Austrian deathcore collective Castiel have today unveiled their devastating new EP, All Returns to Hollow and Silence, via Seek and Strike. Marking the release, the band have shared the crushing final single, ‘Act IV: Empty Throne’, the climactic conclusion to the record’s harrowing conceptual journey through psychological collapse, emotional ruin and complete spiritual annihilation.

The final chapter follows the anguish and slow emotional decay of previous singles ‘Act I: Defile // Denounce‘,  ‘Act II: A Festering Wound‘  and ‘Act III: Vile Spirits‘ arriving at the story’s bleakest destination. Here, suffering no longer consumes the protagonist, it transforms them. Humanity is willingly discarded, empathy gives way to absolute numbness, and darkness becomes not an affliction, but an identity.

Drawing on vivid imagery of icy desolation, endless abysses, hollow thrones and eternal emptiness, ‘Act IV: Empty Throne’ captures the irreversible final stage of this descent. It is the sound of a soul severing its last emotional ties, embracing the void and emerging as something entirely unrecognisable

Listen to All Returns to Hollow and Silence here.

All Returns to Hollow and Silence is a genuine step forward for the band. Drawing from a diverse range of influences, Castiel have crafted a sound that is pulled together with purpose. Firmly rooted in deathcore, the EP pushes beyond the genre confines, embracing contrast and atmosphere alongside its more destructive elements.

Speaking on the release, the band said: “This EP is heavier, more brutal but also more emotional than anything we’ve done before as a band. We’ve pushed ourselves creatively while staying true to who we are, this feels like the most complete version of Castiel yet.”

The new EP is built as a continuous story with each track acting as a chapter in a wider narrative. That idea carries through visually too, with every song set to receive its own video. 

At its core, All Returns to Hollow and Silence explores the shifting relationship between two central protagonists, tracing a journey shaped by tension, transformation and emotional conflict. Subtle inspiration has been drawn from the lore of World of Warcraft, particularly the arcs of Arthas Menethil and Jaina Proudmoore. 

Musically, the release channels the oppressive weight and atmosphere of Black Tongue and Humanity’s Last Breath, while incorporating the raw aggression of Bodysnatcher and The Acacia Strain. The result is a record that moves seamlessly between suffocating heaviness and explosive intensity. 

Track-list:

1. Act I: Defile // Denounce
2. Act II: A Festering Wound
3. Act III: Vile Spirits
4. Act IV: Empty Throne

Emerging from Klagenfurt, Austria in 2014, Castiel quickly made their mark with their bleak atmospheres and downtempo heaviness. Early releases including their debut single ‘Human Scum’ and the Exitium EP (2015) set the tone, followed by Blasphemy in 2017, before lineup changes forced the band into a hiatus. 

They returned in 2023 with Shadowlands, signalling a clear step up in both sound and ambition. That momentum carried into 2025’s Khaos EP, a darker, more introspective release that pushed further into themes of psychological collapse and existential weight.

Now, with their signing to Seek and Strike, Castiel enter a new chapter. All Returns to Hollow and Silence not only marks their first release under the label, but their most ambitious work to date. 

Having already shared stages with the likes of Distant, Carnifex, Born of Osiris and more, the band have built a reputation for intense, no frills live shows. Stay tuned for live dates to follow. 

For more:
Instagram || Facebook || Spotify