Death Lens fuse the urgency of punk with the grit and melody of Southern California rock, turning everyday struggle into cathartic, communal release. Raised in working class neighborhoods and proud of their roots, the band channels lived experience into songs that balance sharp social awareness with a sense of hope, crafting choruses meant to be shouted back from the pit. On records like ‘Cold World’ and ‘What’s Left Now?’ they sharpen their sound into tightly wound, hook-filled anthems, while tracks like “Monolith” and “Drown” showcase a band unafraid to be both vulnerable and volatile. With every show and every song, Death Lens continue to build a world where outsiders belong and resilience feels electric.
Heart to Gold
Grave Secrets
Erupting from the veins of the Los Angeles Emo scene, Grave Secrets are paving their own path through adversity and displacement. Formed by lead singer Vinny Morales and guitarist Kevin Gonzalez, the band have cut their teeth through the grassroots chaos of the Pop-Punk and Hardcore community, drawing inspiration from bands like Joyce Manor, Title Fight and Tiger’s Jaw.
Their second EP I Wish I Was Sorry, released in July, explores the plagues of growing up on the journey to salvation with detours through false solace and substances. I Wish I Was Sorry resonates with the restless, the restful, the hopeless, the hopeful, the questioning, the knowing, and ultimately the masses. “The main foundation of the music is the lyrics,” says Morales. “What we’re saying, what we’re talking about, and how we use it to connect with other people who have had similar experiences. Whether it’s one hundred people or one hundred thousand people. It doesn’t matter. That’s the goal — human connection.”
Known for their live performances, the band most recently performed a racous set to a packed audience at Vans Warped Tour Long Beach. Rounded out by bassist Carlos Bayona and drummer Dylan Galvan, the four piece had fans restlessly lined up at the barricades, eagerly waiting to rage. The band solidified their reciprocal love by leveling themselves with attendees against the barriers to share the microphone with passionate, lyric-versed fans. In response, the crowd surged with energy, lifting Morales above the sea of people to surf across their outstretched hands.
Grave Secrets is everything you want in a So-Cal Emo band and nothing you don’t need. As they continue to break through the stratosphere, who knows what’s to come next.
