From Left to Right: Matt Ensor – Lead Guitar & backing vocals, Matt Pawlowski – Drums, The Antidote – Vocals, C.T. Duncan – Rhythm Guitar
Powerful, catchy, melodic death metal, metalcore, and groove metal merchants Recurrence return with a vengeance. “Unpopular Demand” is the latest blistering single from their forthcoming sophomore album, Art of Survival, due November 5, 2025. Inspired by V for Vendetta, “Unpopular Demand” is an anthem for the underdogs, individuals, and those who are unafraid to go against the grain. The band is joined on the fast, vicious track by the legendary Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork, Night Flight Orchestra, Disarmonia Mundi, Act Of Denial). Watch the video and stream the song now!
“It was a dream come true to be able to work with Björn Strid on this song,” says Recurrence frontman Alex “The Antidote” Bastiat. “He was one of my main inspirations to become a vocalist so many years ago, so being able to have him on this track and in the music video is an honor.
“This song is one of the more rebellious lyrically on the new album,” he adds. “And there is certainly a lot of Soilwork influence musically as well, so I think a lot of people will enjoy it.”
Along with Strid, guitarists Matt Ensor and C.T. Duncan, drummer Matt Pawlowski, and The Antidote are joined by a host of New Wave Of Swedish Death Metal luminaries who appear as guests on Art of Survival. These include Peter Wichers (ex-Soilwork), former Meshuggah touring guitarist Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry), and Sebastian “Seppo” Lindgren (The Duskfall), along with fan-favorite American vocalist Becca aka Bec Hollcraft.
An ambitious blend of melodic death metal, crushing breakdowns, and electronic elements designed to push boundaries, Art of Survival also features authentic South American folk elements, performed by Ecuadorian musicians Andrés Villagomez and David Misael Pozo Bastidas.
Like the band’s 2023 debut, The Exit, Art of Survival was mixed and mastered by Jean-Francois “J-F” Dagenais (Despised Icon, Malevolent Creation, Kataklysm). The French-Canadian Juno Award-winning producer and musician is, of course, also the longtime guitarist for Kataklysm.
Earlier this year, the band released a cinematic video for the album’s first single, “Remember Who The Enemy Is,” which drew inspiration from dystopian fiction, most notably The Hunger Games.
“We created something very special with this album, and we want to make sure we do all we can for the world to hear it. Although it is a lot darker musically and lyrically than The Exit, the album is still very much inspiring,” The Antidote promises. “It’s about overcoming suffering and learning from failure. We really pushed ourselves to create something unique in the metal world.”
Art of Survival arrives November 5, 2025, on YYMBR Records.
You can catch Recurrence live at the following dates, with more shows TBA:
August 24 – Dayton, OH @ Blind Bob’s
August 30 – Canton, OH @ The Dive Bar (Karma Social Lounge)
September 13 – Cleveland, OH @ The Brothers Lounge
September 20 – Cincinnati, OH @ Oddfellows Liquor Bar
September 21 – Lexington, KY @ GirlsGirlsGirls Burritos
September 27 – Memphis, TN @ Havenhaus
October 4 – Huntsville, AL @ Maggie Meyer’s Irish Pub
October 10 – Ann Arbor, MI @ Ziggy’s
October 12 – Cincinnati, OH @ Dsgn Cllctv
October 25 – Jasper, AL @ The Guild
November 1 – Chattanooga, TN @ TBA
November 7 – Cincinnati, OH @Chemtopia*
November 8 – Akron, OH @Buzzbin*
November 15 – Milwaukee, WI @ TBA
November 22 – TN @ TBA
More dates TBA!
*Album Release Shows
Art of Survival Track list:
1. Rise From Nothing
2. Cover the Sun
3. Let Us Prey (featuring Per Nilsson)
4. The World Is a Womb, The World Is a Grave
5. Boundaries
6. Unpopular Demand (featuring Björn “Speed” Strid)
7. Dreams & Numbers
8. The Strategy
9. Remember Who the Enemy Is
10. Forever and Never (featuring Bec Hollcraft)
11. The Duskfall (For All Humanity)
12. Art of Survival (featuring Peter Wichers)
13. SOS
Watch the Video of “Remember Who The Enemy is”
via Decibel Magazine here
Recurrence is:
Alex “The Antidote” Bastiat – vocals
Matt Ensor – lead guitar, backing vocals
C.T. Duncan – rhythm guitar
Matt Pawlowski – drums
Follow Recurrence:
https://www.recurrence.band
https://www.youtube.com/@recurrenceordie
https://recurrence.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/recurrenceordie
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0n1h1hj31JTc5KDqco4sig
https://x.com/recurrence
https://www.facebook.com/RecurrenceOrDie
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