Traumatone Stares Down the Void on “Identity” and Refuses to Blink

Traumatone does not make background music. “Identity” is confrontational, uncomfortable, and painfully self-aware, and that is exactly why it works.

Built as a full narrative arc instead of a playlist grab, the EP plays like a psychological thriller set inside your own head. “Panic” opens the door with suffocating tension, all jagged riffs and industrial weight, immediately dropping you into fight-or-flight mode. It feels anxious on purpose. No easing in. No hand-holding. When the final line lands, you already know something ugly has been unleashed.

“Monster” leans into that ugliness. The riffs hit harder, the atmosphere gets thicker, and Jesse Broniste’s vocals carry real menace instead of cosplay darkness. This is not good for aesthetics. This is anger with structure. When the line “he’s killing me. I’m dying” lands, it does not feel metaphorical. It feels lived-in.

The title track, “Identity,” is the emotional centerpiece and the EP's smartest writing. The verses sound like the dark side winning, confident and cruel, while the chorus begs for intervention from whatever light is left. That push-and-pull is where Traumatone shines. The band understands that internal battles are rarely clean or heroic. They are messy, repetitive, and exhausting.

“Lazarus” introduces guest vocalist Rylee Morgan, a necessary shift. Her presence feels like an external hand reaching into the chaos, pulling the listener back toward air. The contrast works. It gives the project a pulse instead of leaving it trapped in despair.

“Darkness Dies” closes things out without wrapping them in a neat bow. The final declaration leaves the outcome unresolved, which is the point. Healing is not a victory lap. It is a choice you have to keep making.

In a scene oversaturated with nostalgia plays and algorithm-chasing singles, “Identity” matters because it takes risk seriously. This EP is for anyone tired of being told to just vibe through their problems. Traumatone says sit with it. Face it. Fight it. Then decide who gets control.

You structured this EP as a full psychological arc. What scared you most about committing to that instead of chasing standalone singles?

The challenge with this approach was telling the story effectively in so few songs. When most bands or artists set out to do a concept piece, they usually do it over the course of an entire album. Knowing this would be an EP, I had to think about the best way to convey everything in as concise a manner as possible. When the project started, I initially felt that telling a story would make writing lyrics easier. But this approach actually made it more difficult! I’m happy with the end result, but it was definitely a challenge.

The dark side in “Identity” sounds confident, not cartoonishly evil. Why was it important to give it that power?

When an invading force comes to conquer, it doesn’t ask for permission. Especially when, in this scenario, that force is already in place and standing by. It’s kind of like that right-hand man who grows in strength and confidence while learning and watching. Then one day, someone steps in and says, “Your way isn’t working. I’m taking over now,” and asserts power. As we all know, sometimes negative feelings can easily take control of us and lead to outbursts or acting out that we later regret. It just takes control in the moment. So it was important to show that the dark side does have control and knows it.

“Lazarus” introduces an outside voice into an internal battle. How do you personally define when help becomes necessary?

Personally, I think outside help is always beneficial, or even immediately necessary. If help can be given to stop from going down a path before it goes too far or gets too bad, that’s ideal. But that all comes down to the individual. Sometimes our own pride or even embarrassment will stop us from reaching out to something or someone. Try as we might, usually we can’t reach someone or help them until they want it. Eventually, things have to reach a point where one admits they need help. This is why the chorus and bridge of “Identity” express the need that leads to “Lazarus”.

The ending leaves the fight unresolved. Were you tempted to offer closure, or was discomfort always the goal?

It was always going to be open-ended. Reason being that that’s human nature. We will always have battles our whole lives. Whether that be in relationships, habits, behaviors, or whatever the case may be. There will always be areas that we can improve, temptations to conquer, and internal struggles. I don’t say that to give any kind of excuse to not deal with things as if there’s no end. It might feel that way sometimes, but victories are absolutely attainable, and that’s the message of “Darkness Dies”. We need to fight to get to that good place.

Playing this live while filming a video is a bold move. What do you want that room to feel like when these songs finally breathe in front of people?

Thankfully, the video we’ll shoot during the live performance will be for the one song that isn’t about the dueling identities. “Panic” is an anti-fear anthem, so we want to capture everyone just having a good time at the show, vibing to the song's energy. The more complicated identity stuff will be in another video, which we hope to premiere on or before the EP release date (1/9/26). However, it works out. So keep an eye on our socials! All in all, I hope the songs on this EP help people face their struggles/demons and come out on the other side, celebrating with us at a show!