RWAKE resurfaces with “The Return of Magik”

After more than a decade of silence, Rwake resurfaces with “The Return of Magik,” a full-length release set to drop on March 14th via Relapse Records. Arkansas’ long-standing purveyors of sludge return with material that has been gestating for years, layering haunting melodies over oppressive, guttural foundations.

Recorded in early 2024 at East End Sounds in Hensley, Arkansas, the album introduces guitarist Austin Sublett into the fold. His angular, progressive leads cut through the dense atmosphere, adding another dimension to Rwake’s already expansive sound.

Opener “You Swore We’d Always Be Together” has already become a staple in live sets, while “Distant Constellations And The Psychedelic Incarceration” sprawls across its runtime with a mix of cruelty and eerie serenity. Moog-driven interludes bleed into syncopated, crushing riffs, while Chris Terry’s vocals and Brittany Fugate’s visceral screams push the material deeper into the abyss.

Alongside the album announcement, the band has released the official video for the title track, directed by Nouvel Photo & Film. The track itself encapsulates the album’s broader theme—an immersive, layered journey through despair and catharsis, refusing to conform to any one genre or expectation.

“The Return of Magik” will be available on CD, LP, and digital formats, with preorders already live at Relapse.com.

Live Dates:

3/14/2025 – Eastside Bowl, Nashville, TN
3/15/2025 – Rev Room, Little Rock, AR (Record Release Show)
4/11/2025 – Bear’s, Shreveport, LA
4/12/2025 – Siberia, New Orleans, LA

Rwake’s signature intensity remains intact, bolstered by a fresh lineup and a renewed sense of purpose. Jeff Morgan returns behind the drum kit, also handling acoustic guitar and 12-string bass duties. Reid Raley’s bass distortion, John Judkins’ layered guitars, and Fugate’s eerie synth textures build a vast and immersive soundscape.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Relapse Records (@relapserecords)

The album features artwork by Loni Gillum of Minerva’s Menagerie, adding a visual representation of the band’s thematic weight. The song “Psychedelic Incarceration” also includes a spoken contribution from Jim “Dandy” Mangrum, recorded on February 17th, 2024, in Black Oak, Arkansas.

For a band that has always blurred the line between doom, sludge, and experimental post-metal, “The Return of Magik” is a continuation of their uncompromising vision. The magik itself may be bleak, but for Rwake, it’s something worth embracing.