As the end of the year approaches, artists across the industry are announcing upcoming releases or large fall/winter tours, festivals, and holiday one-off dates, internationally and here in the US. I am keen for many of these, but there is one music release in particular that has its hooks in me; I speak only of "Retrograde" from If Not For Me. Aren't familiar with the Pennsylvania quartet? Allow me to introduce them: Formed in Harrisburg, the band has been steadily rising to prominence with their blend of vulnerable and raw lyrical stories combined with melodic metalcore, which will inspire you to both sing your heart out and throw down in the pit. In March 2024, they released Everything You Wanted via Thriller Records, their second album that sent them above and beyond with songs like "Feel Me Now" and "Blameless" and then later that year a surprise single, "Say It To My Face" dropped and also became a hit for the band, propelling them even further.
Now, let's get into it. "Retrograde" marks the first new song from If Not For Me this year; unlike their previous single and albums, this force elegantly balances their signature mixture of electronic pop elements and melodic metalcore with that bite and grit that we all love. The single leads in softly but almost immediately shifts to a ferocious section of fast-paced and aggressive guitars, drums, and harsh vocals. The chorus comes up quickly and takes you on a soaring journey through the stars as vocalist Patrick Glover calls out across timelines in search of a loved one. The following verse expands upon these lyrics before going back into another raw, massive chorus, then jumping into that earlier heavy metalcore bite. A final chorus makes an appearance before the group closes out the track with an equally explosive breakdown with the same energy and emotion felt early on.
I, like many of you, have been patiently waiting for a new release from this group for a while. I personally wasn't pulled by "Say It To My Face" and that's okay; not everyone can connect or vibe with an artist's entire discography. I was still riding the wave of the previous album during that singles cycle, yet I can see both it and "Retrograde" fitting on an album together, if that ends up being the case. This single represents the arsenal of experience within various styles of metal and electronic that INFM grasps. It is refreshing for an artist to continue exhibiting every tool instead of moving on to a singular method and abandoning their roots. Doubling back to the single, I honestly see this as their strongest release to date; if someone were to ask me who they were and what they sounded like, this would/will be my go-to every time. If you get a chance to attend their tour or standalone show dates, you won't regret it.
I mentioned shows, right? I have a few options for you; these are US dates, but I hope they make their way internationally again soon. Links and info below.
Ceremony Fest in Nashville, TN, 11/08
The Shapeshifter Tour Part II, 11/16 - 12/16
Hometown Christmas Show in Harrisburg, PA, 12/19
Via Thriller Records
If Not For Me is:
Patrick Glover - Vocals
Hayden Calhoun - Guitar
Zac Allen - Bass
Cody Frain - Drums
