Chicago sludge metal trio Shrineburner premieres new single and music video »Bodies Dragged To Sunlight«; »Hymns Of Despair« out soon!
Chicago, Illinois based sludge/doom metal trio Shrineburner premieres new single and music video »Bodies Dragged To Sunlight« taken from their debut album, »Hymns Of Despair«, set to release on September 11th, 2026.
Tracklist:
01. Void Of Guilt
02. Spectral Cataclysm
03. Bodies Dragged To Sunlight
04. Slow Death Chant
05. An Ocean Of Broken Hope
06. Hymn Of Despair
Courtesy of Earsplit PR:
Decibel Magazine is hosting the exclusive video premiere of »Bodies Dragged To Sunlight«, from Chicago-based sludge metal outfit Shrineburner. The track is found on the band’s monolithic debut album, »Hymns Of Despair«, nearing release on September 11th.
Shrineburner frequently explores dark topics like general worthlessness in a dying world, organized religion being an ever-growing plague, and the general anxieties of existence on the album; however, musically, the band remains melodic, at times even uplifting. These factors are more present than ever before on »Hymns Of Despair«, the album rupturing with emotive devastation; well-felt dregs of hope within an earthmoving flow of brutalizing auditory collapse. This juxtaposition of themes offers listeners a trance-like sensory experience, especially live with the full power of the band’s crushing volume truly endured.
»Hymns Of Despair« was recorded and mixed by Matt Russell at Altered States in Chicago, mastered by Edward Hamel at Identity Mastering, and completed with cover art painted by Joshua Hondros. Fans of Conan, Ufomammut, Amarok, Hush, Evoken, Black Shape Of Nexus, Usnea, and Iron Monkey are advised to hear Shrineburner’s »Hymns Of Despair«.
Photos by Tom Birch
Shrineburner’s first video, »Bodies Dragged To Sunlight« was written and directed by Liam Jennings and Peter Norman and filmed and edited by Liam Jennings.
Norman writes, “This track is brutal, raw, and heavy as nails. Leaving traditional song structure behind, the idea was a song that just kept getting heavier with each part that hits you like a ton of bricks.”
He reveals of the video’s creation, “We had a blast making this video. All DIY over the course of a day-and-a-half and everyone did such an amazing job. Our friend Liam Jennings filmed it and wrote it with me. When I was thinking about who would play the lead, Clinton from mr.phylzzz and Gatta Morta was a no-brainer. The basic idea was a chilling narrative centered around his character with zero budget and limited time, and we’re extremely grateful to all of our friends for putting in work and giving awesome performances.”
Decibel writes, “…»Bodies Dragged To Sunlight« is performed with gusto and melody. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition, especially with the violent music video that accompanies the new song.”
See Shrineburner’s harrowing »Bodies Dragged To Sunlight« video first at Decibel Magazine RIGHT HERE.
The band will independently release »Hymns Of Despair« on September 11th digitally and on CD, with a vinyl pressing to follow later. Find current preorders options where »Spectral Cataclysm« is streaming HERE and digital presaves HERE.
Having played with the likes of Conan, Rifflord, Telekinetic Yeti, Stinking Lizaveta, Modern Life Is War, Minsk, Junius, Aseethe, among others, Shrineburner is currently booking shows in support of the album. A hometown release show for the album has been booked for September 2nd alongside Aseethe and Barren Heir. Expect to see additional live announcements to be posted shortly.
Shrineburner Live:
9/02/2026 Beat Kitchen – Chicago, IL *record release show w/ Aseethe, Barren Heir
Crushing riffs and seething melodies drive the earthquake-inducing trio Shrineburner, spewing forth a sonic glacier of abyssal doom/sludge metal infused with fringes of psychedelic, cosmic, blackened elements. With a heavy focus on music that is constantly building and riffs that mesmerize audiences, the trio has carved out their own niche in Chicago’s ever-present metal scene. Audiences have come to expect a wall of amps, searing guitar and bass tones, heavily stricken drums, and pummeling vocals.
Shrineburner formed in 2023 as a creative outlet for guitarist/vocalist Peter Norman and drummer Brent Favata, focusing heavily on a wall-of-sound approach to mantra-like riff writing. This, coupled with a general disdain for the evils of organized religion, resulted in the 2024 release of their debut EP, »Solitude«.
Eventually opting for a fuller approach, and with Favata’s other projects becoming more demanding, Norman expanded the band to a trio. With the addition of CJ Johnson on bass, and Edward Hamel taking over on drums, 2025 was a big year of growth for Shrineburner. A more dynamic and fleshed-out approach was immediately evident, while still retaining the mantra-like sounds listeners had grown to expect. The group very quickly began to write what would eventually become their first full-length release, which now arrives with »Hymns Of Despair«.
Shrineburner is:
Peter Norman – Guitar, Vocals
Edward Hamel – Drums
CJ Johnson – Bass
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well