Wisconsin band Morningstar offers up a thrilling hard rock meets melodic metal sound that fuses heavy riffs with symphonic elements and theatrical storytelling, and they describe as “melodic, driving and cinematic.”
The Madison-based quartet has set out to create a genre-defying, emotionally charged sound, exploring themes like mental health, societal challenges and radical authenticity and an unwavering belief in music as a force for healing and empowerment. With a reputation for high-energy shows, custom visuals and raw vocals, Morningstar aims to engage fans with fun, immersive and interactive experiences.
The band’s story began with frontwoman Amber Swenor discovering a Metallica cassette in a park at the age of 10. At the same time, Brandon Pockat was teaching himself to play guitar, inspired by his dad, who was in a hair metal band in the 80s and 90s.
Years later, Brandon posted an ad “seeking vocalist to start a band” in a local farming shopper’s guide, somewhere between garage sales and used cars for sale. Amber somehow found it and answered it, and the rest is history. Amber’s younger brother David joined on drums and they officially launched as a power trio, releasing debut single Bittersweet Lullaby. David left the band two years ago to focus on family, and Morningstar was expanded and completed by drummer Zach Walton and bassist Ricky Staley.
On the sound they’ve honed since, Amber told us: “Imagine if Evanescence, Spiritbox and In This Moment had a passionate, melodic child. That’s us. We bring together grit, symphonics, melodic sound and a theatrical vibe; think symphonic swells, driving guitars and powerful vocals that carry both fire and vulnerability. Our music lives at the intersection of heavy and heartfelt.”
Our latest taste of this is Free, which was released last week. It opens up with lively guitar chords with a cool high-pitched lick dropping into a verse led by Amber’s engaging vocals. It picks up pace with synth stabs leading a pre-chorus before the intensity increases with big cries of “Release the fear of who you’re meant to be, You’ll find your way, When you’re free,” and big palm-muted guitars come in under repeats of the last line. The opening guitars jump back in and feed into a second verse, with distant echoey vocals offering retorts, and building up to another big chorus.
The opening guitars return again, this time dropping into a cool spinning guitar riff and teeing up a huge screeching guitar solo. That drops into the pre-chorus, teeing up a final blast of the chorus to bring the track to a big atmospheric conclusion.
On the track, Amber told us: “Free is a very personal and powerful anthem, and the response has been phenomenal. We’re so grateful for fan support and to be reaching new audiences! The song is emotionally charged, raw and bold. Expect raw vocals, heavy guitars, symphonic layers and lyrics with meaning. Free is a rally cry for self-acceptance, letting go of expectations and reclaiming your power. We hope listeners rock out to it again and again as a personal empowerment anthem.”
Free is Morningstar’s first release since their 2022 debut album Between Your World And Mine, which won Hard Rock/Metal Album of the Year at the 2023 Madison Area Music Awards. The album is packed with equally powerful tracks like the vicious and dramatic opener The Calling, the funky Stranded In Cyber City, the fun and lively The Circus, their superb debut single Bittersweet Lullaby, the feisty Decisions, and the engaging final track Eternal, which is followed by two really cool instrumental tracks.
The Morningstar sound has been influenced by early inspirations like Metallica and Pantera. Amber tells us she taught herself to sing while growing up, singing along to icons like Alanis Morissette, Pat Benatar and Joan Jett. And the band’s approach has been inspired by “the drama and heaviness of Rammstein, the theatrics of In This Moment and the cinematic beauty of Evanescence.”
And on what inspires them to write music, Amber explains: “Life. Pain. Healing. Identity. Freedom. Our music is how we process the human experience: our own and the world around us. We write what we’re going through, what we’re witnessing and what we feel called to sing about. (That) often means digging into themes like mental health, societal pressure, personal transformation and resilience.. Sometimes it’s inspired by the planet… or even video games and Lord of the Rings. At the core, we hope our music hits on something real for people.”
There’s plenty more to come from Morningstar, who are currently working on their second album, which they hope to release early to mid-2026. You can catch the band playing at Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin, one of the biggest rock festivals in the US from 18-20 July. They’re also on the lookout to join tours across the next couple of years, so get in touch if you need awesome tour support – especially if you’re Evanescence, Spiritbox, In This Moment or Rammstein.
And Amber added: “We love getting to know our fans! If our music helps you feel a little more seen, a little more like you, that’s everything to us.”
You can follow Morningstar on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Bandcamp, Apple Music, Amazon Music and YouTube.
Listen to Morningstar and more new music on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Metal and GigRadar Rock
GigRadar 