Watch Bulletbelt's Video For New Single 'Cosmic'

Launching their fifth studio album Burn It Up on 22nd September, Pōneke metal powerhouses Bulletbelt treat fans to scorching new single 'Cosmic' plus black and white Super 8 visuals filmed within the overgrown outskirts of Aotearoa's harbour capital. Signifying a bold new tack for the veteran group, 'Cosmic' channels the time-honoured tradition of epic metal balladry, as singer Diego Attinger's soaring vocals explore mankind's relationship with higher powers against galactic-scale guitars and drums — belting out "cosmic energy / make your raw destiny". Bookended by sparse piano passages, the new anthem's down to earth, textural visuals were directed by Jason Howden and filmed by Bill Bycroft, capturing the band in full flight "outside an abandoned incinerator in Wellington Harbour".

Ushering in the Burn It Up era with the announcement of a free Sunday afternoon launch event at Valhalla on 24th September, Bulletbelt are currently prepping for an extensive October EU tour with Semblant and will be joining US crossover pioneers D.R.I. on their two date Aotearoa tour this coming February. Co-produced by James Goldsmith, preorder your copy of Burn It Up on vinyl LP and / or compact disc HERE (plus check out the killer merch options) and get the official lowdown on 'Cosmic' from Bulletbelt founder Steve Francis (drums) and Howden below...

"'Cosmic' is a big step for us. Taking Bulletbelt in a new direction required us to step outside our comfort zone and strip everything back. All clean singing which is a first, and a chance to show we can be heavy without having to be 'balls to the wall' tempo! This is Diego's first contribution lyrically and he takes the listener on a deep trip with a conversation with God, only to realise he is his own God." — Steve Francis

"The COSMIC ENERGY clip was inspired by the rawness and simplicity of late 80s and early 90s hard rock and grunge videos. It was like they were intentionally rejecting the grandeur and visual effects embraced by the big pop acts of the era, and stripping it back to just a band playing together in one location. Instead they projected a working-class, anti-corporate image.

I fell in love with BULLETBELT'S song, and it felt like its energy would suit the stark, raw look of black and white Super 8 film.

I work in VFX which often involves manipulating footage to a psychotic degree. So I challenged myself with just shooting on 8mm film cameras with as little digital interference as possible, just digitizing, editing, then rendering, not even colour grading. It was the smallest (and coolest) crew I've ever worked with: just myself, cinematographer Bill Bycroft, camera assistant Anna McIntosh, and the band.

We didn't try to sync sound, and didn't shoot full takes as we only had 10 rolls of film. Two of the film rolls were expired stock from the 80s, and the developed film looked incredible, like it had been stabbed, dragged behind a car and dumped in a polluted lake.

We shot the clip outside an abandoned incinerator in Wellington Harbour. Allegedly it was used to burn medical waste, so I guess all the bloodied swabs, leftover organs and amputated limbs used to get cremated, downwind from residential housing. I'm not sure where they go now, hopefully not near me.

It was a rewarding experience, and I'm beyond thankful that the band trusted me with it" — Jason Howden

Bulletbelt Album Release Party
with Captured Kings, Brainwave
Sunday 24th September - Valhalla, Wellington (3pm start, free)

D.R.I. with special guests Bulletbelt
Tuesday 27th February - Valhalla, Wellington
Wednesday 28th February -  Whammy, Auckland 
Tickets available HERE via UTR

'Burn It Up' releases on Friday 22nd September via Impaler Records — vinyl LP and compact disc preorders available HERE.