Ceremony Shadows kicked off 2025 with single “Reclaim” leading into their debut LP Ascension and while we’re not sure if there’s a whole other album on the way just yet we do know that it seems like CS is starting this new year in a similar fashion with not only the release of a new mini-EP called Predator but also hot on the heels of the recent announcement of their inclusion on two dates of the three-city/two-country Verboden Festival happening in May 2026 (CS play both the Seattle and Vancouver stops).
As for the new release, Predator features the brand new title track and the Cryb remix of “Prey” originally released as a single last February and also a part of Ascension. The new tune? What’s that the kids say? “God-tier”? Is that phrase still relevant? Well, it’s relevant here because that’s exactly what “Predator” is. Similar to Ceremony Shadows’ last post-LP single “Future Past Collapse” only in that it continues to expand the CS musical skill set, “Predator” is monstrous leaning into the darker corners of Industrial and Electro as opposed to the last single’s slightly more ’80’s/danceable/accessible nature. Jakub’s voice here is more guttural and determined than in previous efforts with Anastasia’s haunting vocal presence offsetting the almost Nivek Ogre-like cadence before the two voices intertwine and bring about a sort of musical liminal space. The other piece to this triple threat outfit, programmer Timo, declares that “This is our primal scream, as the pressure snaps the collective awake to defy the false safety of our cage and empower en masse.” And with “Predator” rounded out by sheer programming perfection and a menacing air encircling all, we can’t deny those words and think it’s safe to say that the revolution may have found a fitting soundtrack.
Predator drops on January 11th and you can insure your copy is delivered to your favorite listening device the moment it arrives by heading here. For more on their appearance at Verboden Festival and to get tix for that event, head here, and then here, here or here for the rest of the relevant socials for Ceremony Shadows.