After closing the chapter on their former name Tantrum, UK metal band Pyroclast are set to officially ignite their new identity with the release of their self-titled debut single “Pyroclast” on Monday 30th June. For fans who’ve followed the band’s evolution over the past year, the new track marks not just a fresh start but a statement of purpose: heavier, sharper, and forged in the fire of a newly focused creative direction.
The decision to change names wasn’t made lightly — and certainly not as a rebrand for the sake of it. “The band we once were no longer existed,” says vocalist Mark Reid. “In terms of personnel, attitude, and genre, everything had changed. Before, there were rules — defined boundaries for what a song could be. That went out the window with No Place for the Damned, and with the new material we’re working on now, there are no rules left at all.”
Maiden Eruption: “Pyroclast”
Written by guitarist Baz Fitzsimmons — music and lyrics — the new single is a sharp distillation of the band’s raw force and new-found cohesion. Anthemic in structure, “Pyroclast” was designed from the start to be a rallying cry — both for the band and their fans.
“I wanted something that felt like it was the band,” Baz explains. “Not just in name, but in tone — a powerful, direct song that people could latch on to, especially live. It’s still melodic, still musical, but there’s a frenetic energy to it — relentless from start to finish — and definitely more weight behind it than anything we’ve released before.”
Guitarist Chris Horne reinforces this, “‘Pyroclast’ perfectly encapsulates the explosive, high energy for the hard-hitting introduction of our new name. With a chorus that will scuttle its way through the cracks of your skull, and riffs that'll bring your gran to the mosh, we knew this had to be our first single. This ripping anthem does not hold back. It’s here to stay. This is Pyroclast.”
Originally, the band had planned to lead with a different track — “Prisoner Game”, a thematically dark, riff-heavy song in the vein of “The Darkest of Times”, the lead single from their previous album. But after stepping back, they felt Pyroclast was a stronger introduction to what the new chapter truly represents — a controlled eruption, volatile but deliberate.
“It made sense to hold that one back,” Mark adds. “We didn’t want to give the impression we were doing more of the same. “Pyroclast” is heavier, more aggressive, and yet bluesy in places. It’s more dynamic. It kicks down the door to what comes next.”
The band will debut the track live at Wildfire Festival on June 28th, along with a performance of “Brought by a Flame” — a future single that trades the aggression for something more reflective and expansive. “It’s a very different kind of song. We’ll talk more about that one later,” Mark says. “But it’ll definitely catch people off guard — in a good way.”
Physical copies of “Pyroclast” will be available at Wildfire, including a special Wildfire Edition CD. A small run of Ignition Edition copies was also produced — a launch-exclusive
gatefold variant on red vinyl that’s already close to selling out. Pre-orders are open now on the band’s website and Bandcamp page, and while streaming will follow a couple of weeks later, exact platform release dates are still pending. “It’s always a bit of a lottery with the digital services,” Mark admits. “So we’re focusing on physical and direct sales first.”
No Place for the Damned: Redux
Alongside the single, Pyroclast have also reissued their critically acclaimed previous album under their new name. Titled No Place for the Damned Redux MMXXV, the release is more than a name swap — it’s a fully reimagined package, from the artwork to bonus content.
“We only had a handful of NPFTD copies left and didn’t want to repress more under a name that no longer fit,” Mark says. “So we took the opportunity to update it entirely. The cover now features a volcanic eruption — pyroclastic rock and all — but we’ve kept the subtle nods to each track in the artwork like before.”
All interior artwork has been redesigned, and fans who purchase the CD or digital version from Bandcamp will also receive immediate access to a hidden bonus track — Trinity, the complete three-part saga that was previously only available on a special edition release. Buyers from the band’s own store will receive a follow-up email with access instructions.
There was even a moment, Mark laughs, where the name nearly got away from them: “I had to hold back on the naming. I nearly called it No Place for the Damned Redux: The Return of the Son of the Man on the Last Album 3000 MK II Beta — but I knew the guys would kill me.”
No Place for the Rules
If “Pyroclast” the song represents the band's power, then Pyroclast the name represents their freedom. With a new album in development — as yet untitled — the band is taking a completely different approach to the writing process.
“Before, songs were brought in more or less finished,” Mark says. “We’d write them individually, send demos around, learn them, maybe rehearse them once or twice and then record. We even recorded songs without ever rehearsing them as a band. This time, everything is going into the rehearsal space first. We’re shaping songs as a unit. Even though each track is invariably written by one member, the final form is something that’s built together.”
The band aims to write and record 15 tracks, then select 10 for the final album. The direction, Mark says, is unpredictable — and deliberately so.
“There’s thrash in there. Power metal. Traditional British metal. Big commercial choruses. A fully acoustic ballad… which still somehow manages to be heavy. There’s no checklist. We’re just letting the songs go where they need to go.”
That sense of artistic freedom came with a sense of pressure — particularly after completing No Place for the Damned.
“When we finished that album, we sat back and thought, ‘Shit. This is too good. There’s no way we can top it,’” Mark admits. “But instead of scaring us, it lit a fire under us. At first, we just wanted to match it. Now? We’re on track to surpass it.”
