American folk metal duo FORGOTTEN SHRINE have released their new single „Halo“, a genre-bending track that weaves country and pop influences into their signature sound. Comprised of Josh Alexander and Sofia Frasz of EXILED HOPE, the pair deliver an intimate exploration of seeing the worst in someone while desperately hoping for better.American folk metal duo FORGOTTEN SHRINE have unveiled their latest single „Halo“, a track that marks a deliberate and striking departure from the heavier corners of their upcoming album. Comprised of guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Josh Alexander, based in Pennsylvania, and Maryland-based vocalist and lyricist Sofia Frasz, also known from EXILED HOPE, the duo continue to demonstrate a fearless approach to genre boundaries.
- On „Halo“, an array of string and folk instruments construct a warm, textural backdrop that supports the song’s lead vocal melodies with understated elegance. Both Alexander and Frasz deliver clean vocal performances that feel deeply personal, lending the track an intimacy that suits its lyrical subject matter. Influences drawn from country, pop and Appalachian folk traditions are woven seamlessly into FORGOTTEN SHRINE’s established sound, resulting in a release that feels both unexpected and entirely natural within their catalogue.
Alexander has noted the track’s deliberate placement within the album sequencing, describing it as offering a breath of fresh air following some of the record’s most intense material. He draws a parallel to European folk metal acts such as Eluveitie, who similarly incorporate balladic pieces rooted in their own regional traditions, positioning „Halo“ as FORGOTTEN SHRINE’s nod to Appalachian folk heritage.
Frasz, who wrote the song, has described the lyrical concept as an examination of witnessing someone’s true nature repeatedly while still struggling to accept that reality. The hook is immediate, the arrangement dynamic, and the overall result showcases the duo’s most experimental and vulnerable work to date.
„Halo“ follows previously released singles including „Terror! At The Ballroom“, „Where Shadows Lie“, „Hero“, „The Parting Glass“, and a cover of BREAKING BENJAMIN’s „Crawl“.