In the ever-evolving world of heavy metal music, few bands manage to strike a perfect balance between unrelenting aggression and raw emotional depth. Hollow Path, the metal-influenced hardcore powerhouse formed in 2020, has done just that with their latest EP, Afterglow.
From the first crushing riff to the final fading note, Afterglow cements Hollow Path’s evolution since their 2023 debut album DROWN. While DROWN was a cathartic plunge into themes of anxiety, depression, and resilience, this new chapter builds on that emotional honesty with even sharper songwriting, heavier dynamics, and moments of atmospheric beauty that hit just as hard as the breakdowns.
The title track, “Afterglow,” has already become the band’s most-streamed song, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a tidal wave of sound, where thunderous riffs and relentless drums collide with lyrics that cut straight to the core. Tracks like “Frail & Fragile” and “Prayers” showcase the band’s ability to weave vulnerability into brutality, while their take on “Wicked Game” is a haunting reinterpretation that feels entirely their own.
What makes Hollow Path stand out isn’t just their musicianship; it’s their ability to make heavy music feel deeply human. They channel the chaos of inner turmoil and the weight of modern life into something that doesn’t just pummel you sonically but invites you in. Their fans don’t just listen; they connect, finding community in the shared struggles and hard-earned hope that pulses through every note.
Since making their live debut in 2022, Hollow Path has built a reputation for high-energy, emotionally charged performances that leave a lasting mark. Sharing stages with the likes of Siamese and Downset, they’ve become a force to be reckoned with in the European hardcore scene – and Afterglow only solidifies that momentum.
For fans of The Ghost Inside, Misery Signals, and For the Fallen Dreams, Hollow Path offers the perfect mix of crushing intensity and melodic clarity. But more than that, they offer authenticity, the kind that makes you scream along not just because it’s heavy, but because it’s real.
Afterglow isn’t just a sign of where Hollow Path is now, it’s a promise of where they’re headed. And if this EP is anything to go by, that path is only getting louder, heavier, and more unforgettable.
