Colorado duo Safety In Sleep offer up levels of emotional rock goodness that will have you channelling your inner 2000s emo and post-hardcore self in a sound they describe as “emotional, dynamic and relatable.”
The project began with very small ambitions back in 2023, but evolved to become the personal emotional outlet for Damian Alway and Josh Allwein, who came up with the band name based on struggles with PTSD and insomnia. Over time, the band became a full creative partnership that’s shaped an intense yet vulnerable sound inspired by the likes of Boys of Fall and State Champs.
On the sound they’ve crafted, the duo told us: “Imagine if post-hardcore collided with pop-punk and pulled in a touch of cinematic atmosphere. We lean into big guitars, layered vocals that swing between melodic and aggressive, and synth textures that make the songs feel alive. It is music you can cry to, but also shout back with your friends at a show.”
Our latest taste of this is the duo’s debut self-titled EP, which was released last month and from which they sent us the third track Running In Place. It opens up with light looping guitars that continue under a thick slab of guitar chords and feed into deliciously engaging high-pitched vocals over driving drums and guitars. The guitars drop out but gradually creep in under dual vocals, before low-tuned smashes of guitar crush away under a catchy chorus. The intensity goes up a notch with wild screamed vocals over engaging high-pitched vocals, flowing into a more melodic section supported by lively drums and guitars. A second chorus gives way to atmospheric instrumentals and vocals bringing the track to a powerful conclusion.
On the track, Damian and Josh told us: “The response has honestly been overwhelming. Listeners have called it raw, cathartic, and ‘on repeat,’ which is everything we hoped for. For anyone who hasn’t heard it yet, expect a song that feels like being stuck in a loop of heartbreak and regret, but with the kind of energy that makes you want to scream it out in the car with the windows down. It is heavy emotionally, but the melodies give you something to hold on to.”
The EP is packed with emo meets punk rock goodness, led by the lively opening track Looking For Change and the powerful final track Hollowmuri. The latter opens up with piercing synths over heavy guitars with a bit of record scratching dropping into a moody opening verse. It builds into a big chorus that drops into another mellow verse, which picks up pace with clean guitars flowing into another chorus. A funky section of guitars and synths joined by distant female vocals tee up a big final blast of the chorus.
The Safety In Sleep sound has been influenced by the likes of State Champs, Boys of Fall, Silverstein, Bilmuri, Nothing, Nowhere, Underoath, Point North, and Dayseeker. As the band tell us: “Each of them influenced us in different ways, from vocal delivery, to guitar tone, to the emotional depth we try to capture in our songs. Boys of Fall especially shaped how we approach melody and songwriting, while Silverstein’s ability to blend raw aggression with melody has had a huge impact on how we write and perform.”
And on what inspires them to write music, Damian and Josh explain: “We write about real, lived experience, from trauma and heartbreak to rebuilding yourself after hitting rock bottom. A lot of our songs explore regret, hope, faith, and the battle of holding on versus letting go. We want people who feel unseen or broken to know they are not alone, that there is beauty in vulnerability.”
Safety In Sleep are hard at work finishing up their debut album, which they hope to have finished by next month and, ideally, release on Halloween. They’ll then be working through a setlist and tightening up in practice to take the show on the road next year, along with expending their with brand new merch, visuals and music videos.
“Live performance is a huge priority for us, and we plan to push hard on festivals and venues,” the duo told us. “We would love the chance to share a stage with bands like Second Harbor, Driveways, and Boys of Fall one day. That kind of lineup would be an incredible show. More than anything, we just cannot wait to connect with our fans in person and be the outlet we always hoped to be.
“At the end of the day, Safety In Sleep is more than just music. It is a community for people who never felt safe in silence. If our songs help even one person feel understood or less alone, then we have done our job.”
You can follow Safety In Sleep on Instagram and TikTok, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and YouTube.
Listen to Safety In Sleep and more new bands on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Post-Hardcore and GigRadar Punk
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