of A Scar” and “The Numbing Void”.
The vinyl edition will include a short intro created specifically for the format, designed to enhance the Side A / Side B listening experience without altering the essence of the album.
With “Homesick”, SHORES OF NULL deliver one of the strongest statements of their career: a deeply emotional, carefully crafted and immersive record that confirms their place among the leading forces of melodic death doom.
For fans of: Paradise Lost, Amorphis, Swallow The Sun, Katatonia, Borknagar
Tracklist:
01. Allies Before Defeat
02. Two Mountains
03. Bleed to Life
04. Homesick
05. Son of the Tide
06. Dreaming of a Scar
07. Society Is the Murderer
08. The Numbing Void
09. Another Breath
10. Disappear
Line-up:
Davide Straccione – Vocals
Gabriele Giaccari – Guitars
Raffaele Colace – Guitars
Matteo Capozucca – Bass
Emiliano Cantiano – Drums
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