Buffalo-based metalcore band Until I Wake is redefining their sound and setting the stage for a massive breakout with their sophomore album, Renovate. With a revitalized lineup featuring new vocalist Justin Smith, alongside bassist Ryan Ridley, guitarists August Geitner and Niko Karras, and drummer Alex Curtin, the band is bringing a fresh, fiery intensity to metalcore.

Renovate turns up the volume in every way imaginable. Pummeling verses meet soaring, stadium-ready choruses, while percussion that feels like it’s synced to your pulse powers through relentless riffs designed to snap necks and incite mosh pits. It’s an album as statement of evolution, a commitment to growth, energy, and raw emotion. The title track, “Renovate,” is the emotional anchor of the record. “It’s about transitioning from darkness to light,” the band explains. “It’s a chance to leave pain behind and rebuild the person we want to become. We hope this song inspires listeners to reshape their lives in a positive way.”

But Renovate isn’t all fists-in-the-air aggression. The album showcases Until I Wake’s versatility, blending moody atmospheres and hip-hop-inspired rhythms with their unending supply of molten metal riffs and emotionally charged vocals. Tracks like “Messenger” reveal the band’s reflective side. Based on a life-changing dream, the song explores themes of faith, guidance, and growth. “It’s about believing in what we can’t see or fully understand,” Smith shares. “I hope it resonates with anyone seeking meaning in their journey.”

Fans of bands like Linkin Park will find a lot to love in tracks like “Messenger,” which features a galloping solo that transitions seamlessly into a haunting fade-out. This knack for balancing heaviness with melody has earned Until I Wake comparisons to their influences, but Renovate proves they’re finding an identity all their own in the world of modern metalcore. Until I Wake has already solidified their reputation as a force to be reckoned with and expect Renovate to catapult them to even greater heights.