Toronto-based metalcore band The Northern have just released their second single of 2023. “Hourglass” dropped in January and saw The Northern embracing their more melodic side, with soaring clean vocals in its chorus. Meanwhile, their brand new track “Usurper” is this progressive metalcore band at their most vicious, fuelled by a genuine frustration they’ve had with situations they’ve faced in their creative pursuits.
Drummer Adam Linka reflects on what inspired the song: “‘Usurper’ is a love (hate) letter to the music industry and the ever-changing landscape musicians have to adapt to when dealing with record labels. Specifically sparked by a former record label we had a bad experience with, the song serves as a reminder to artists in any genre to stay true to themselves and remember why they create music in the first place.”
Linka elaborates, saying: “We hit a low point collectively over the pandemic where we had to choose to end things or push back even harder, and we chose the latter. We feel like ‘Usurper’ and the next collection of songs we have recorded are a redefining moment for The Northern. No one can hold us back and we’re not backing down. We can only hope other artists and listeners alike can resonate with this sentiment, and that it helps anyone else doubting their artistic worth and integrity.”
While fans of “Hourglass” and “Usurper” have a lot more to look forward to in terms of upcoming music from The Northern, locals can also expect the chance to catch them live sometime soon. They are currently planning a show for their hometown crowd for sometime in the fall after recently having opened for The Word Alive in London, Ontario.
Stream “Usurper” here and check out the music video below.
