Progressive symphonic metal band SCARDUST is thrilled to announce the release of their new studio album ‘Souls,’ out now via Frontiers Music Srl.
To celebrate the launch of the new album, SCARDUST is hosting a one-night-only interactive livestream party today at 6:30 pm BST. The band will be joined by Ross Jennings (Haken) and other guests for a live Q&A, exclusive videos, behind-the-scenes stories, and a special acoustic performance. Join the livestream HERE.
The focus track “Long Forgotten Song,” along with an official visualizer, is also available now.
The band commented:
“Time and again, we find ourselves drawn back to the same old lore – melodies that still echo, stories that left red marks on our skin. ‘Long Forgotten Song’ is about the people, moments, and memories that linger, no matter how many decades go by. Though time fades and grows numb, their presence remains.
“This attic holds a tale of the past – a quiet symphony of memories. Look closely: every item in the video connects to a different part of our journey. How many can you recognize?”
Watch the Visualizer for “Long Forgotten Song” HERE
SCARDUST commented on the new album by saying:
“’Souls‘ is a deep personal journey for us, combining everything from intricate progressive elements to sweeping symphonic passages, anthemic choruses, and epic choirs. This album is a milestone for the band. It contains the SCARDUST DNA while experimenting with different writing and composing methods, involving every single musician in the band, resulting in the creation of the next evolution of our sound and pushing the boundaries of what we can express through music.
“Thematically we’ve explored ideas of memory, belonging, loss, and the desire for connection, weaving in influences from different musical worlds, including orchestral, Mediterranean, and even Celtic sounds”, they added. “’Souls‘ is our most ambitious album to date, incorporating SCARDUST’s signature technical musicianship, and featuring the Hellscore choir and a string quartet throughout the entire album, plus guest appearances from some international top-tier musicians like Ross Jennings (Haken), Ally Storch (Subway to Sally), a Turkish orchestra, and the TLV orchestra. It’s bold, it’s emotional, and we hope it resonates deeply wherever it is heard.”
With the release of the band’s first EP, ‘Shadow‘ (2015), and the release of their first full-length LP, ‘Sands of Time‘ (2017), SCARDUST positioned them as a promising newcomer in the new progressive metal scene. They rapidly rose to the top of the local metal scene, selling out shows and opening for the likes of Symphony X, Therion, and Epica, and started touring overseas playing festivals and headline shows in Germany, China, and the UK, as well as continuing to headline shows and festivals at home.
From the beginning, the band strove for exceptional artistic and instrumental achievement at the highest level, and Noa Gruman’s voice captivates her listeners whether with its gentle purity, operatic power, or guttural growls.
Despite the challenges of COVID-19, 2020 saw the release of their sophomore album ‘Strangers,‘ accompanied by seven self-produced music videos. Described by Dead Rhetoric as “captivating from start to finish”, ‘Strangers‘ introduced a unique concept album built on complementary song pairs, earning strong critical and fan acclaim.
2022 started on a high note with the visit of folk star Patty Gurdy, who joined SCARDUST for a live show in Israel and filmed the band’s most viewed video to date, “Concrete Cages.” That summer, the band headlined multiple shows across Europe, performing to packed arenas at Wacken Open Air & Dong Open Air where they earned the praise of Testament’s Steve Di Giorgio, who, on hearing the band from backstage, ran out front and watched the entire set “mesmerised.”
The year concluded with the release of the dramatic one-shot video “Evolution Of The Disney – But She’s METAL” in which Noa weaves her way through a magical metal arrangement of all the best-known Disney Princess songs.
2023 saw SCARDUST release “Game Of Now,” a cinematic piece set in a futuristic dystopian live show, play festivals and concerts across Europe, and join power metal legends Blind Guardian on tour. The year culminated in the signing of a major multi-album deal with Frontiers Records, heralding the release of the highly anticipated album ‘Souls.’
December 2024 saw the release of “My Haven” from ‘Souls,’ followed by “RIP,” “Unreachable,” and “Dazzling Darkness.” With 2024 being taken up with writing and recording ‘Souls,’ it wasn’t until early 2025 that they were able to announce that Ross Jennings (Haken) was guesting on the album and was to join the band for a headline show, resulting in the epic Touch of Life video.
Alongside SCARDUST’s rise, Noa Gruman’s metal choir, Hellscore, has been gaining significant recognition. Known for their unique a cappella renditions of metal classics, they have collaborated with renowned artists and bands such as Epica, Therion, Amorphis, and Alestorm. Hellscore is also an integral part of SCARDUST’s sound, performing on all their albums and live shows.
Noa Gruman is also much in demand as a vocalist, and the already-impressive list of her recent guest vocal appearances includes albums by Amorphis, Ayreon, Therion, Gloryhammer, Nino Helfrich, and Orphaned Land. If you are looking for the freshest and most innovative progressive album, ‘Souls‘ is set to be a milestone for the genre.
‘Souls’ Track List:
1. Long Forgotten Song
2. My Haven
3. RIP
4. Dazzling Darkness
5. Unreachable (feat. TLV Orchestra)
6. End Of The World
7. Searing Echoes (feat. Ally Storch)
8. Touch Of Life I – In Your Eyes (feat. Ross Jennings)
9. Touch Of Life II – Dance Of Creation
10. Touch Of Life III – King Of Insanity (feat. Ross Jennings)
SCARDUST are:
Noa Gruman – Vocals
Gal Gabriel Israel – Guitar
Aaron Friedland – Keyboards
Orr Didi – Bass
Yoav Weinberg – Drums
Follow Scardust