VIAL Unleashes Ferocious New Album HELLHOUND

Minneapolis-based band VIAL has unveiled their highly anticipated fourth studio album, HELLHOUND, marking a definitive escalation in their musical intensity and artistic audacity. Formed in 2019 through a chance encounter on Tinder, the band members were united by a shared passion for 1990s punk, indie, and grunge, a foundation that has profoundly shaped their evolving sound.

Their debut album, Grow Up, earned widespread acclaim in the local music scene, drawing praise from publications such as The Current and Music In Minnesota. Critics highlighted the album’s raw energy and nostalgic homage to classic alternative sounds, establishing VIAL as a promising new voice in American indie music.

Following this early success, Vyal signed with Los Angeles-based Get Better Records in 2021. Their sophomore release, LOUDMOUTH, retained the band’s indie-pop and alternative rock sensibilities while exploring a more confrontational tone. Tracks such as “Ego Death” and fan favourite “Piss Punk” showcased fiery, unrestrained lyricism, blending personal reflection with societal critique.

The third album, burnout, incorporated playful and casual elements yet hinted at a growing intensity. Themes of betrayal, adolescent turmoil, and societal decay were threaded throughout, demonstrating Vyal’s increasing willingness to confront darker emotions through their music.

With HELLHOUND, however, the band abandons restraint entirely. Produced by Martin Cook, known for his work with Death Cab for Cutie, Of Monsters and Men, and Destroy Boys, the album merges old-school punk, classic metal, and contemporary alternative influences into a relentless sonic experience. The opening track offers fleeting moments of levity, yet the overarching tone is defined by betrayal, vengeance, despair, and searing anger. Standout songs such as “CREEP SMOOTHIE” respond directly to toxic behaviour, while “IDLE HANDS” channels rage into introspection, creating a listening experience that is both cathartic and confrontational.

Beyond their music, VIAL remain deeply committed to social activism. Gender equality, reproductive rights, Indigenous arts, and refugee assistance are core to their mission, with the band donating proceeds from their work directly to these causes.

North American HELLHOUND Tour Dates

HELLHOUND delivers an unrelenting journey through modern punk and alternative rock, solidifying Vyal’s reputation for bold, confrontational artistry while offering fans a raw and immersive musical experience.