It’ll be about a month before we can revel in the Afterglow of Sleep Theory’s much-anticipated debut album of the same name, though the Memphis, Tennessee quartet are doing us a solid by giving us another pre-release preview. This time, they’ve twisted up a tense but melodic nu-rock anthem called “III”.
The new track goes for the throat from the jump, with both vocalist Cullen Moore and guitarist Daniel Pruitt trading off hard-howled moments atop a super chewy and detuned rock riff. The song mixes those moments with a yearning, synth-assisted chorus and a dirt-kicking doom-mosh in the bridge.
A press release adds that the song is themed around betrayal, while Moore sings in the chorus that tragedy and hardship is often compounded and served up in “threes.”
“It’s that gut-wrenching feeling when someone you trusted completely lets you down,” Moore adds of the track in a statement. “The song dives into that pain, but it’s also about facing the truth, even when it hurts and realizing not everyone is who they say they are.”
He adds: “I want people to really think about who they let into their lives. Not everyone deserves your trust, and sometimes, those closest to you can do the most damage.”
The video, meanwhile, finds Sleep Theory rocking out in the eye of the storm. You’ll find them reckoning with a mean-lookin’ twister up above.
As previously reported, Sleep Theory’s forthcoming Afterglow was produced by David Cowell, and features previously issued singles “Static,” “Stuck in My Head” and “Paralyzed,” as well as re-recorded versions of “Fallout” and “Numb,” which had both appeared on the band’s breakthrough 2023 EP, Paper Hearts.
The album is out May 16th via Epitaph, and shortly thereafter Sleep Theory kick off their first major headline tour. You’ll find their U.S. tour schedule here.