Signing with InsideOutMusic last year, Italian metal quintet Benthos unleashed ‘Fossil’, the first song from their upcoming album to be released in spring this year. Now, they kick off 2025 with a bang with second single ‘Pure’.
The as-yet-unnamed album, set to be released this spring, will mark Benthos’ second full-length record. ‘Pure’ showcases a different side to the band while maintaining the band’s distinct identity. The single creates an addictive dynamic, blending crystalline tones, melodic guitars, and delicate vocals that erupt into a powerful scream, all while leaning into a lighter prog sound. Lyrically, it explores themes of shedding materialism and embracing pure existence.
‘We’re thrilled to share our new single, ‘Pure’, which showcases a gentler, sweeter side of our sound – Letting the melody shine beyond the chaos,” said the band. “It was a joy to write, and we hope you love listening to it as much as we loved creating it!”
You can stream the single here and check out the video for it here at RAMzine.
Featuring Gabriele Landillo (Vocals), Gabriele Papagni and Enrico Tripodi (Guitars), Alberto Fiorani (Bass) and Alessandro Tagliani (Drums), Benthos is an experimental progressive metal band from Milan, Italy. Formed in 2018, the quintet gained recognition in the Italian metal scene by opening for The Contortionist in 2019 in their home country. Their debut album, II, released in 2021, has been described as being defined by its “technical edge, complex rhythms, and heavy, dynamic guitar work balanced with serene, melodic interludes”. Benthos’ live performances, are described as “hypnotic and chaotic”, and have taken them across Italy and Europe, including a notable appearance at Milan’s Dissonance Festival in 2023. While working on their sophomore record, Benthos signed with label InsideOutMusic, marking a significant milestone for the Italian band.
The band said of the signing: “Signing with InsideOutMusic marks the start of an exciting new chapter for the Benthos family. This announcement symbolizes a monumental change, where our courage to break free from conventions brings a powerful sense of hope for our future. Now is the time to share our music with the world, with all the passion that has united us since the first moment we played together.”
InsideOutMusic Label-head Thomas Waber added: “We are delighted to welcome Benthos to the InsideOutMusic family. Their modern and daring approach to music caught our attention and we are looking forward to developing this young ambitious band!”
“’Fossil’ is the most extravagant track we’ve ever created,” said the band of their previous single. “A persuasive, energetic, dynamic and primordial journey where the instruments know no boundaries, projecting the listener into an abstract dimension that blends various soundscapes. The song delves into the confrontation between the present self and the past experiences of humanity, fossilized memories which are deeply rooted in today’s modern society and remind us of the marks we leave on the world.”
‘Fossil’ delves into memory, identity, and time. Anchored by themes within their upcoming album, it draws on the idea that our present selves being intricately shaped by fragments of the past — fossilised memories embedded deep within our souls. Musically, it is a whirlwind of chaotic, fuzzy tones with atmospheric, space-driven sections, mirroring the disorientation and clarity within the lyrics. Frenetic drumming and unpredictable guitar tones add to the sense of cyclical chaos, while moments of calm draw listeners into a surreal space where time seems to suspend. Shifting from organic vintage sounds to futuristic synthetic tones.
You can stream ‘Fossil’ and check out the video here at RAMzine.
