Italian band Cult Of Aurora aim to bring a touch of 2000s nostalgia with a distinctive brand of alternative rock meets modern metal that they describe as “introspective, energetic and mystic.”
Cult Of Aurora hail from Imola, a town near Bologna in the Emilia-Romagna region that’s best known for its iconic motor racing circuit. They first formed in 2017, releasing two tracks before supporting bands like Bad Omens and Oceans Ate Alaska. But, after some time away, they reformed earlier this year with a revamped lineup still led by vocalist Luca Lee Josh alongside Marco Rossini on bass, Michele Soglia on drums, and Manuel Russo on guitar.
And Luca describes their sound as: “A blend of energetic alternative rock with a touch of 2000s nostalgia, introspective lyrics, and modern production.”
The band returned last month with their new single Secret, which opens up with engaging vocals over light guitars. A cool bouncy riff kicks in with big synth support, giving away to catchy vocals that increase in intensity with big instrumental support through the chorus “I’ll never ever admit that I failed, I never wanted to say the truth, Again and again, I fell to the floor, Like demons that knock on my door, I’ll never ever be what you need, I never wanted to say goodbye, Again and again, It’s time to be sure, Like demons that brings to leave you alone.” The pace drops slightly before the catchy lines “If there’s a place, where to escape, There my secret will be safe, If there’s a place, where to live, There my secret will be safe” tee up a second chorus. A meandering little guitar solo takes over and picks up pace, before dropping into light vocals set up an atmospheric conclusion.
On the track, Luca told us: “Secret feels like a fresh start for us. It’s more rooted in rock compared to our earlier metalcore sound, and our fans have been really excited about this evolution. For those who haven’t heard it yet, expect a powerful, honest song with an emotional depth that invites everyone to find their own story within it.”
The Cult Of Aurora sound draws on influences like early Thirty Seconds To Mars an Bring Me The Horizon’s post-Sempiternal era. Expanding on that, Luca told us: “My influences draw on something unique I’ve developed along the way, it’s not always easy to define, which I think is part of its strength. I usually start from a concept or an emotion, something hidden inside me that I feel compelled to share. Often, it takes a darker or tragic shape at first, but the purpose is always to search for light at the end of the tunnel. What matters most is creating songs that listeners can project their own stories onto. From there, we build music that amplifies those feelings as honestly as we can.”
There’s plenty more to come from the reformed Cult Of Aurora, who have a few more songs ready to go, with the first expected to be released later this year. They also have plans to release an album next year and are looking into gigs and tours, with the potential for them to head to the UK.
And Luca added: “We’re a band that believes in staying authentic and building something lasting. Every track we create is a piece of who we are, and we hope listeners feel that honesty. Whether you’ve been with us since the early days or you’re just discovering Cult Of Aurora now, we’re grateful to have you on this journey.”
You can follow Cult Of Aurora on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Listen to Cult of Aurora and more new bands on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Metal and GigRadar Rock
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