HEALTH on Digital Dystopia and New Album ‘Conflict DLC’: “More Uptempo, More Bangers, More Fun”

Dive into HEALTH’s latest album ‘Conflict DLC’, where digital doom meets high-energy riffs and raw emotion in a bold new chapter.

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Facing the Digital Abyss with HEALTH’s ‘Conflict DLC’

When HEALTH dropped “Ordinary Loss,” the pounding opener to their upcoming album ‘Conflict DLC’,” it hit with the kind of gut-punch heaviness that’s hard to ignore. Frontman Jake Duzsik confronts the bleak reality of “the dead are blessed with no dreams,” setting the tone for an intensely raw and powerful journey. This new release, arriving in December via Loma Vista Recordings, takes the themes explored in their previous album ‘Rat Wars’—a record often hailed as “cum metal”—into even darker, yet surprisingly accessible, territory.

This time around, HEALTH wrestles with depression, anxiety, and compulsive behaviors through the lens of our current digital dystopia. Doomscrolling, that endless abyss of consuming despair online, becomes a backdrop for feelings that are both timeless and freshly terrifying. Jake explains these are “timeless feelings of hopelessness, but now slamming into this modern moment of so many things actually making us crazy.”

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The Sound of a Digital Nightmare

What struck me immediately about “Ordinary Loss” is how HEALTH has intensified their guitar sound—massive, brutal, and immersive. They enlisted Drew Fulk, known in the scene as WZRD BLD and recently behind Knocked Loose’s album ‘You Won't Go Before You're Supposed To’, to mix the guitar-forward tracks. Jake shared, “We wanted the more guitar-focused music to have that... How do you make classic industrial music but then make it feel like it’s made in a truly modern sense that utilises the full frequency spectrum of sub-bass and transience in the drums?”

Check out the crushing energy of “Ordinary Loss” below:

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Wrestling with the Internet’s Dark Side

Jake’s relationship with the online world is complicated, to say the least. He admits how insidious doomscrolling is—caught in bed, endlessly scrolling through a barrage of negativity and despair. “I’ve been trying to get my mind around what it was like to just not check your fucking phone when you wake up in the morning,” he says. But the problem isn’t just younger generations; even Jake’s own dad became “tractor-beamed” by smartphones, just like a teenager. It’s a destruction of attention, mental health, and quality of life—but there’s also an ironic dependence on the digital world because of their art.

This duality is a razor’s edge for HEALTH: “You can’t separate the art of our band from the internet and social media at any stage of our career. We don’t get to do what we’re doing without it. It’s a double-edged sword.”

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Navigating the Digital Doom Tornado with ‘Conflict DLC’

At the heart of ‘Conflict DLC’ lies the struggle to make sense of an overwhelming and chaotic digital age. Jake is candid about his songwriting approach. While he avoids overly cryptic metaphors, his lyrics are “pretty fucking direct” about confronting meaninglessness, death, and the barrage of modern anxieties.

He reflects on the neurobiological hijacking by digital platforms designed to make moderation nearly impossible. Quoting comedian Patton Oswalt, Jake muses, “They distract us with these small things so they can fuck us on eternity.” But then he adds a twist—“I don’t even know who ‘they’ are, because the same thing is happening to them,” including the tech overlords themselves, trapped in their own algorithmic maze.

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From ‘Rat Wars’ to ‘Conflict DLC’: A Shift in Energy

When asked how HEALTH’s approach has evolved since ‘Rat Wars’, Jake reveals a more spontaneous and raw method. “Sometimes the first thing I sing when demoing just stays—it’s sad-ass slam poetry,” he explains. This immediate emotional expression serves as a kind of therapy and a way to connect with listeners who are all “going through the same moment.”

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Inspired by Live Energy: Sleep Token and Slipknot Influence

Playing live with bands like Sleep Token and Slipknot opened Jake’s eyes to new dynamics. HEALTH wasn’t traditionally a “metal festival” band, so these gigs challenged them to engage with higher tempos and raw energy. Jake describes it as an “emotional dialogue” with the audience—an energy exchange that’s both cathartic and vital.

Jake reflects on the challenges of the modern music cycle, contrasting it with the legendary Led Zeppelin’s approach of riffing during soundchecks. The current rhythm of touring and album cycles can stifle creativity, but HEALTH is striving to keep their music fresh and connected to their live energy.

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Crafting a Distinct Yet Familiar Aesthetic

Originally, Jake had envisioned ‘Conflict DLC’ as a companion double album to ‘Rat Wars’, but decided against it. “Double albums are almost only exclusively considered a good idea by the people who release them,” he jokes. Instead, they split the work to keep the sound fresh but still in the same universe.

The goal? To create an album that’s “more uptempo, more bangers, more fun,” keeping the creative momentum going without recycling old ideas. Jake likens the relationship of these two albums to Radiohead’s ‘Kid A’ and ‘Amnesiac’—not a double album or a collection of B-sides, but two distinct records born from the same creative moment.

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The Party in the Apocalypse

Despite the bleak themes, ‘Conflict DLC’ carries a spark of hedonism. Jake sums it up perfectly: “The world is on fire so let’s party.” The album is more aggressive, more desperate, and yet undeniably more fun — with faster BPMs and more guitars mixed in, though slower tunes still pepper the tracklist.

This is not an album of leftovers but a bold step forward for the band, crafted to be enjoyed both as a deep listening experience and a live show spectacle.

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Tracklist for HEALTH’s ‘Conflict DLC’ (Releasing December 11)

• ORDINARY LOSS
• BURN THE CANDLES
• VIBE COP
• TRASH DECADE
• TORTURE II
• ANTIDOTE
• DARKAGE
• SHREDENVY
• YOU DIED
• THOUGHT LEADER
• DON’T KILL YOURSELF
• WASTED YEARS

Pre-order or pre-save the album to stay ahead of this exciting release.

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“I’m treading the same nightmarish water all the time, which is trying to confront meaninglessness and unreckonable, unavoidable death in this bewildering cosmic landscape and changing reality.” – Jake Duzsik

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FAQ

• What themes does ‘Conflict DLC’ explore?
  The album delves into depression, anxiety, compulsion, and the overwhelming effects of digital life and doomscrolling.
• How is ‘Conflict DLC’ different from ‘Rat Wars’?
  It’s more uptempo, packed with bangers, and designed to be fun, while still connected to the sonic universe of ‘Rat Wars’.
• Who helped mix the new guitar sound on the album?
  Drew Fulk (aka WZRD BLD), known for his work with Knocked Loose, brought a fresh, modern edge to the guitar tracks.
• How has HEALTH’s live experience influenced this album?
  Sharing stages with bands like Sleep Token and Slipknot inspired HEALTH to create more direct, high-energy music suited for live performances.
• When is ‘Conflict DLC’ released?
  The album drops on December 11 and is available for pre-order and pre-save.

Looking to bring some of HEALTH’s gritty, digital dystopia vibe into your space? Shop your favorite album cover poster at our store for a perfect addition to your music sanctuary. Explore here.