Cultists Bear Their Fangs In Grimy New Single ‘Snakeskin’

Knowing no creative parameters nor restraining themselves in eloquence, Cultists have been summoning the darkest of entities into our metalcore scene, especially within their latest releases. Today, this depth broadens with the Sydney band’s latest offering, ‘Snakeskin’. Striking like a dagger to the heart, the track houses not merely a gruesome storyline, but a delivery filled with conviction and passion that portrays the band at their most mature, sophisticated, and energized yet. This is one to watch. 

‘Snakeskin’ offers a jarring but tantalizing hybridity between strong and worn metalcore elements, intertwining them with pulses of electronic and sonic soundscaping, in turn, creating a truly revitalized look for the band. As the track grows, so too does it descend deeper into hell, with Liam Solway’s inner demons crawling from the depths of his very soul, and oozing their deep, black goop onto the microphone, the speakers, and into your ear. ‘Snakeskin’ penetrates deep into your very being, with its impressive layers creating an auditory world in which you can not escape.

The track reaches down to the very core when a formidable breakdown bursts its way into the scene. With deep guitars chugging and pounding drums closing in, the song turns utterly primal, with its aggression flashing its sharp and hefty teeth to the audience. There is a credit to be given to vocalist Liam in this performance, with his screams reaching a rawness even more impressive than the second before- a pure display of sheer anger, and impassioned determination. 

It is the track's storyline that helps feed into this excruciatingly brutal display. ‘Snakeskin’ slithers through a tale of revenge and unexpected advances; a story inspired by the experiences of the band both within the scene and their everyday lives. The track projects a spotlight into the morality of the ‘snake’- those in our lives who are riddled with facades of guidance, guilty of leaving others retreating cowardly in their illumination of presumed power, and in turn, are venomous to our life journey. The tables turn as the song directs its attention to the metaphor of the mouse- often an analogy for the hunted, the feeble, and suppressed by the lingering fangs of the snake. Through an excruciatingly raw presentation, ‘Snakeskin’ presents a tale of the ultimate exertion of power- the once prey growing more indestructible than its predator- a story of growth fueled by callousness, toxicity, and an unwavering, cunning presence. 

After five years in the scene, it appears that Cultists have shed away their past, now donning glistening scales. It is fair to say, ‘Snakeskin’ sees the Sydney/Central Coast lads at their very best. Executed with pristine attention to detail and formulated within a band environment that has found comfort in their sound, signature, and identity, it is safe to say we are witnessing the birth of Sydney’s most formidable up-and-comers. 

Words by Georgia Haskins @ghaskins2002

‘Snakeskin’ is out now, stream it here and watch the music video (directed by Colin Jeffs) below!