Since forming in 2023, Bristol based Split Chain – vocalist Roberto Martinez-Cowles, guitarists Oli Bowles and Jake Reid, bassist Tom Davies and drummer Aaron Black – have been busy making waves with their brazen mixture of shoe gaze and nu metal influences that they call “nu-gaze”. Backed by a handful of self-released tracks amassing 10 Million streams to date, their organic momentum has led them to a home with Epitaph Records as they continue to extend their global reach.
After teaming up to quietly release the energetic rager, “Haven” back in June – described by The Alternative as the band’s “heaviest yet”– the quintet are sharing their second single under the label, “(Re)-Extract” featuring Softcult out today. A reconstruction of an early Split Chain release, the darkly melodic track immerses you in a densely layered arrangement of droning guitars and thundering drums thatgive way to melancholic verses and a hypnotic hook.
Inspired by the band’s experiences with addiction, they explain, “It’s so easy to get stuck in negative spirals, admitting defeat and accepting it as part of you and your personality; when in fact it is possible to find a way out.” Check out the accompanying music video below, directed and edited by the band themselves:
“We’ve always been drawn to artists who push boundaries and create something truly unique,” label owner and founder Brett Gurewitz comments on the signing. “Split Chain captures the spirit of innovation with their sound, blending raw emotion and sonic textures in a way that’s fresh and powerful. We’re excited to welcome them to the Epitaph family.”
On today’s announcement the band enthuses, “we could never even imagine we’d be in the position we’re in today; we are just in so much shock. Epitaph is a label that we all grew up with and found new music through, which had such an impact on all of our lives. We could not be more thankful to the team at Epitaph for taking a chance on us.”
Re-creating this track felt like a full-circle moment for the members of Split Chain: “Being able to look back now and be proud of knowing that facing up to ourselves, making life changing decisions to better our circumstances through our friendships and our art, and for this to be able to get us all to a place we’d only dream of is mind boggling.”
Formed as a creative outlet while on the road to recovery from addiction, the band members came together and cemented a deep bond over the healing power of music. By channeling their personal struggles into emotionally charged songs, they have connected with a growing fan base drawn to their vulnerability and honesty. “We were writing music as an escape, a distraction, to create what we wanted to listen to,” the band explains. “We ended up loving what we had created so much, and from this, Split Chain was formed.”
Split Chain on tour
w/ Boston Manor + Trophy Eyes
SEPTEMBER
18: NOTTINGHAM Rock City
19: MANCHESTER O2 Ritz
20: LEEDS Project House
22: GLASGOW SWG3
24: BRISTOL SWX
25: SOUTHAMPTON Engine Rooms
26: BIRMINGHAM XOYO
27: LONDON O2 Forum Kentish Town
