ASYLUM ROAD

​Asylum Road are:
Darryn McCartney – vocals
Paul Sandy – guitar
Brian Smyth – bass
Eithan Murray – drums

discography:

Northern Irish groove metal outfit Asylum Road return with ‘Death Starts‘, a punishing new single taken from their EP ‘Cerca Trova‘, a release that doesn’t just lean into heaviness, but confronts it head-on with a deeper sense of purpose.
Built on crushing riffs, tight dynamics, and a sharp modern edge, the track dives into the contradictions at the heart of human belief.
At its core lies a provocative question:
what happens when ideas about death, redemption, and the afterlife stop offering comfort and instead become tools of justification?
‘Death Starts‘ explores that tension with unflinching honesty, examining how distorted interpretations of faith and morality can shape both identity and conflict.
Frontman Darryn McCartney delivers the message with intensity and clarity, dissecting the notion that life begins after death – a concept that has echoed through centuries of belief systems.
Rather than offering answers, the song pulls at the threads, exposing the uneasy comfort found in the idea that actions in life can be absolved by promises of something beyond.
Lyrically, the track is direct and uncompromising, weaving together themes of corruption, blind judgment, and manipulated truth.
Its central line – ‘death starts with life‘ – cuts through as a stark reminder rather than a reassurance, lingering long after the final note fades.
Musically, Asylum Road operate in familiar territory for fans of modern groove and metalcore, but there’s a clear sense of intent behind the weight.
Every riff and breakdown serves the narrative, reinforcing a call to question, rather than accept.
Formed in Derry, the band have steadily built momentum since their 2024 debut ‘The Fear‘, establishing themselves through a blend of raw aggression and tightly constructed songwriting.
With the addition of guitarist Paul Sandy, their sound has gained further depth and precision, pushing their material into more dynamic and complex territory.
With ‘Cerca Trova‘, Asylum Road sharpen that identity even further.
‘Death Starts‘ stands as a defining statement from the EP – one that hits hard, but more importantly, refuses to let go once it’s over.