Beartooth Keeps It Heavy and Honest on ‘Pure Ecstasy’

Beartooth’s new album Pure Ecstasy dives into raw emotion and heavy riffs, marking a bold new chapter for the metalcore heroes.

If you’ve followed Beartooth over the years, you know frontman Caleb Shomo has never shied away from pouring his soul out through blistering guitars and cathartic screams. Now, with their sixth album, Pure Ecstasy, dropping August 28 via Fearless Records, the Ohio metalcore stalwarts are stepping into a fresh, more collaborative spotlight — and it’s turning out to be their most emotionally charged release yet.

Photo: Ashley Osborn

A New Era of Collaboration

Caleb Shomo, who traditionally helmed every instrument on previous records, is opening the creative doors wider this time around. Pure Ecstasy boasts greater input from bandmates bassist Oshie Bichar, guitarists Zach Huston and Will Deely, and drummer Connor Denis, who played throughout the sessions at NRG Recording Studios. This fresh dynamic brings a new depth to the album’s sound and energy.

The opening track, the album’s title song, sets the tone with what Shomo humorously calls “the dumbest heaviest chugs we could chug.” It’s a whiplash-inducing start, born from sessions with Misha Mansoor and further shaped by producer and songwriter Jordan Fish, known for his work with Bring Me The Horizon, Architects, and Poppy. The track is designed to slam you right in, making sure the vibe hooks you from the first note.

“Song one is always a crucial part of an album to me. It’s gotta lock you into the vibe out of the gate,” Shomo shares. “Play loud and kick ass.”

Following Up a Career High

Pure Ecstasy comes on the heels of 2023’s The Surface, which claimed top spots on Billboard’s Alternative and Hard Music charts. That album gifted fans with breakout rock hits like “Might Love Myself” and “I Was Alive,” which both climbed to No. 1 on rock radio. Earlier this year, Beartooth teased their latest work with “Free,” a track Shomo dubbed “the most honest depiction of my soul I will most likely ever make.”

For longtime fans, this candor is part of the band’s DNA. Emerging from Shomo’s basement back in 2013, Beartooth quickly carved out a place in metalcore by channeling anxiety, rage, and self-destruction into something arena-sized and deeply relatable. Their music has racked up more than 1.3 billion streams to date, and they recently toured major arenas alongside Bad Omens, proving they still command the stage like no other.

Behind the Scenes: Writing and Recording

Unlike previous albums where Shomo handled nearly everything himself, Pure Ecstasy is a team effort. Drummer Connor Denis’s full involvement on percussion adds a fresh punch and precision, while bassist Oshie Bichar and guitarists Huston and Deely bring their own flavors to the mix. Early songwriting assistance also came from Skyler Accord, known for his work with Issues and Bilmuri, which helped shape the album’s layered sound.

This evolution toward collaboration isn’t just about sharing instruments; it’s about amplifying the band’s emotional reach. The expanded creative input means that Pure Ecstasy resonates with a broader palette of feelings and sounds, making it a more complex and mature album without sacrificing the heavy-hitting edge Beartooth is known for.

Locking You Into the Vibe

If you know Beartooth, you know how much they value honesty in their music. Shomo’s lyrics frequently dive deep into struggles with mental health, self-acceptance, and fighting inner demons — themes that have connected with a legion of fans worldwide. With Pure Ecstasy, this emotional openness stretches even further.

The combination of crushing riffs, honest vocals, and collaborative musicianship crafts an album that feels like both a shout of defiance and a vulnerable confession. It’s the kind of music you crank up when you need an outlet, a reminder that you’re not alone in wrestling with life’s chaos.

FAQ

• What makes Pure Ecstasy different from previous Beartooth albums? Unlike past records, Pure Ecstasy features a more collaborative approach, with bandmates contributing significantly to writing and recording, delivering a richer, more textured sound.
• Who collaborated on the title track of Pure Ecstasy? The title track began during sessions with Misha Mansoor and was further developed with Jordan Fish, who has worked with artists like Bring Me The Horizon and Architects.
• How does Caleb Shomo describe the album’s emotional tone? Shomo considers Pure Ecstasy to be Beartooth’s most emotionally exposed album yet, with lyrics that dig deeply into personal honesty and vulnerability.
• Where was Pure Ecstasy recorded? Recording sessions took place at NRG Recording Studios, where drummer Connor Denis played throughout the album.
• What inspired the single “Free” from the album? Caleb Shomo described “Free” as “the most honest depiction of my soul I will most likely ever make,” highlighting its raw emotional core.

If you love the powerful energy and intensity of Pure Ecstasy, why not bring that vibe home? Shop your favorite Beartooth album cover poster at our store and let the music live on your walls.

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