Premiere: Watch If Hope Dies Slam Through ‘Brand New You’ and ‘Flame Within’ in Live Video

Sukna-based metallers If Hope Dies have privilege on their side compared to most bands in the country during curfews and lockdowns, considering they all live in the same locality and end up jamming when they feel like. “Basically, we’re neighbors. We hang out all the time even if we are not jamming, so the bonding definitely comes from there,” says vocalist-producer Aakash Sherpa.

Inspired by live studio session videos by platforms such as Audiotree in the U.S., If Hope Dies plotted a recorded performance of two of their most recent releases; the bolstering “Brand New You” (released in March 2020) and anti-bullying track “Flame Within” (released in December 2020). Sherpa notes that the band members are often discussing, planning and executing ideas, but putting up this session involved going the “extra mile” in terms of nailing their venue, video production and audio output. Shot at Siliguri’s Sound Flix Studios, the two-track performance was shot by Samir Chettri and Palson Yolmo, with Sherpa’s studio Anomaly Sound Designs handling production.

The nine-minute video captures a finessed performance from If Hope Dies and a changing sonic direction on the no-holds-barred track “Flame Within.” Sherpa says the decision to showcase their latest releases stemmed from the fact the band hasn’t got the chance to perform them on a stage so far due to the pandemic. The frontman does, however, promise more material in 2021, hinting at the possibility of a full-length album.

Watch the video below.