If you’ve been keeping tabs on the scene, the name Unreal City likely caught your ear back in 2020 when they dropped their debut via Closed Casket Activities. But then, the band went completely off the radar. The reason? Vocalist Joseph Sanderson took a detour to Southeast Asia, where he became a three-time Muay Thai champion. Now, the „Pittsburgh Hammer“ is back at full strength, and on February 9th, they unleashed an uncompromising video for their new single, „Emptiness.“

Holy Terror and Slayer at Half Speed

The track is a grim preview of the upcoming EP Blood Memory, set for release on March 6, 2026, via WAR Records. If you’re looking for polished, glossy hardcore, keep walking. Featuring members of the cult-legends Integrity and Eternal Sleep, Unreal City proudly embrace the legacy of the „Holy Terror“ sound (Cleveland rules!).

The band describes their new material perfectly: „Imagine Slayer played at half speed with a NYHC swag.“ It’s heavy, metallic, industrial, and soaked in the gray chill of Pittsburgh’s streets.

The Blood Memory EP carries a heavy emotional weight due to the legends involved in its creation. It was recorded at the legendary Mars Recording Studio with the late Bill Korecky. The visual side (artwork) was handled by the late Stephen Kasner, whose dark aesthetic fits Unreal City’s sonic violence like a glove. It is, in essence, a monumental return and a tribute to the icons who shaped the dark side of hardcore and metal.

Lyrically, „Emptiness“ is about refusing to back down. Sanderson spits lines about „still standing“ despite all threats and plots. It’s a direct confrontation with cowardice and the belief that time eventually reveals the truth. „As long as I’m alive, it’ll never die.“

Mark your calendars for March 6th. This EP is going to hurt.