Holy Wars Unveil Haunting New Single Ceremony
Los Angeles rock outfit Holy Wars have returned with “Ceremony,” a haunting and cinematic new single that dives headfirst into themes of sacrifice, devotion, and the quiet terror of self-erasure. It’s a track that doesn’t shy away from darkness, but instead sits with it — interrogating the cost of surrender before ultimately reaching for something brighter.
Built on pummeling guitar riffs, driving rhythms, and pulsating synth textures, “Ceremony” surges and swells beneath Kat Leon’s soaring vocal performance. Her voice cuts through the storm with both vulnerability and defiance, turning introspection into something anthemic. The result is a whirlwind of sound — grandiose yet intimate — that signals a band operating at full emotional throttle.
The band road-tested the track across Europe last summer, debuting it at major festivals including Download Festival, Rock am Ring, Rock im Park, and Rock for People, where it drew immediate and visceral crowd reactions night after night.
Speaking on the new single, Leon explains:
“Ceremony at its core is about the fantasy and fear of non-existence and the times I myself have not wanted to exist anymore. However, I want to provide a message of hope and more than anything, this song is about survivalism and a hope for a better life. We also touch on ceremonial references, including my own practice of candle magic. In the song I say ‘Wax in my veins, I’m candlelight’ and ultimately I want to drive the point home of owning your power and your weakness.”
Shadow Work Light Work Arrives April 24 2026
“Ceremony” also serves as the gateway into Holy Wars’ highly anticipated sophomore album Shadow Work/Light Work, set for release on April 24 2026 via Pale Chord and Rise Records BMG.
A concept record centered on grief, trauma, and transcendence, Shadow Work/Light Work finds the band returning to their darker and more vulnerable roots while carving out a space for hope and renewal. The album’s title reflects a deliberate duality — shadow and light — mirrored in both its lyrical themes and sonic architecture. Expect the heaviest material of their career sitting alongside some of their most tender and melodically rich compositions to date.
Leon traces the emotional backbone of the record to profound personal loss:
“The concept behind Shadow Work/Light Work is taking the grief and trauma of losing my parents ten years ago, and looking at how hard that has actually been for me. I have almost held onto that grief as armour for a long time, and at times have felt like I am owed some payoff for all of this pain. Then, after my sister passed away in 2024, it instantly brought me right back to that shadow mindset and darkness. However, instead of being trapped in it, I used it as a way of healing through writing. Ultimately, you have to confront the darkest parts of yourself, even the parts that you are unwilling to look at. Only then can you eventually find the light.”
Produced by guitarist Nicholas Perez in the creatively fabled Joshua Tree, California, the album is described as the band’s most ambitious and genre-defining work yet. Perez adds that the mission was simple: no limits, no repetition — only scale and impact.
Shadow Work Light Work Tracklist
Side A: Shadow Work
- O Death
- I Feel Everything
- Shadowalker
- Crucify
- Skin Deep
- I.F.O.Y.G.
Side B: Light Work
7. Proof of Existence
8. Kill The Light
9. Ceremony
10. Everything You
11. Holy Unholy
12. Metamorphosis
HOLY WARS SOPHOMORE ALBUM SHADOW WORK/LIGHT WORK OUT 24TH APRIL 2026
From Festival Stages to Open Seas
The past year has marked a pivotal ascent for Holy Wars. In addition to their European festival run, the band supported nu-metal pioneers Kittie across the EU and UK, and joined Evanescence for a one-off show in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, alongside Poppy.
In January 2026, they will set sail on ShipRocked, sharing the bill with Halestorm, Motionless In White, Knocked Loose, and Kittie, among others.
The band are also slated to appear at the 2026 edition of Warped Tour, performing in Long Beach, Washington D.C., and Orlando after announcing their inclusion at the official launch party in California.
“You never truly learn who you are as an artist until you hit the road hard and this past year gave us a ton of confidence and clarity going into the future of this band,” Leon reflects.
With Shadow Work/Light Work, Holy Wars aren’t just revisiting old wounds — they’re transforming them. It’s an album that demands feeling in a world that too often defaults to numbness. And if “Ceremony” is any indication, the band’s ascent is no longer a question of if — only when.
