MORALE CHANNEL PEAK 2000s ALT-METAL NOSTALGIA ON “ERASE”

Morale are an alt-rock and nu-metal band from Guildford, England, making music together since 2018 and steadily carving out their sound through a string of singles over the years. Following killer tracks like “Left For Dead” and “Mirrors,” the band returned on September 4 with a massive new song called “Erase.” Better yet, “Erase” is just the beginning. The track serves as the first taste of Morale’s forthcoming debut album, with more details expected to be announced soon.

At its core, “Erase” is about desperately trying to bury whatever you’re going through, only to realize it refuses to stay buried. That darkness hangs over the track from the beginning, as the verses slowly build tension before exploding into a huge, melodic chorus.

Sonically, there’s a little bit of everything we loved about heavy alternative music in the 2000s. Think the atmospheric pull of Deftones, the emotional weight of Chester Bennington-era Linkin Park and the brooding post-grunge heaviness of Breaking Benjamin. Morale pull from that era without making “Erase” feel like a cheap nostalgia trip, giving those influences enough of their own identity to keep things fresh.

Just when you think you have the song figured out, Morale drop a spectacular breakdown at the bridge that makes you want to immediately find three friends, clean out the garage and start a band.

Honestly, Morale give off 2005 older brother-core in the best possible way. “Erase” makes you want to call up your brother, fire up some OG Call of Duty, crack open a Mountain Dew Code Red and start digging through your dad’s old CD collection looking for something loud enough to piss off the neighbors.

It’s gloomy, nostalgic, heavy and ridiculously catchy.

Go stream this absolute banger now.