ARISING EMPIRE MEDIA ALERT: New Music From TOK WATCH + LISTEN

German modern metal force TOK (The Oklahoma Kid) continue their uncompromising new chapter with the release of their crushing new single "BURNOUT," out now via Arising Empire.

Following the explosive arrival of "SPIT," "BURNOUT" pushes TOK even further into the raw, confrontational territory that defines this new era of the band. Built around punishing riffs, relentless grooves and an undeniable sense of urgency, the track channels frustration with a world designed to keep people moving, producing and obeying until there is nothing left to give.

At its core, "BURNOUT" is a refusal to play along. Taking aim at empty promises, forced conformity and the pressure to stay in line, the song captures the moment when exhaustion turns into resistance. Rather than accepting a system that demands people sacrifice their individuality in pursuit of an increasingly hollow idea of success, TOK push back with a simple message: break away before someone else gets the chance to define who you are.

Musically, "BURNOUT" is TOK at their most immediate and aggressive. Huge riffs collide with pounding rhythms, volatile vocals and an infectious groove-heavy approach, carrying the rebellious spirit of the ’90s and early 2000s into the band’s own unmistakably modern sound. It is direct, confrontational and built for impact, without sacrificing the technical precision and adventurous songwriting that have always set The Oklahoma Kid apart.

With Tobias Rische, formerly of ALAZKA and Novelists, now fronting the band, TOK have entered an exciting new phase of their career. His arrival has brought a new vocal intensity and attitude to a band already known for constantly challenging the boundaries of modern heavy music, while their renewed sonic and visual identity feels more instinctive, abrasive and fearless than ever before.

Formed in Germany in 2012, The Oklahoma Kid have spent more than a decade carving out their own space within the European heavy scene. Across releases including their debut album Solarray, its ambitious follow-up Tangerine Tragic and 2024’s Featherminded EP, the band have consistently evolved their sound, combining technical precision, crushing heaviness, massive grooves and experimentation rather than settling into conventional metalcore formulas.

Along the way, TOK have shared stages with international heavyweights including Hatebreed, Stick To Your Guns, Carnifex and Evergreen Terrace, establishing themselves as a formidable live act and one of Germany’s most distinctive modern metal exports.

Now, that experience is feeding into something new. Where "SPIT" introduced a darker and more fearless incarnation of the band, "BURNOUT" kicks the door wide open, presenting TOK with renewed focus, aggression and confidence.
No more gods. No more kings. No more chains.

With "BURNOUT," TOK refuse to carry the weight any longer.

TOK LIVE:
10/16 — Hamburg, DE — CONSVMER ABGRUND TOUR
10/18 — Erfurt, DE — CONSVMER ABGRUND TOUR

ARISING EMPIRE MEDIA ALERT: TOK Have A New Release — LISTEN

The new track from TOK aka The Oklahoma Kid marks the first strike of their renewed identity and the beginning of a darker, more confrontational chapter.

With the arrival of Tobias Rische, former singer of Alazka and Novelist, TOK tap into a sharper, more emotionally charged vocal dynamic that instantly reshapes their sound.

"SPIT" channels raw intensity, fractured trust and the moment everything breaks, pairing that energy with a striking early‑2000s aesthetic that underscores the band's shift toward something grittier and more fearless. It’s rupture and reinvention in one hit, a clear signal of where the band is heading next. ​

As one of modern metalcore's most forward‑thinking acts, TOK have built their reputation on precision, creativity, and boundary‑pushing songwriting. They’re kicking off a new chapter with a fresh frontman and a ton of forward drive, and at the same time, they're pulling themselves and their fans straight back 20  years. With a sound and aesthetic shaped by the music they grew up on, they dive back into the early 2000s, right into the breakthrough era of metalcore and the raw energy that defined it. ​

With "SPIT," they channel that momentum into a refreshed vision: Bold, emotional, visually distinct and unmistakably their own, setting the tone for a future defined by evolution and impact. Their entire visual and sonic identity pulls listeners back into a glorified pre‑streaming era, back to a time when everything revolved around the music and the style.