The Wind Covenant announce new EP ‘Hiraeth’

January 13, 2024 James Weaver

THE WIND COVENANT have announced a new EP!

Titled Hiraeth, the upcoming EP from the Italian progressive metalcore band is the follow-up to 2022’s Conjuration, and is scheduled to be released in March this year, via Seek & Strike.

Speaking about the new EP, the band says, “one of the most enjoyable aspects of being a band, for us, is engaging in creative and inspiring writing sessions together. When we began the writing process for Hiraeth, our primary goal was to craft a collection of songs that felt uniquely exciting to us. With this EP, our focus was on creating a solemn, melancholic, and heart-wrenching vibe. We aimed to blend elements from various genres reflecting our musical backgrounds, including melodic hardcore, black-gaze and classical music, while expanding on our metal-core and death-core roots. The new songs place less emphasis on riffs – although they remain a significant part of our sound – instead, they serve more as a frame than a centrepiece. Throughout the writing and production process, we deliberately prioritised the emotion behind the songs as our guiding compass. This intentional shift resulted in a more personal and unique outcome.”

Alongside the announcement of the new EP, THE WIND COVENANT have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming EP; The Wonders We Leave Behind. Speaking about the new song and its accompanying music video, the band says, “the EP’s lead single/video is for The Wonders We Leave Behind, which holds a special meaning for us. It’s a reflection on the process of letting go of things that were once right for you, but no longer feel that way. At its core, the song explores themes of self-understanding, acceptance, closure and personal transformation. It delves into the idea that when the passion for something that once felt like your life’s purpose fades, it’s okay to change your path. Closing one chapter and starting a new one, no matter how hard or long you’ve worked for it, can be the right choice, even if it’s difficult – and ultimately worth it. The songwriting process was very organic and was initially centred around the chorus, the heart of the song. We first came up with the chord progression on a piano and then wrote the chorus melody effortlessly on top of it. From there, everything else flowed naturally, maintaining focus on the lyrical concept and the haunting, yet hopeful musical atmosphere we aimed to convey.

Our main goal is to guide listeners through an emotive journey, inviting them to appreciate not only the genre essentials (impactful breakdowns and riffs), but also the deeply personal lyrics, unique sound elements, melodic intricacies and a solemn mood that transcends genres. If you’re looking for a band that brings a different flavour to the scene, we encourage you to give us a listen.”

Watch the official music video for The Wonders We Leave Behind here: