The Pennsylvania metal outfit channel their empathy and personal experience to lend their voices to the often voiceless.
In a society where mental health struggles are often shrouded in silence, Pine Grove’s The Art of Deception is set to unleash a raw and poignant anthem that confronts these fears head-on. With their upcoming single and video, “Despondency,” this group of four friends aims to raise awareness and spark a conversation about the often-unspoken battles many face behind closed doors. Firmly looking forward to a future sparked by the fires of The Art of Deception’s creativity, we can’t wait to see what they have in store for us next.
Formed eight years ago from a shared love of metal music, The Art of Deception has weathered its fair share of challenges and lineup changes. However, their dedication to creating and sharing the music they love has remained unwavering. Now, with the imminent release of their EP “Imminence,” the band stands tall and united, ready to unleash their music on the world. Inspired in no small part by vocalist Nolan's personal trials and journeys through the Covid-19 pandemic, “Imminent” and specifically “Despondency” chronicle the journey of someone who has gone through the storm and comes out the other side.
“Despondency,” the band’s latest release, sees The Art of Deception operating on maximum power. Over high energy and furious instrumentals, lines like “I have found that the truth I have obtained has led me to rot on my own” and “I am my destruction” are delivered with fury, sometimes smoldering, sometimes erupting, that belies a more profound message. Despondency frankly and honestly examines the reality that, especially where mental health comes in, sometimes we are our own worst enemy. “Despondency” is more than just a song—it's a battle cry against the stigma surrounding mental illness. By sharing their personal experiences, the band aims to create a safe space where others can find solace and realize they are not alone in their struggles.
Amidst a society where misconceptions about mental health continue to prevail, The Art of Deception continues to break these barriers through the power of music. Whenever you’re ready, tap in and stream The Art of Deception’s newest single, “Despondency,” out now. Keep an eye out for their upcoming EP “Imminence,” too, dropping soon.
Welcome to BuzzMusic, The Art of Deception! We loved “Despondency,” and it’s so great to see artists like yourselves unafraid of speaking up! Can you take us through the creative process for this song?
Thank you! We’re glad you guys enjoyed the song and appreciate the love and support! Nolan wanted to open up about his feelings over the last few years.
Nolan: “Depression can be debilitating most days, and expressing these struggles was therapeutic. I know this is an extremely touchy subject, but I feel that not being open about how I feel denies anything that happened to me internally. I lost my sister a few years ago to an overdose, and as I’m now in my early 30s, I was beginning to see some of my long-term relationships dissolve. That gave me a feeling of hopelessness.”
How did the inspiration for the music video for “Despondency” come to be, and what was your favorite part of bringing the vision for the video to life?
We wanted to symbolize Nolan’s feeling physically and felt a reaper/death figure looming, and entrancing us was the perfect solution to capture the feeling of hopelessness. The lantern was a metaphor for the hurt soul trapped within and possessed by the reaper as if your life was flickering before your eyes.
Do you all have a favorite musical memory together?
In the 8 years as a band, we’ve had some milestone moments performing on stage, but I think overall, we appreciate that after years of doing this, this passion still drives us, and thankful we can meet weekly to continue bringing this dream to life!
What would you want it to be if your listeners could take one thing away from your music?
Life can be extremely difficult; you must focus on the little things and center yourself around what makes you happy. Our lyrics are about many things, from hopes and dreams to death and fantasy. When you find those things that give you personal satisfaction, do everything you can to make them a part of your life.
What’s next for The Art of Deception! Your EP “Imminence” is slated for release soon, right? Are you especially excited to share any songs with your fans?
I think we all have our favorites, and each week that opinion changes, haha. We are excited to be at this point as a group, as we’ve wanted to release another EP for quite some time. As we do not have an official release date for the EP, we can assure you it’ll be here sooner than later, and we can’t thank everyone enough for their support of “Despondency!"
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