California experimental rock band Hail The Sun have announced their seventh studio album, cut. turn. fade. back., set for release Friday, October 24 through Equal Vision Records. Produced and engineered by Pete Adams alongside GRAMMY® Award winner Johnny Kosich of Beach Noise (Kendrick Lamar), and mixed and mastered by Zakk Cervini (Blink-182, Bring Me The Horizon, Coheed and Cambria), the record finds the band pushing their creative limits while maintaining the post-hardcore intensity that has defined their sound for over a decade.
The album’s title, composed of four monosyllabic words, mirrors its thematic scope—capturing the cyclical nature of life, from love and loss to war and mortality. Across 11 tracks, Hail The Sun confronts topics such as military atrocities, humanitarian crises, addiction, and personal grief, blending technical musicianship with raw emotion.
Leading the charge is the politically charged new single “War Crimes,” a searing commentary on the destructive forces of colonialism and imperialism, while also reflecting on human resilience. Directed by Alex Bemis, the track’s music video is now available on YouTube. Vocalist Donovan Melero describes the song as an unflinching look at humanity’s repeating history of violence.
“Like clockwork throughout modern human history, we attack each other to control each other,” Melero says. “We do horrific things in the name of ‘liberation’ and making the world a ‘better’ place. This only works when we are made to pick a side and be divided amongst ourselves. But who gains from these wars of carnage and death? Who always comes out on top?”
Hail The Sun recorded cut. turn. fade. back. with Beach Noise at Sacramento’s Pus Cavern Studios, aiming to capture the energy of a live performance. While Beach Noise’s background is rooted in hip-hop—having worked extensively on Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers—their collaboration with the band resulted in a nuanced and textured record without abandoning the group’s signature sound.
From the urgent opener “The Drooling Class” to the climactic closer “War Crimes,” the album flows like a relentless narrative. Tracks such as “There’s No Place in Heaven for Fakes,” “Insensitive Tempo,” and “I Can Tell By The Scars” showcase the band’s blend of technical intricacy and emotional weight, reaffirming their place as one of the most innovative forces in modern rock.
In support of the release, Hail The Sun will embark on a North American co-headline tour with Between The Buried and Me, beginning September 14 in Philadelphia and running through October 30. They will also perform at Kill Iconic Fest in San Antonio, TX, on October 5 alongside acts such as Head Automatica, Makari, and Omerta.
Formed in Chico, California, in 2009, the band—consisting of Donovan Melero (vocals), Shane Gann (guitar), Aric Garcia (guitar), John Stirrat (bass), and Allen Casillas (drums) has built a reputation for pairing thought-provoking lyricism with progressive, high-energy compositions. Fifteen years into their career, Hail The Sun show no signs of slowing down.
“It doesn’t matter if people take away the intended message from these songs,” Melero reflects. “We just want to encourage critical thinking. I’m grateful we’ve been able to sustain a fan base that allows us to keep creating and performing. That’s a rare gift.”
cut. turn. fade. back. will be available for pre-save, pre-add, and pre-order now via Equal Vision Records.
Tracklist
- The Drooling Class
- There’s No Place in Heaven for Fakes
- Live Forever
- Insensitive Tempo
- Blight
- Consumed With You
- I Can Tell By The Scars
- Building Code
- Relapse Is A Love Affair
- Rightless Destiny
- War Crimes
