Bastion Rose to Release Anti-Extremism Anthem "HOLY WARS"
Frontman Austin Frink calls the track a reaction to fanaticism rooted in faith and ideology.
Cinematic hard rock outfit Bastion Rose is preparing to release 'Holy Wars,' described as the band's darkest and most politically charged single to date. The heavy, relentless progressive rock anthem confronts the rising tide of extremism and blind hatred head-on.
Serving as a visceral centerpiece to the band's rapidly unfolding Blue Rising era, 'Holy Wars' fuses the colossal, cinematic riffing the band is known for with an urgent, unapologetic message. The track takes direct aim at those who use ideology and dogma to justify destruction, warning that 'Holy wars won't make you whole / Holy wars won't save your soul.'
For frontman Austin Frink, the song is a necessary reaction to a world increasingly fractured by fanaticism.
'We see extremism repeatedly as a political failing; but it is a spiritual sickness,' says Frink. ''Holy Wars' is about the people who are willing to burn the world down and call it salvation. It's about confronting the monsters who use their faith or their faction to justify atrocities. You cannot heal your own brokenness by destroying everything around you.'
Musically, 'Holy Wars' is described as a towering achievement of modern heavy rock architecture, channeling the aggressive, wide-dynamic-range progressive sound that is signature to the band. Building on the sonic foundation established with three-time Grammy-winning producer David Bottrill (Tool, Godsmack, Mastodon, Muse, Rush) on their previous records, the band's self-produced new material finds them operating at the peak of their technical and dynamic prowess.
The band has received recent acclaim from Classic Rock Magazine, Metal Hammer, and SPIN ahead of an anticipated 2026 international touring cycle.
'Holy Wars' is available on all major streaming platforms.
About Bastion Rose
Based in Bloomington, Indiana, Bastion Rose is a hard rock project whose sound is described as a collision of post-grunge grit and alternative metal intensity, defined by guitar work, ethereal soundscapes, monumental riffs, and vocals and lyrics. That sonic identity caught the attention of three-time Grammy Award-winning producer David Bottrill, known for his work with Tool, Godsmack, Muse, Peter Gabriel, and Rush. Bottrill describes Bastion Rose as a 'new embodiment of classic heavy rock... the sounds, the tones, everything. They are reverential to the style of music from the past, bringing it into the modern world.'
Bottrill's involvement provided the blueprint for Bastion Rose's production standards. From the debut EP Fade To Blue to the full-length Traces of Gold, the collaboration resulted in a sound described as balancing the technical, rhythmic intelligence of Tool with the riff-centric, soaring melodic energy of Audioslave. The creative mission is linked to the personal story of Austin Frink, who navigated a period of loss, including the sudden deaths of both parents and a cancer diagnosis that threatened to permanently silence his singing voice. Frink turned his pain and survival into lyrics exploring themes of existence, hope, and the fleeting nature of life.
In less than a year, Bastion Rose has built a catalog surpassing 2 million streams and a global community of over 60,000 YouTube subscribers and 53,000 social followers. The band is currently unveiling its next chapter, Blue Rising, spearheaded by the single 'Dust,' described as a philosophical exploration of transience.
Band Members
Austin Frink: Vocals and Guitar
Austin Mudd: Guitar
Steve Pierce: Bass
John Donlon: Drums
Barrett Abraham: Keys
