After several years of silence, Vancouver metalcore quintet Bastian emerge from a prolonged hiatus with “Currents,” their first new material since a life-altering motorcycle accident forced the band to stop.
The single marks the beginning of a new chapter for a group composed of members with roots in Angelmaker, Carcosa, Fall City Fall, Callahan/Machines, and Take The Earth Beneath Us.
Written during the pandemic, “Currents” captures the emotional stagnation and sense of futility that vocalist Johnny Cairdullo witnessed in people close to him. “It was really difficult watching the people I loved most around me struggle with their self-worth whilst questioning their purpose,” he said. “This song is meant to be a love letter to those who feel like they are in an irreparable rut that feels endless, like they aren’t good enough to fulfill their passions. We’re here to tell you you’re wrong.”
The track will appear on the band’s upcoming EP Impressions, a record built around Rorschach imagery, both thematically and visually. Guitarist Chris Revill explains: “The interpretation of the different imagery is fluid and is driven by the observer’s mind, making each ‘Impression’ open-ended and unique to each set of eyes, much like how each song on our EP is its own capsule and unique to the listening ear.”
The band pairs chaotic instrumentation with melody and atmosphere, drawing inspiration from acts like Architects, Norma Jean, Explosions in the Sky, and even Hans Zimmer. Mixed and mastered by Ty Kingston and engineered alongside Tim Creviston, “Currents” was brought to life visually by director Connor Gilkinson and Ravencraft Creative, with production support from Julian Morgan of True Bear Imagery.
The lyrics lean into mental claustrophobia and emotional inertia—lines like “Is this beyond repair or just out of reach?” and “Built up these walls with no slivers of light” frame the internal struggle as something both fragmented and cyclical. But the refrain carries a different tone: “You’re built for more / Embrace this storm.” The balance between despair and resilience is sharp and deliberate.
For Bastian, Impressions marks a recalibration. A new body of work shaped by survival, distance, and reassembly. “We’re finally ready to make our return and we’re very excited about this next chapter of the band,” they said.
