Bristol-based three piece Epimetheus announce their debut album, “Perseus 9”, to be released on February 6th, 2026.
Today they share the title track about which the band says:
“‘Perseus 9’ takes the sci-fi setting of being trapped in a never-decaying orbit and recontextualises it into a more personal sense of hopeless cyclicality. With a winding, interlocking riff and exploratory structure, it’s an indication of what’s to come from its namesake album”.
Watch the official visualizer for new single “Perseus 9” below.
The difference between heaviness and aggression is crucial when entering Epimetheus’ orbit. The sound of Epimetheus is crafted via heady repetition, churning basslines and unexpected melodic hooks which drift in and out of the noise. “The kind of people that come to our shows will appreciate the fact that the guitar sounds like a train derailment”, says Cillian. “Our tone is a huge focus – that element is very present in our identity. People often ask how we do it with just the three of us”.
Embarking on a debut album would not have been possible without the open-mindedness of Bristol audiences, and the chameleonic nature of the band. Staples of the local scene, they often found themselves on the same bill as bands of other genres. “I think that’s kind of informed some of the album, in a way”, says Ben. “Because we were coming at this with the knowledge that we’d be playing this music in front of all kinds of people, not necessarily metalheads”.
The balancing act between being approachable for a more general audience and remaining heavy has resulted in a sound which draws melody from within the mix, a thick wash of shuddering guitar and mantric basslines serve as an inescapable cyclone from which Ben’s vocals emerge like dust particles floating through nebula.
Tracklist:
1. Earthbound
2. Coalesce
3. Drift Beyond
4. Held No More
5. Perseus 9
6. Calling
7. Terraform
In keeping with the raw quality of their renowned live shows, “Perseus 9” was recorded live in practice rooms using a small flight-case with a total of 16 inputs – just enough for the drums, room mics and two guitars to go simultaneously. “We wanted to make something that sounds exactly like we do live”, says Cillian. Engineering duties were performed by Stan Braddock in the room, and then mastering was handled by Conan alumnus Chris Fielding.
When it comes to lyrics, the band take inspiration from pulpy sci-fi writers from the 1970s, with Philip K. Dick being a key influence. Primary lyricist Ben comments that he wanted the sci-fi influence “to be a vehicle to address more real things”, citing themes of betrayal, grief, and dreams as cornerstones of the record. Each song has a scene to set – from the very first moments of the album there’s a sense of narrative with the opening line, “Warning – system fail”. But the song ends with imagery of earth and stars, and the curious open-ended note of “And now they’re waiting”, the specific and vast transpiring side by side.
“All of the songs on the surface are like little nuggets of sci-fi, either a story or a vibe. But one of the reasons why sci fi is such a great genre is because it taps into so many normal things”, adds James. “It has relatability without being relatable”.
Epimetheus will play an album launch show at Exchange in Bristol on 7th February. Tickets can be purchased here.
Line-up:
Ben Price – Vocals, bass
Cillian Breathnach – Guitar
James Jackson – Drums, vocals
Weblinks:
www.instagram.com/epimetheusdoom
epimetheusdoom.bandcamp.com
