HRTLSS - Visceral and affecting. ‘To Dust’ marks the band’s cathartic rebirth. INTERVIEWED

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Category: news
Updated: 22nd September 2025
Written by Bryony Mezzatesta
HRTLSS - Visceral and affecting. ‘To Dust’ marks the band’s cathartic rebirth. INTERVIEWED

Cambridge alt-metal outfit HRTLSS have been putting down roots on the periphery of the scene for some time now, honing their craft, deep diving into a very personal introspection. Last year saw them take up a coveted support slot with Mallory Knox, joining them for several dates on their anniversary tour. A bold move that put them before the ideal audience, thus developing a solid fan base and receiving attention from BBC Radio 1’s Alyx Holcombe and Forever Loud.

This month sees the release of the band’s new single To Dust- a bold fusion of metal and dark R&B which explores cycles of self-destruction, blistering self-awareness and the impact of toxic behaviours on relationships. With this genre blurring approach, affecting subject matter and an image that sparks intrigue and captivation, prospects for the future look powerful for this band.

Great to grab a moment to chat with you guys again, it seems like forever since we last spoke during your live debut with Mallory Knox last year, and you’ve been quietly working away since then on what looks like something of an epic rebirth. How has the past year been for you?

Great to catch up with you again!

I can honestly say, on behalf of all the guys, it feels incredible to be back after what feels like a lifetime away. Over that time, we’ve been refining our sound, our image, and ultimately building a whole world around HRTLSS, through music, story, and visuals, something that truly sets us apart in a crowded scene. It’s not easy, but like you said, this really is an epic rebirth, and it’s all ours. I couldn’t be prouder of how far we’ve come.

From the outside, it might seem like HRTLSS has been around for a while, born in lockdown as an experimental SoundCloud project. But in truth, it wasn’t until 2023 that we became a real band, deciding to go at this full throttle. Since then, the progress has been huge, and over the past year especially, we’ve come on leaps and bounds.

To Dust’ is stunning. Congratulations. How does it feel now that it’s out there for your fans?

Thank you! This release feels different from everything we’ve put out before. For the first time, it feels like the band is being taken as seriously as we take ourselves. And I don’t say that to sound boring or pretentious, it’s just the truth. We pour so much care and attention into this project, and now it finally feels like the industry is holding space for us in a way that reflects that. Ultimately, To Dust is the true beginning for this band.

For those who have never encountered HRTLSS before, could you describe your style and the influences that have shaped you?

Something that has followed us for a while now is the comparison, “The Weeknd but rock,” or “The Weeknd meets Bad Omens.” And honestly, people aren’t wrong. There are huge dark R&B influences running through our music.

When Adam (our guitarist) and I first started HRTLSS, it was just a SoundCloud project. We weren’t writing metal, we were making Weeknd-style beats and dark R&B tracks. Even though all of us grew up on metal, I went through (and still go through) a phase of loving artists like The Weeknd, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Jhené Aiko, Bryson Tiller, and more. Eventually, though, my true roots crept back in—and so did Adam’s. That’s when we decided to take those influences and fuse them with metal.

From there, we brought in James on bass and Freddy on drums, and that’s how HRTLSS truly became what it is today. That unique pop/R&B-metal sound comes from the very foundation the band was built on.

The accompanying visuals for the single are pretty special. Who did you work on this with? Tell us about the vision you had for the project.

We knew we needed the best in the game to bring this visual world to life, and who better than Mr. Zak Pinchin. I honestly couldn’t speak more highly of him. We go way back to being kids at metal shows in the Peterborough area, and since then, he’s gone on to become one of the most talented directors out there. As soon as I pitched him the new music, he was all in, committed to being part of the team and helping us take these projects to the next level.

You’re playing with Nevertel in October. Do you have anything special planned for the show?

We are! Love those guys. At the show, we’ll be playing our full live catalogue, including To Dust, and debuting our next single, which drops at the end of the year. On top of that, we’ll have an exclusive run of merch … the first ever official HRTLSS drop, available only at this show.

What does the future look like for HRTLSS?

I think we all share the same ultimate goal in this band: for HRTLSS to succeed.

For some of us, that means touring, growing our fanbase, and eventually stepping up to headline status. For others, it’s about the music itself, becoming a truly unique band that makes undeniable records.

For me, it’s all of the above. The music is everything, but so is the journey, continuing to grow and creating memories with the three guys I’ve come to love working alongside. True satisfaction will come when we’re out on tour with one of our childhood heroes, or when we release an album that charts. Until we have two or three great albums out, I won’t feel done. That hunger is what will keep this band pushing forward.

HRTLSS will appear live next supporting rock/hip hip fusion band Nevertel this October. Tickets HERE ‘To Dust’ is available to stream now.


Photo Credit Adrienn Rusz