Chicago sludge/doom metal trio SHRINEBURNER are set to make their full-length debut with Hymns Of Despair. Alongside announcing the independently released album, due out on September 11, the band have also unveiled its lead single, "Spectral Cataclysm."

Formed in 2023 by guitarist/vocalist Peter Norman and drummer Brent Favata, SHRINEBURNER quickly carved out a distinct identity within Chicago's metal scene. Built around towering layers of riffs, hypnotic repetition, and a crushing wall-of-sound approach, the band expanded into a three-piece following last year's Solitude EP. With CJ Johnson joining on bass and Edward Hamel taking over on drums, the group's musical vision has grown into something broader and more dynamic.

Inline image

On Hymns Of Despair, SHRINEBURNER explores bleak themes such as existential anxiety, societal collapse, and criticism of organized religion, while maintaining a strong melodic core. The band enriches its crushing doom/sludge foundation with psychedelic, cosmic, and black metal influences, creating a sound that balances overwhelming heaviness with unexpectedly emotional—and at times even hopeful—moments.

Serving as the album's first preview, "Spectral Cataclysm" offers an early glimpse into the band's more open-ended songwriting approach. The track offsets its steadily building dynamics with melodic clean-vocal passages, creating a deliberate contrast between its bleak lyrical themes and its uplifting musical elements.

Inline image

The album was recorded and mixed by Matt Russell at Altered States in Chicago, while drummer Edward Hamel handled the mastering. Cover artwork was created by Joshua Hondros.

Hymns Of Despair will be released independently on September 11 in digital and CD formats, with a vinyl edition planned for a later date. The band is also expected to unveil additional singles and video content in the lead-up to the album's release.

https://linktr.ee/shrineburner

https://shrineburner.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/shrineburnerband

https://www.facebook.com/shrineburnerchicago

https://www.youtube.com/@Shrineburner