Northern Irish metal outfit Nihilanth return with their blistering new single ‘Don’t Pray For Me’, the follow up to 2024’s crushing release ‘Ruin’. The track is taken from the band’s forthcoming second EP, Detritus Of Ruin, due for release on March 20th.

‘Don’t Pray For Me’ sees Nihilanth leaning further into the darker, more abrasive edges of their sound, channeling death metal intensity through the band’s established groove-laden framework. It is a track built on weight and intent, pairing suffocating heaviness with razor-sharp precision.

‘Don’t Pray For Me’ is available on all major streaming platforms, HERE. 

Lyrically, the single is one of the most direct statements the band have made to date. The inspiration stems from a personal experience guitarist Pete Craig had after moving to Belfast, shaping a broader commentary on religious fanaticism and the damage it can inflict across all denominations of faith. While recognising the right to individual belief, the track challenges the imposition of those beliefs on others, particularly when used to incite fear, hostility or division.

‘Don’t Pray For Me’ reflects on how many global conflicts and societal fractures can be traced back to religion or religious persecution. Growing up in Ireland and Northern Ireland, these themes are far from abstract, giving the track a lived-in authenticity that cuts deeper than rhetoric. The result is a bleak but honest examination of how ideology, when weaponised, can bring out the worst in people.

The single sets the tone for Detritus Of Ruin, a record that captures Nihilanth at their most focused and fully realised. Following their 2023 debut EP Destroyer Of Worlds, the band experienced significant line-up changes. Rather than halting progress, that period became a turning point. With the current line-up now firmly established, this EP represents the sound Nihilanth have been driving towards since their inception.

Across the EP, raw aggression is balanced with atmosphere and control. Breakdown sections are delivered with purpose, while subtle layers of synths and strings expand the band’s sonic scope without diluting their core intensity. Themes of self-destruction sit alongside wider societal observations, tackling corruption, prejudice and the influence of organised religion with unflinching honesty.

First single ‘Ruin’ introduced this chapter with a devastating statement of intent, featuring guest vocals from Patrick Scanlon of Belfast hardcore band If It Bleeds. Tracks such as ‘Fractured’ showcase a modern metal edge, while ‘Fangs’ underlines Nihilanth’s refusal to be confined to one lane, blending multiple heavy disciplines into a sound that is unmistakably their own.

Detritus Of Ruin is not a reinvention but a realisation. It is the sound of a band that has weathered change, sharpened its identity and emerged heavier, tighter and more confident than ever.

‘DETRITUS OF RUIN’ tracklist:
Ruin
The Emergent Truth
Fangs
Don’t Prey for Me

Nihilanth are:
Aidan Thompson, vocals
Pete Craig, guitar and backing vocals
Lee Park, guitar
Andy Parkinson, drums
Jim Ward, bass

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Belfast-based metal force Nihilanth are back with their brand-new single ‘Ruin’, set for release on October 23rd, marking their first new music since the breakout success of ‘The Valley Beneath’. 
The track offers a dark and introspective glimpse into the band’s forthcoming new EP, due for release in early 2026.
 
Following a whirlwind year that saw Nihilanth win Metal 2 The Masses Belfast 2024 and perform to a packed crowd on the New Blood Stage at Bloodstock Open Air, the band have wasted no time channeling that energy into their next creative chapter. 
 
Their previous single, ‘The Valley Beneath’, which received airplay on BBC Introducing with Alyx Holcombe, helped the band make their mark as one of Ireland’s most promising new heavy acts.
Speaking about the new single, the band comment:
“‘Ruin’ is a song about battling inner demons, self-destruction and deprivation. You can be your own worst enemy, but even when you’re in the darkest of mindsets, we still have the capacity and realisation that all is not lost.”

Formed during the summer of 2021, Nihilanth quickly established themselves within the Irish metal scene through their crushing live performances and debut EP, Destroyer of Worlds, released on March 17th, 2023. With ‘Ruin’, the band elevate their sound further, blending atmosphere, intensity, and emotional depth in a way that feels both cathartic and devastating.

Nihilanth are:
Aidan Thompson – Vocals
Pete Craig – Guitar & backing vocals
Lee Park – Guitar
Andy Parkinson – Drums
Jim Ward – Bass

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