Varials
About
Balance occurs in the midst of extremes. Varials seamlessly alternate between moments of crushing power and melodic poise, unlocking harmony in the middle of opposite poles. The Philadelphia quintet—Mitchell Rogers [vocals], Mike Foley [bass], James Hohenwarter [guitar], Shane Lyons [guitar], and Sean Rauchut [drums], continue to sharpen this signature style with searing intensity, uncontainable energy, and uncompromising creativity. After amassing tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from Decibel, Revolver, and Alternative Press, to name a few, the band deliver controlled chaos like never before on their third full-length album for Fearless Records Scars For You To Remember.
“We’re writing heavy songs that are catchy and structured at the same time,” states Mitchell. “It’s not just heavy for the sake of being of heavy or overly pop. We meet somewhere in the middle. Essentially, Varials is the heaviest possible expression of bunch of the band’s cumulative taste,” he grins.
They’ve carefully cultivated this sound over the years. The guys attracted a devout fanbase with Pain Again [2017] and In Darkness [2019]. The latter yielded “Romance,” which amassed 3 million Spotify streams and counting. Of the title track, Decibel raved, “Varials have their own modern spin on hybridizing metal and hardcore into a powerful new amalgam.” Meanwhile, they hit the road with the likes of All That Remains, Wage War, Oceans At Alaska, Kublai Khan, and more. During 2021, Mitchell assumed full vocal duties for the band. Sonically, they nodded to influences as diverse as the Doom videogame soundtrack and Bring Me The Horizon’s Suicide Season.
In order to kick off this next chapter, the band holed up in a remote Pocono Mountain house.
“We were out there for a month-and-a-half,” recalls Mike. “We busted out a ton of songs, and it slowly solidified the direction of the album. In terms of the music, it was a little more chaotic and a little more fast-paced all at once, but we’d grown as songwriters. It was a natural progression for us.”
Upon returning home, they entered a studio in Lancaster, PA with producer Jeff McKinnon, bringing their ideas to life. Now, they introduce the record with the first single “The Cycle of Violence: Chapter 1.” On the track, an ominous staccato riff thrashes above pummeling drums as Mitchell’s guttural scream resounds. The unbridled momentum collides at full force with a clean chorus before snapping back into a bone-breaking groove punctuated by harmonic squeals.
“‘The Cycle of Violence’ helped me write the rest of the album,” Mitchell reveals. “It gave us the direction. It was also the first song I tracked vocals on. It had a lit bit of everything sonically. Lyrically, it’s about being wronged, but turning the tables on the person who wronged you and taking it too far. You’re just starting your own cycle of violence. You’re not putting an end to anything; you’re keeping it going.”
However, “The Cycle of Violence” just hints at the scope of the vision behind the record. The musicians separated this body of work into four chapters.
“The songs signify what the chapters are about,” Mitchell goes on. “They are self-contained sections. Half of the record is heavier, and the other half is more melodic and experimental.”
In the end, Varials achieve balance and make their biggest impact yet.
“This is the culmination of everything we’ve done,” Mike leaves off. “We hope you feel like it was heavy, but damn catchy all at once.”