Michigan metalcore outfit OF VIRTUE have released their most intimate single of 2026, ‚What’s It Like To Be Happy?‘, out via Arising Empire. The track arrives during Mental Health Awareness Month and follows the explosive reception to previous singles ‚Death Of The Altar‘ and ‚The Art Of Love‘. Co-written alongside Lee Albrecht and Evan McKeever, the song holds a mirror to the quietest and most common symptoms of depression.Michigan metalcore outfit OF VIRTUE have unveiled their most vulnerable single to date with ‚What’s It Like To Be Happy?‘, released via Arising Empire in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month. The track arrives as the third chapter in a commanding 2026 run, following the strong reception to ‚Death Of The Altar‘ and ‚The Art Of Love‘, and marks another step forward in the band’s unflinching commitment to emotional honesty.
Co-written alongside Lee Albrecht, known for his work with Bilmuri and The Devil Wears Prada, and Evan McKeever, who has collaborated with Starset and Koe Wetzel, the song confronts the paralysing gap between who you are and who you want to be — the part of depression that is hardest to admit aloud. Rather than offering resolution, OF VIRTUE lean into the disconnection of watching life carry on around you while remaining perfectly, painfully still.
Vocalist Tyler Ennis drew directly from personal experience, citing loss, body dysmorphia, ADHD, imposter syndrome and the dangerous feedback loop of performing happiness on social media while privately struggling. His candour gives the track an authenticity that resonates far beyond genre boundaries.
The release builds on the momentum of the band’s 2023 record ‚OMEN‘, which has accumulated an impressive 65 million streams since its release. OF VIRTUE have performed at festivals including Summer Breeze, Full Force and Pulp Summer Slam, and shared stages with Slipknot, Bad Omens, Nothing More and Three Days Grace. With ‚What’s It Like To Be Happy?‘, the band once again position themselves as both a musical force and passionate advocates for mental health awareness.
Photo: OF VIRTUE / Arising Empire