Hopsydian push emotional extremity and crushing heaviness to new heights with their latest single "ELYSIUM," a dark and cinematic descent into fractured identity, spiritual abandonment and the violent pursuit of transcendence.
Combining relentless modern metalcore aggression with sacred choir elements, towering atmosphere and beatdown loaded riffs, the track balances brutality and beauty with unsettling intensity. Driven by themes of inner ruin, corrupted faith and self deification, "ELYSIUM" explores the emotional conflict between guilt and empowerment.
Lyrics like "Every scar is a vow I survived" and "There's grace in sin" paint a portrait of someone shaped by pain, no longer searching for salvation but becoming something terrifyingly divine in the process. The song constantly shifts between whispered confession and explosive defiance, mirroring the psychological collapse unfolding beneath its massive production. Haunting choirs echo like fractured prayers throughout the track, colliding with crushing breakdowns and punishing drums that amplify the tension between sin and transcendence. As the song builds toward its radiant and emotionally overwhelming chorus, Hopsydian create a sound that feels both apocalyptic and euphoric, equal parts spiritual reckoning and violent rebirth.
With "ELYSIUM", Hopsydian showcase a bold modern approach to metalcore that merges cinematic atmosphere, raw emotional weight and unrelenting heaviness into something immersive and devastating. Dark, aggressive and impossible to ignore, the single positions the band as one of the genre’s most exciting emerging forces.
HOPSYDIAN LIVE:
6/27 — Vienna, AUT — Chelsea
8/15 — Dinkelsbühl, DE — Summer Breeze Open Air
Knotfest x SXSW Showcase Set for March 18 at Elysium, Feat. The Callous Daoboys, Soul Slo, Creeping Death, + More🤘
KNOTFEST EXPANDS "PULSE OF THE MAGGOTS" BRAND WITH OFFICIAL SXSW SHOWCASE
SHOWCASE TAKES PLACE MARCH 18 AT ELYSIUM IN AUSTIN
PERFORMERS INCLUDE HEAD-TURNING ACTS SUCH AS THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS, CREEPING DEATH, ESCUELA GRIND, MILITARIE GUN, SOUL GLO,+ VCTMS
Knotfest is expanding its emerging artist brand, Pulse of the Maggots, by teaming up with SXSW for an official showcase set for March 18 at Elysium in Austin.
This showcase is a powerhouse that spotlights a wide range of artists currently causing thrills in the heavy culture space.
The lineup, in alphabetical order, is as follows: The Callous Daoboys, Creeping Death, Escuela Grind, Miliatrie Gun, Soul Glo, and VCTMS.
SXSW states that it is "thrilled to partner with KNOTFEST for their first-ever official showcase. As a festival that's focused on highlighting new and upcoming artists in the heavy scene, KNOTFEST and Pulse of the Maggots are a perfect fit and are helping us expand more into the growing metal and hardcore scenes. We are excited for everyone to see what is in store for the night."
Clown of Slipknot shares the enthusiasm, saying, "Excited for the new Pulses for us all."
Pulse of the Maggots Fest initially began as a digital festival in 2020, shortly after the launch of Knotfest.com as a full heavy culture media hub as a way to bring emerging artist performances to audience across the world during the world shut down. After two more digital festivals, Pulse Fest had its inaugural in-person event with the Pulse Fest UK featuring Sylosis, Orbit Culture, Heriot, Spiritworld, and more.
With this SXSW showcase (as well as other festivals spanning the globe, including currently on-sale festivals in Australia, Japan, and Italy, Knotfest continues its impact as a curator in the heavy genre.
ABOUT THE PULSE OF MAGGOTS x SXSW SHOWCASE LINEUP:
THE CALLOUS DAOBOYS:
Earning comparative nods to mathcore lineage like Botch and Converge, the sextet package a cacophony of organized chaos in a performance on 2022's Celebrity Therapist that is purely volatile.
CREEPING DEATH:
Practitioners of Texas heft, Creeping Death have taken up the torch for the modern era of death metal. The band's Edge of Existence EP was hailed for it classic and contemporary take on the genre such that their forthcoming 2023 release is among the most anticipated of the year.
ESCUELA GRIND:
The New England grindcore unit proved relentless on their 2022 full length, Memory Theater. Paying homage to their predecessors like Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, and early Carcass, the technical prowess in tandem with the sheer brutality of the band make them among extreme music’s most promising prospects.
MILITARIE GUN:
Dynamic songwriters well beyond their years, L.A.'s Militarie Gun have a knack for crafting tunes that stick. Their All Roads Lead to the Gun ushered in a new era of post-hardcore brilliance that leaned heavily on memorable hooks, punchy guitars and a '90s angst executed with grit and guts.
SOUL GLO:
The Philly hardcore standouts scored a massive win in 2022 with the release of their universally acclaimed, Diaspora Problems. Praised for their biting social commentary and frenzied execution, they are among the most exciting, emerging names in the landscape of contemporary hardcore.
VCTMS:
The Chicago aggressors and DIY riders spent most of 2022 touring in support of their Vol. IV: Numb the Ache LP. Ending the year with the reveal of the single, "The Dearly Beloved," the band's layered assault and musical bombast makes for an impressive show of force.