Locked in a Vacancy Returns After 17-Year Hiatus with New Single “The Burden of Being”

Announces New EP, ‘…Before The Dawn,’ Due Out Dec 1st, 2023

[BROOKLYN, NY – October 3, 2023] – Fuzz Therapy Records is thrilled to announce the triumphant return of New York-based metalcore titans Locked In A Vacancy with their first new music since 2006. Today marks the release of their much-anticipated single, “The Burden of Being,” a seismic ripple through the ever-shifting metal landscape which premiered Monday on revered Hardcore tastemakers Lambgoat.com.

For those who remember the convergence of hardcore, post-hardcore, and metalcore from the late ’90s to mid-’00s, sitting down to Locked In A Vacancy will be akin to a time capsule; albeit one that also doubles as a ticking time bomb. Blowing the doors off their hinges, “The Burden of Being” shrieks into existence from the very first note, a raptor’s cry finding its wings after being locked away for 17 years. The single is a sonic masterpiece that reinterprets their death metal and metalcore roots, artfully seasoned with themes of life and socio-political dialogues.

Few journeys in the metal world are linear, and Locked in a Vacancy’s path to their newest single, “The Burden of Being,” is no exception. When the band played a reunion show in 2012, the possibility of reviving the group was palpable. Yet, life and new musical ventures made it challenging for the original members to commit. The sudden, tragic loss of their drummer, Rick Cimato, in December 2012, further clouded the band’s future.

When the band reconvened in 2018 after years of reflection and a hiatus that seemed interminable to their fans, they found that the energy and musicianship had not just survived, but evolved. Rehearsals sparked the realization that a mere one-off show couldn’t contain their artistic potential. What began as a casual jam session, revisiting older material, ignited the their collective creativity.

However, just as momentum was building, the global pandemic threw another wrench into plans. Everything was put on hold—tours, recordings, and even the euphoria of creating something new. A year and a half later, some members left, but the band’s core remained, supplemented by new and returning talents. Earlier this year, they laid down tracks for three new songs with longtime friend and producer Len Carmichael. Their old bassist, Nick Bohun, also came onboard, providing a soundscape track reminiscent of their earlier work.

The result is the single “The Burden of Being,” a song encapsulating years of personal and collective challenges, but also growth. It signals not just the band’s return, but their evolution and resilience. This is the Locked in a Vacancy for a new era, rising like a phoenix from the ashes of its own intricate history in an era pockmarked by the influences of black metal, djent and technical metal. The track draws on eclectic influences to create a sound not dissimilar from previous contemporaries such as Between the Buried and Me, From A Second Story Window, and Curl Up And Die. Far from a derivative regurgitation of genre tropes, however, “The Burden Of Being” instead stands out as an anthem of growth and maturity.

“I can’t write lyrics about things I don’t think are important to convey to an audience. As a vocalist for this type of band, I couldn’t see myself going on stage to scream at an audience if I didn’t have something important to say.”

-Dyami Bryant, Vocalist for Locked In A Vacancy

The opening lines, “I struggle to deliver / On goals I’ve set myself / Surely I should be further / Than where I am right now,” plunge us into a landscape of internal reckoning. Far from escapist fare, the song grapples with inertia and stalled progress, not just for the band but for the human condition. The weight of missed opportunities and the “apprehensive” stance toward life find a haunting echo in the heartland of an American Dream turned into a waking nightmare. It’s an existential confession that resonates deeply, precisely because it’s so unapologetically authentic.

The song draws heavily from the existential quandaries exacerbated by lockdowns, job losses, and social isolation. It’s a testament to the collective human experience of grappling with life’s uncertainties, echoed in lines like “I am not alone in this!” These lyrics resonate deeply in a time when societal fractures are more visible than ever.

It’s also a clarion call for fans, both old and new, to assemble in anticipation of their new EP, “…Before The Dawn,” bookending their hiatus since It’s Always Darkest… neatly with a new EP and a new era for the New York group. The Brooklyn outfit have crafted a sonic punch for a distinct breed of fans—those disaffected with society, who find themselves on the fringes even within a fringe scene. These are fans who crave the authenticity and intensity that only live shows can provide, forming a community bound by the shared experience of life’s complexities.

“The Burden of Being” is available on all major streaming platforms today, giving both new and old fans an entryway into the renewed spirit and unrelenting power of Locked in a Vacancy.

Upcoming Shows

About Locked In A Vacancy

Formed in 1997, Locked in a Vacancy carved a deep footprint in the American metal scene, sharing stages with luminaries like Hatebreed, Biohazard, Candiria, Lamb of God, Every Time I Die, Dying Fetus, The Haunted, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Zao, Curl Up And Die, A Life Once Lost, and many, many more. A mainstay on the Purity Records label, their discography spans several influential releases, including their 2006 full-length, It’s Always Darkest… Their hiatus, lasting over a decade, is now shattered by a magnificent return with their EP, …Before the Dawn, out now on Fuzz Therapy Records.

Locked In A Vacancy Online:

Instagram | Facebook | Bandcamp | YouTube

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For interviews, media inquiries, and more info, please contact:

Lance Marwood

Co-Founder & President, V13 Promotions

hi@v13.promo