Exclusive premiere: Industrial sludge metal band Worst Ones releases new single/video »Deny Reality« about a society driven by ignorance!
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based industrial sludge metal duo Worst Ones premiere new single and music video »Deny Reality« ahead of its official release on September 30th, 2025.
»Deny Reality« will also appear on a compilation »Abolish ICE« featuring Philadelphia-area metal, hardcore and punk bands like Sunrot, Boozewa, SOJI, Detox Meds, Get Well and many more.
Pre-save »Deny Reality« at this location!
Courtesy of The Metallist PR:
Philadelphia’s industrial sludge metallers WORST ONES are ready to come back with a new powerful single, entitled »Deny Reality«. Slated for release on September 30th on the main digital streaming platforms, »Deny Reality« channels the bleak pulse of Godflesh, the twisted hooks of Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, and the sample-driven chaos of Skinny Puppy, creating something both claustrophobic and hypnotic.
»Deny Reality« is a mid-tempo industrial sludge anthem built on relentless electronic percussion and skittering hi-hats that slice through layers of noise loops. The guitars have been shredded, resampled, and reconstructed into something ripped and inhuman. A towering chorus cuts through the haze, while a crushing breakdown in the middle drags the listener deeper into heaviness.
Lyrically, »Deny Reality« confronts the culture of willful ignorance that has metastasized into complicity. Lines like “Cast out your empathy, behold your tragedy” and “My nightmares are dreams, you deny reality” attack the blindness that sustains power and allows violence to thrive. The song reflects a world where denial has become survival, even as that denial drives us toward collapse. In its imagery of poisoned breath, hollow faith, and the erasure of empathy, the track positions ignorance not as escape but as the very engine of destruction.
In addition to its digital release, »Deny Reality« will appear on »Abolish ICE«, a compilation CD of Philadelphia-area metal, hardcore, and punk bands. The CD features 16 artists, including Trunk, L.M.I., Sunrot, Boozewa, SOJI, Detox Meds, and Get Well. Copies are available from the bands in exchange for donations to Juntos, a community-led Latine immigrant rights organization based in Philadelphia. Through this release, WORST ONES aligns its music with direct action, using its sound as both protest and support for those most affected by systemic oppression. With »Deny Reality«, the band continues the mission of turning noise into resistance. The result is not just another sludge anthem, but a dirge for a society choking on its own denial and a demand to confront the truth, no matter how unbearable.
»Deny Reality« was written and recorded by Drew Ew and Doppelganga. Mixed and mastered by Jared Birdseye. Promo Photography by Luz Sanchez. Live photography by Vinny Barreras. Cover and logo by Drew Ew except “deathmetallogo” by Darren Adcock. Music video by Worst Ones and Luz Sanchez.
About:
From the nasty streets of Philadelphia, WORST ONES rises as a formidable industrial sludge metal juggernaut. Formed in 2016 by vocalist/guitarist Drew Ew, the project began as a raw expression of unbridled emotion, blending the mechanical grind of industrial metal with the slow, crushing weight of sludge. In 2018, the addition of Doppelganga – a maestro of industrial soundscapes and electronic percussion – transformed WORST ONES into a sonic powerhouse. Together, the duo crafts a unique blend of distorted guitars, thunderous electronic drums, and hip-hop-inspired production techniques like sampling and drum programming.
Their journey began with early recordings produced by Dan Kishbaugh (An Albatross, Vektor, Die Choking), leading to features on Suicide Bong’s »Killed by Philadelphia Vol. 1« and a series of digital singles later compiled by Black Monk Records on cassette. The standout track »Found Out« earned critical attention from New Noise, WXPN, Spill Magazine, and AltPress Discover, solidifying their place in the underground music scene.
WORST ONES has continually evolved, and their recent work demonstrates an unrelenting creative drive. In the past year, theyʼve released a trilogy of hardhitting singles – »Broken Cost«, »Love Bomb«, and »Web Of Lies«. These tracks showcase their ability to combine crushing riffs, industrial rhythms, and hypnotic electronic layers, offering fans a visceral and dynamic listening experience. The singles have received recognition from underground music blogs, playlists, and streaming platforms, further expanding their reach beyond the local scene. Over the years, the duo has also released a string of notable works, including »Is It Worth It?«, which premiered on Decibel Magazineʼs blog, and Badman.
Tracks like Born of Pain, Black Hole Baby, and Funeral Flowers earned widespread acclaim, with features on Indie Nation, Weedian, and Lone Frequencies, alongside placements on numerous Spotify playlists. The Badman remix album, featuring collaborations with artists like Super Thief, Das Black Milk, and Jordyn, further highlighted the bandʼs versatility and innovative approach to their sound. Combined with visually striking music videos and dynamic live performances, WORST ONES delivers an intense, boundary-pushing experience that reverberates far beyond Philadelphia. With resilience, adaptability, and an unapologetic sound, WORST ONES continues to carve their own path in industrial metal.
WORST ONES is:
Drew Ew – Vocals, Guitar, Programming
Doppleganga – Drums, Programming
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Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well