Start Forward’s ‘Glorious’ is a sonically immersive, blinding alt-metal opus!

The track is featured on ‘Breathing Under Water,’ a captivating debut album by Start Forward, the solo project of Miami-based multi-instrumentalist, producer, and songwriter Joshua Sturtevant. Drawing inspiration from 90s rock/metal acts like Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Alter Bridge & Soundgarden, Start Forward brings a serious intensity to their sound, evoking a sense of surrender out of sheer overwhelm.

‘Glorious’ opens with compelling, distortion-heavy riffs and atmospherics. Joshua’s opening lines are deeply introspective and paint a very relatable scenario in the minds of the listener. It speaks to being able to come to terms with the most difficult situations in life. Those very situations are the catalyst for our transformation. Through extreme pain and suffering comes our ‘glorious’ transformation. That beautiful balance between vulnerability and strength is captured immensely through this track.

The sound of the guitars is powerful and envelops the listener completely, giving them strength, determination, and resilience. A deep catharsis is experienced while listening to this, and it speaks volumes to the project’s innate ability to instigate self-reflection through moments of metal-infused euphoria.

For fans of powerful, evocative hard rock/metal, there’s a lot to like here. A particularly powerful moment comes around the 2:20 mark, when it launches into a heavenly solo, armed with powerful instrumentation. It’s a moment that makes the listener look to the heavens and feel the gravity of what it really means to be alive. The track concludes with a slow fade out, leaving the listener feeling deeply invigorated!

We look forward to listening to the rest of ‘Breathing Under Water’ and more from Start Forward! One of the standout metal tracks of the year.

Stream ‘Start Forward – Glorious’ on Spotify here: