Official press release:
US metalcore quintet Foreword have announced their new EP Exposition, due for release on 20th February via Seek and Strike, alongside the reveal of its first single and video, “Intimate Torment”.
New single ‘Intimate Torment’ sets the emotional tone for the EP. Raw and unflinchingly honest, the track showcases Foreword’s ability to balance weight and atmosphere while exploring deeply personal lyricism. The video reflects that same intent, stripping things back visually to focus on performance and the discomfort at the heart of the song. The band said of it:
“For the ‘Intimate Torment’ video, we made a very intentional decision to keep things simple. The idea was to introduce a newer color palette for the band while letting the lyrics do the heavy lifting. Instead of distracting visuals, the focus stayed on the members’ performances and emotion, giving the song space to feel as raw as it’s meant to be.”
Watch the video for “Intimate Torment” here:
Often cited as a modern embodiment of classic early-2000s metalcore, Foreword lean fully into that lineage on Exposition but with sharpened edges and a wider sonic lens. Across the EP, crushing rhythm-driven foundations collide with layered synths, cinematic atmospheres and moments of restraint that allow the heaviness to hit harder.
Foreword comment on the EP:
“This EP carries a particularly personal weight for us as a band. It represents a moment where we allowed ourselves to fully lean into the sounds, textures and influences that have shaped us over the years, while still pushing our identity forward. A major source of inspiration came from modern gaming soundtracks, most notably titles like DOOM and Cyberpunk 2077, which encouraged us to think more cinematically and atmospherically in our writing.
Exposition was recorded with producer Cory Brunnemann (Nonpoint, Upon A Burning Body, Zahna), whose collaborative approach played a key role in shaping the EP’s cohesive identity. Departing from their more prescriptive methods of the past, Foreword placed a higher level of trust in the studio process, allowing ideas to evolve organically. The band explain:
“We brought Cory a wide range of ambitious and sometimes unconventional ideas. His ability to translate our more chaotic and abstract concepts into something focused, impactful and consistent elevated the songs beyond what we feel we could have achieved on our own.”
Lyrically, Exposition is rooted in self-reflection and internal conflict, documenting moments of doubt, frustration, guilt and emotional tension that were still unresolved as the songs were written. Rather than offering closure, the EP exists in that uneasy middle ground capturing vulnerability as it happens, not after the fact.
The result is an EP that feels immersive and deeply honest, one that expands Foreword’s sound while preserving the intensity and emotion at their core. For fans of Paleface Swiss, I Prevail, Landmvrks and modern metalcore that blends aggression with mood and accessibility, Exposition marks a significant and compelling evolution.
Pre-save Exposition here.
Exposition EP track listing:
- “Shepard to the Black Sheep”
- “Am I Dreaming (Wide-Awake)”
- “Hunger Sickness”
- “Read Between the Lines”
- “Intimate Torment”
- “Self-Immolate”
