Perth-based melodic metalcore/post-hardcore outfit GlassCastles are set to unleash their long-awaited debut EP Digital:Heart, led by the emotionally charged single “Gravestones.” For a band that only emerged in 2024, the release already feels like a statement of intent, one that cements their reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting new heavy acts.
From the outset, GlassCastles have built their identity on a fusion of crushing riffs, cinematic atmospheres, and emotional honesty. Drawing from touchstones like Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, and Linkin Park, the band are as comfortable delivering face-melting breakdowns as they are crafting soaring melodic choruses. That duality has already earned them recognition: from a slot at the Parkway Drive Pre-Show Party to supporting Behind Crimson Eyes on their farewell run, and winning over live crowds with blistering energy and carefully synchronised visuals.
Their recorded output has been just as impactful. Breakout single “Ghost” quickly racked up over 10,000 streams in six weeks, while follow-up “The End of Us” debuted at #3 on Spotify’s Pulse chart in Houston, proving their reach extends far beyond the Australian heavy scene.
Now, with Digital:Heart, GlassCastles sharpen their vision into a six-track exploration of digital decay, disconnection, and the silent battles of mental health. Frontman Aaron draws deeply from his own experiences with depression and anxiety, threading raw vulnerability through walls of guitars and sweeping synths. The EP is as much about catharsis as it is about confrontation, shining a light on the cracks beneath the polished façade of modern life.
Lead single “Gravestones” encapsulates that ethos with haunting precision. Anchored by a modern twist on a nu-metal riff and a cathartic chorus, the song carries the weight of hopelessness in a world obsessed with materialism and image. First penned by Aaron four years ago, the track was reimagined in the studio with Grant and Scott layering guitars and a dramatic overhaul of the synth textures, transforming it into a brooding anthem that sets the emotional tone of the record.
“‘Gravestones’ is a song that reflects feeling hopeless and unable to measure up to expectations in a world fixated on materialism and image,” Aaron explains, a statement that cuts to the heart of the band’s mission.
Across the EP, GlassCastles flex their knack for dense electronic soundscapes, anthemic hooks, and punishing breakdowns, crafting songs that feel both devastating and uplifting. Their sound is big, ambitious, and cinematic, an immersive world where vulnerability meets ferocity.
With international momentum building, festival stages on the horizon, and a debut release that connects deeply with the fragility of life in a digital age, Digital:Heart is more than just a breakthrough moment. It’s proof that GlassCastles are poised to become one of Australia’s most vital heavy exports, a band capable of turning pain into something powerful and despair into something undeniably alive.
