VCTMS announce new EP 'Pain Processing II' and share new single • GRIMM Gent

Buckle up, Bad Luck Crew! VCTMS is bringing the heat with a new era of music that continues to expand their groovy, chaotic, blistering, pummeling take on alternative metal. Their new EP Pain Processing II is set to release on May 1. The band is doubling down on crushing breakdowns and bone-shaking riffs, showcasing what they’re capable of alongside Ben Hoagland of Extortionist on their new single “Burning Bones.”

Listen to the new track here.

Speaking on the upcoming EP, the band shares,

“Serving as a powerful follow-up, Pain Processing II finds us returning with even more purpose, intensity, and emotional weight. Building on the raw vulnerability and crushing heaviness that defined Pain Processing, this EP pushes our sound deeper into the chaos while sharpening every edge. We’re blending suffocating breakdowns, punishing riffs, and emotional vocals with an atmosphere that feels both personal and destructive, creating a listening experience that hits just as hard emotionally as it does sonically.

“Rather than simply continuing where the previous release left off, Pain Processing II expands our vision—diving further into themes of struggle, reflection, and release. Each track feels like another stage of the process, where aggression and honesty collide in waves of controlled brutality. It’s heavier, darker, and more focused. We understand exactly what we want this sound to be.

“As a follow-up, Pain Processing II doesn’t just revisit familiar ground—it intensifies it. The result is a relentless, cathartic chapter, proving our evolution is far from over.”

The band will also be touring this spring. Dates are below.

Pre-save the EP here.

PAIN PROCESSING II TRACKLISTING:
“twenty/eight”
“victim/mentality” (Feat. Austin Hayes of Heavy//Hitter)
“burning bones” (Feat. Ben Hoagland of Extortionist)
“bed_of_nails”
“devil’s // speak” (Feat. Nathan Johnson of Fox Lake)
“trauma/response” (Feat. Aaron Matts of ten56)
“clip my wings” (Feat. Juan Guiteraez)

VCTMS — hellbent on groovy, chaotic, blistering and depressive noise — carry the banner of Illinois’ noisy, frenzied and manic take on alternative metal solely on their capable shoulders, coupled with an unshakable work ethic and unwavering dedication to their sprawling fanbase.

From their first release, through cross-country tours and leviathan collaborations with the likes of Spite‘s Darius Tehrani, Emmure‘s Frankie Palmeri, and Paleface Swiss’ Marc Zelli, VCTMS have an immense discography consisting of five full-length records: Sickness Vol. 1 through their most recent LP, Vol. V: The Hurt Collection and an EP. With each release, VCTMS sound becomes more and more refined, but also more whimsical and effervescent, incorporating splashes of hip-hop, darkwave, industrial, post-hardcore and more to create something that defies simple genre classification—but remains, at its core, the same rapidly-cycling, depressive and devastating brand of metalcore that screams Chicago with a raw throat and swollen lungs. With lyrical content that oscillates from harshly introspective to immolating and homicidal, the band is as relatable as they come—which lends considerably to their overwhelming popularity on the road, touring alongside acts like Crystal Lake, Paleface Swiss, 156/Silence, Veil Of Maya, Cane Hill and more—just within the last few years. The band only continues to grow with each release.

VCTMS are experienced, crushingly heavy, startlingly innovative and, above all else, work in a way many of their peers can hardly fathom, making them a stand-out band where not just metalcore—but rather all of heavy music—is concerned. Welcome to the bad luck crew. It’s bad luck season.

VCTMS LIVE 2026:
5/8 — Greenville, SC — Radio Room ^
5/9 — Atlanta, GA — Masquerade (Purgatory) ^
5/10 — Nashville, TN — The End $*
5/12 — Greensboro, NC — Hangar 1819 ^
5/13 — New York, NY — The Brooklyn Monarch ^
5/14 — Cleveland, OH — The Foundry $
5/16 — Cudahy, WI — X-Ray Arcade ^
5/17 — Chicago, IL — Bottom Lounge ^
5/19 — Oklahoma City, OK — 89th Street Collective ^
5/20 — Dallas, TX — Puzzles ^
5/21 — Lubbock, TX — Jake’s Sport Cafe $
5/22 — Colorado Springs, CO — Black Sheep ^
5/23 — Denver, CO — Marquis ^
5/25 — Mesa, AZ — The Nile Theater ^
5/26 — Las Vegas, NV — Grey Witch ^
5/27 — Fresno, CA — Strummers $
5/28 — Sacramento, CA — Harlow’s ^
5/29 — Berkeley, CA — Cornerstone ^
5/30 — Pomona, CA — The Glass House ^
6/3 — Wichita, KS — Brickyard $**
6/4 — St. Louis, MO — Off Broadway $**
6/5 — Iowa City, IA — Wildwood $***