Los Angeles-based duo Holy Wars, known for their dynamic fusion of genres and lyrical ingenuity, has just released their latest EP, Cult Classic. This six-track EP, available on all streaming platforms, marks the band's debut under their new label, Pale Chord via Rise Records. To commemorate this release, they have also unveiled a provocative music video for the EP's title track, "Cult Classic."
"Cult Classic" is a daring sonic journey that seamlessly blends elements of modern rock, cyberpunk, nu-metal, and pop. The EP is a testament to the band's ability to push boundaries and redefine the alternative music landscape. Kat Leon's razor-sharp vocals and confrontational yet thought-provoking lyrics, combined with Nick Perez's innovative production and genre-defying guitar work, create a unique auditory experience. The EP delves deep into themes of internal terror and societal influences, exploring the concept of the 'monster within' as opposed to external horrors.
Kat Leon, the enigmatic vocalist of Holy Wars, explains the creative process behind the EP as both fun and intrusive. "I wanted to pose the question of what if the horror aka 'the monster' was actually inside us? In most thrillers, the monster is an external enemy but in this body of music, I really wanted to lean into the internal enemy but also acknowledging how this internal enemy is influenced by our external world and what we are made to feel about ourselves and about others. 'Cult Classic' is the climax track revealing the true enemy - the unattainable ideology of what it takes to thrive in a society that is holding each individual under its thumb. I hope this EP and every song displaying the internal struggle of the self, empowers the listener and allows them to have the freedom to unplug and let go of the ever powerful ego."
She continues, speaking on the title track: "Cult Classic is an uptempo ripper with visual lyrics revealing a horror lying underneath our society. Where the need for fame, influence, and the 'American Dream' changes us in ways with moral shapeshifting and greed is insatiable. In the lyric 'Suited up cannibals… we came to feed,' this highlights the dog-eat-dog survivalism of capitalism and the justifications we tell ourselves in order to sleep at night. Sonically we really enjoyed taking turns with this track with a drum and bass intro straight into a heavy riff.
This one raises the heart rate with twists and turns and doesn't let go until the last second."
The Cult Classic EP not only extends Holy Wars' legacy of esoteric and rebellious music but also symbolizes a bold step in their quest to dominate the alternative soundscape. The record builds upon the themes introduced in their earlier singles, "Deus Ex Machina" and "BODY//TEMPLE," offering a critique of contemporary culture, ego, and the mind.
With the release of the Cult Classic EP, Holy Wars continues to challenge the norms of music and society, inviting listeners to join their sonic insurrection against the mundane and the conventional.
Cult Classic is now available via Pale Chord/Rise Records. Get the EP - HERE
