Varials

Formed in Philadelphia in 2013, Varials sits at the crossroads of metalcore and hardcore punk, with songwriting marked by heavy riffs, broken tempos, a groove inherited from nu metal and a dark tension rooted in Pennsylvania's hardcore scene. After the first track "Trapped", Varials released the EPs Recollection in 2014 and Failure//Control in 2015, then the split Absolution with Vicious Embrace in 2016. The band moved to full-length albums with Pain Again in 2017, followed by In Darkness in 2019 and Scars for You to Remember in 2022. Varials' evolution also involved several vocalist changes — from Jared Pilieri to Travis Tabron to Mitchell Rogers — before Skyler Conder joined in 2025, while bassist Mike Foley and drummer Sean Rauchut form the stable core, with guitarist Shane Lyons returning. On stage, Varials developed within the North American metalcore and hardcore circuit through tours with Knocked Loose, Gideon, Emmure and Counterparts. Bryan Garris' appearance on "Empire of Dirt" further places Varials in an abrasive branch of contemporary hardcore.