Release Date: December 12, 2025 Label: Spinefarm Records
VRSTY’s new acoustic EP strips back the metallic bite of their 2020 breakout Cloud City and reimagines four of its most emotionally charged tracks to date. Where the original EP fused post-hardcore aggression with R&B smoothness and pop hooks, this companion release highlights Joey Tyler’s voice as the centerpiece, exposing the lyrical vulnerability that often sat beneath the band’s genre-blending bravado.
“Pathos” opens the set with a haunting meditation on anxiety and insomnia, its stripped-down arrangement amplifying the sense of fragility. “Dig” follows, turning a song about toxic relationships into a confessional ballad, the acoustic textures underscoring the refrain “Maybe I can change” with aching sincerity. The standout moment arrives with “You & I,” featuring Shawn Christmas, whose guest vocal adds a fresh layer of tension to a track about betrayal and heartbreak. Closing with “Shameless,” VRSTY leans into seduction and destruction, the acoustic version transforming its kerosene-soaked imagery into something more smoldering than explosive.
At just four songs, this EP is less about expansion than reflection. It’s a reminder that VRSTY’s strength lies not only in their fearless genre fusion but also in their ability to bare emotion without distortion. For fans, it’s a chance to revisit Cloud City through a softer lens; for newcomers, it’s a compelling entry point into a band unafraid to reinvent themselves.
I’m Drew, the founder and editor of Front of the Stage. I have a strong love for music and photography, which started at a very young age. There’s just something I love about experiencing live music and capturing memories that will last a lifetime, and that’s how Front of the Stage came to be.
