Heavenfall unveil “Squall-led”, the first single taken from their forthcoming full-length album “Thorn”, set for release on May 15th, 2026 via Rockshots Records.
Founded in 2003 by four teenage friends driven by an urgent need for self-expression, Heavenfall has steadily forged a distinctive identity rooted in classic heavy metal and sharpened by darker, more aggressive inflections. From their debut “Falling From Heaven” to the EP “The Besiders”, the band has progressively refined a language where power and introspection coexist, translating personal struggle into a cohesive artistic vision.
“Squall-led” emerges as a dynamic and tightly structured opener: fast, melodic, and immediately gripping, yet shaped by brooding undertones and reflective passages that reveal the band’s darker, more introspective core. Guided by Dest’s expressive vocal performance and the guitar vision of Pave, the two longstanding pillars of Heavenfall’s identity, the track encapsulates the band’s evolution with clarity, intensity, and emotional weight.
As the band explains, “‘Squall-led’ is the perfect opener for the album: fast and melodic, yet marked by darker and introspective moments. The lyrics encourage learning from mistakes and hard times and from the clarity they may bring – even if it is never easy to read the signs a storm leaves behind.”
Heavenfall’s musical DNA draws from classic heavy and thrash metal foundations while embracing the emotional depth and shadowed atmospheres of bands such as Nevermore, Iced Earth, and Savatage. The band describes its sound as “heavy, introspective, melancholic, personal and poetic”, a definition that finds its most mature expression in “Thorn”.
Produced by Heavenfall with drums recorded by Maurizio Cardullo at Crono Sound Factory and mixed and mastered by Davide Tavecchia at Twilight Studio, the single benefits from a powerful, detailed production that enhances both its aggressive drive and its melodic depth. The album artwork, created by Aaron Bonogofsky, visually reinforces the emotional and conceptual framework of the record.
“Thorn” is conceived as a complex and cathartic journey, an introspective exploration through melancholic melodies, designed to take the audience on a profound emotional path. Heavier, more melodic, and more intricate than the band’s previous works, the album delves into the fragile and unspoken layers of human experience.
With “Squall-led”, Heavenfall open the first chapter of a record that does not merely revisit their roots but deepens them – transforming inner conflict into a resonant and compelling contemporary heavy metal statement.
For fans of: Nevermore, Iced Earth, Savatage
New album “Thorn” out May 15th, 2026
PRE ORDER “Thorn”: https://rockshots.eu/products/heavenfall-thorn-cd
