US metalcore outfit Foreword have released their new single ‘Self-Immolate’ to mark the release of their EP Exposition, out now via Seek and Strike.
Listen to Exposition here.
Blistering and unrelenting, ‘Self-Immolate’ captures one of the EP’s most volatile moments. Driven by punishing riffs and a suffocating atmosphere, the track confronts the destructive pull of inner turmoil, the instinct to burn everything down in an attempt to cauterise self-inflicted wounds, only to realise that once the fire starts, it can no longer be controlled.
“With ‘Self-Immolate,’ we wanted to return to an otherworldly visual space, similar to what we explored on the ‘Sandman’ video, but with significantly more heat involved,” the band explain. “The song is about giving in to the fire inside you and trying to cauterize the wounds you create, only to realize that once something is burning, it is no longer under your control. Naturally, we decided the best way to convey this was to film in a Texas warehouse with almost no ventilation.”
What unfolds on screen is as punishing as the song itself. Shot in suffocating conditions, the video captures the band performing amid oppressive heat, with the physical strain becoming part of the narrative.
“As expected, the conditions were brutal,” they continue. “The exhaustion you see on screen is completely real and no one was acting by the end of the shoot. Faces melting, patience wearing thin and the overwhelming heat all became part of the experience. In a strange way, that discomfort worked in our favor, turning the video into a very honest extension of the song’s themes and making the suffering feel earned.”
Often cited as a modern embodiment of classic early-2000s metalcore, Foreword lean into that lineage on Exposition but with sharpened edges and a wider sonic pallete. Across the EP, crushing rhythm-driven foundations collide with layered synths and cinematic atmospheres that allow the heaviness to hit harder.
Foreword comment on the EP: “This EP carries a particularly personal weight for us as a band. It represents a moment where we allowed ourselves to fully lean into the sounds, textures and influences that have shaped us over the years, while still pushing our identity forward. A major source of inspiration came from modern gaming soundtracks, most notably titles like DOOM and Cyberpunk 2077, which encouraged us to think more cinematically and atmospherically in our writing.
“This EP means a lot to us because it feels real in a way that is sometimes scary. It captures a version of ourselves that is imperfect, searching, and still learning how to communicate honestly, both with each other and with the people listening. If someone connects with this music during a difficult moment in their own life, then the vulnerability it required was worth it.
“Thank you to everyone who gives this EP their time, their attention and their trust. We do not take that lightly, and we hope these songs meet people wherever they are and remind them they are not alone in what they are feeling.”
Exposition was recorded with producer Cory Brunnemann (Nonpoint, Upon A Burning Body, Zahna), whose collaborative approach played a key role in shaping the EP’s cohesive identity. Departing from their more prescriptive methods of the past, Foreword placed a higher level of trust in the studio process, allowing ideas to evolve organically.
“We brought Cory a wide range of ambitious and sometimes unconventional ideas,” the band explain. “His ability to translate our more chaotic and abstract concepts into something focused, impactful and consistent elevated the songs beyond what we feel we could have achieved on our own.”
Rooted in self reflection and internal conflict, Exposition documents moments of doubt, frustration, guilt and emotional tension as they were happening, rather than after resolution. The result is an immersive and deeply honest release that expands Foreword’s sound while preserving the intensity and emotion at its core.
For fans of Paleface Swiss, I Prevail and Landmvrks, Exposition marks a confident and compelling evolution.
Track-list:
1. Shepard to the Black Sheep
2. Am I Dreaming (Wide-Awake)
3. Hunger Sickness
4. Read Between the Lines
5. Intimate Torment
6. Self-Immolate
Foreword are:
Vocals – Andy Alderson
Guitar/Vocals – Chris Se Cret
Guitar – Marco Gomez
Bass – Manny G
Click image to watch the video
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